Showing posts with label Culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Culture. Show all posts
The Yachachiqs
The tradition of innovation in Peru can be traced back to the very beginnings of civilization on the continent, (the sacred city of Caral dates back some 5,000 years). Peruvians have since developed forms of large-scale agriculture, water and soil management, building technologies, metallurgy, textile manufacturing, astronomy, medicine and so forth. We see evidence of how those innovations have developed in archaeological sites and museums. What makes that so extraordinary, however, is that system used to create and disseminate knowledge is one that exists today. This is the Yachachiq system. The Yachachiqs have not only managed keep that system intact but have succeeded in incorporating modern technology to solve their problems. There are currently 2,000 Yachachiqs living in the Andes involved in the creation of new technology and business ventures with the potential to reduce poverty.
In traditional Andean culture, arts and (technics) are one in the same — a Yachachiq could be a master artisan just as he could be a local mechanic. The term Yachachiq is not a name but the title a community confers on an individual who possesses extraordinary abilities and leadership skills. They already have such incredible technical abilities and creativity. They can even decide whether some information, knowledge or tools would be useful if they could adapt it to serve their needs. When provided with that they can achieve wonders without any outside interference or advice. Yachachiqs are do-it-yourself people; they don’t buy technology and they make their own things from available local materials.
The Yachachiqs are representative of how innovation can take hold in rural settings, but in Peru, as is the case with other developing countries, innovation is found more often in urban environments.
In traditional Andean culture, arts and (technics) are one in the same — a Yachachiq could be a master artisan just as he could be a local mechanic. The term Yachachiq is not a name but the title a community confers on an individual who possesses extraordinary abilities and leadership skills. They already have such incredible technical abilities and creativity. They can even decide whether some information, knowledge or tools would be useful if they could adapt it to serve their needs. When provided with that they can achieve wonders without any outside interference or advice. Yachachiqs are do-it-yourself people; they don’t buy technology and they make their own things from available local materials.
The Yachachiqs are representative of how innovation can take hold in rural settings, but in Peru, as is the case with other developing countries, innovation is found more often in urban environments.
Grassroot Innovation in Peru
Currently changes happen quite fast and a new innovation appears almost every day for example "D.light Design" with his LED solar lamp oriented to poor families in developing countries and "Embrace" with the design of a low-cost infant warmer for the base of the pyramid. All the above-mentioned innovations have been created in the developed world but there are many examples of innovations created in the developing world. However they are not world-known and invisible for international media. Maybe the most known case is: William Kamkwamba. A grassroot inventor from Africa, he built a windmill to power electrical appliances in his house from materials collected in a local scrapyard. His case is not the only one. There are many William's in the developing world.
In this article, I will share with you, the case of grassroot innovators from Peru. The barriers and problems that they face are world-wide spread and specifically often in developing countries. But problems have also solutions and thank to a network of international NGOs, which are supporting these initiatives, positive changes are happening. I would like to mention the story of the Yachachiqs (Yachachiq is the quechua name for people who pass on knowledge). It is based on the fusion of native knowledge and modern knowledge in order to develop appropriate technologies. Finally, I would like to propose some alternatives to motivate the creation of self- sustainable communities and ecosystems for grassroot innovation in developing countries.
In this article, I will share with you, the case of grassroot innovators from Peru. The barriers and problems that they face are world-wide spread and specifically often in developing countries. But problems have also solutions and thank to a network of international NGOs, which are supporting these initiatives, positive changes are happening. I would like to mention the story of the Yachachiqs (Yachachiq is the quechua name for people who pass on knowledge). It is based on the fusion of native knowledge and modern knowledge in order to develop appropriate technologies. Finally, I would like to propose some alternatives to motivate the creation of self- sustainable communities and ecosystems for grassroot innovation in developing countries.
Yachachiq Voices
In rural areas, 7 of 10 individuals are poor. The majority of the rural poor are active in agriculture, mainly as producers and often with limited access to health, education and markets. The Sierra region consistently has the worst indicators for access to health, water and sanitation services, education, poverty and extreme poverty.
The target groups for the proposed media project are the Yachachiqs. "Yachachiq" is the quechua name for people who pass on knowledge.
We propose to develop Yachachiq´s Voices in the 8 poorest regions of Peru, around 5 million people.
The project will be conducted in two phases: (A) pilot phase in 2 regions (3 months) (B) scale-up phase in 8 regions (6 months). The first phase will be implemented with the Rising Voices funding.
The Yachachiqs, their knowledge and their communities are underrepresented in global world.
The content will be generated by Yachachiqs from rural communities and we wish them to create their own discussion platforms. They can translate it into native languages and add relevant localized content.
Technology alone will fail and our project provides support with a comprehensive approach and including: technical support, change management, training, coaching and cultural sensitivity.
In Peru social problems do not solely rest on the access to services but the problems are also embedded in behavioral and cultural practices. Cultural practices are particularly influential in matters of technology adoption and use.
New initiatives would be developed specifically to meet the needs of the rural communities and professionals, Yachachiqs and community promoters should be trained to deliver those messages appropriately.
The target groups for the proposed media project are the Yachachiqs. "Yachachiq" is the quechua name for people who pass on knowledge.
We propose to develop Yachachiq´s Voices in the 8 poorest regions of Peru, around 5 million people.
The project will be conducted in two phases: (A) pilot phase in 2 regions (3 months) (B) scale-up phase in 8 regions (6 months). The first phase will be implemented with the Rising Voices funding.
The Yachachiqs, their knowledge and their communities are underrepresented in global world.
The content will be generated by Yachachiqs from rural communities and we wish them to create their own discussion platforms. They can translate it into native languages and add relevant localized content.
Technology alone will fail and our project provides support with a comprehensive approach and including: technical support, change management, training, coaching and cultural sensitivity.
In Peru social problems do not solely rest on the access to services but the problems are also embedded in behavioral and cultural practices. Cultural practices are particularly influential in matters of technology adoption and use.
New initiatives would be developed specifically to meet the needs of the rural communities and professionals, Yachachiqs and community promoters should be trained to deliver those messages appropriately.
Tourism in the Caribbean: Making the Majority count! OMJ Caribbean Business Plan Competition
"Tourism in the Caribbean: Making the Majority count!" is the title of this business plan competition in seven Caribbean countries that has been launched on Dec 9, 2009 by the Opportunities for the Majority (OMJ) initiative of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). If you are interested in participating, check out www.iadb.org/om to get more detailed information. Submissions accepted until April 9, 2010.
The Mystery of Capital among the Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon
The Mystery of Capital among the Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon. Hernando de Soto presents a documentary of significance with findings from indigenous communities in Alaska, Canada and the Peruvian jungle.
The Yachachiqs
Yachachiq is the person who know how to do something. Rural communities where the Yachachiqs system exists are small towns, with 10-15 families, and the average family farm size is around 0.1 hectar (100m2), some have local farm animals as llamas. In the traditional culture of the Andes there is not difference between arts and technics, a Yachachiq could be a master artisan or the local inventor. Yachachiq is not a name is a tittle, the community gives the title of Yachachiq to people from their community who has extraordinary habilities and leadership skills. It is similar to famous inventors or artist in the occidental culture, by example the american inventor Ray Kurzweil could be a Yachachiq.
They already have such incredible technical habilities and creativity. They can even decide whether some information, knowledge or tools would be useful if they could adapt it to serve their needs. When provided with that they can achieve wonders without any outside interference or advice. A Yachachiq could use modificated mechanical pieces from a motor to do pieces for agriculture or toys for their children, with the time and access to microfinances their could scale up and start their own factories and sell their services to near towns and cities.
New local initiatives emphasize participation of local people. In addition to appropriate technologies the new approach includes education on entrepreneurship. They are more applicable to Peru, due to understanding of budget, government, and cultural constraints. By Example, The Lemelson RAMP project in Peru, from 20 grassroot inventors, only 6 are based in urban zones, the other 14 are from rural zones of Cajamarca, Cusco and Puno.
Non-governmental organizations in Peru have many years of experience working successfully with the model of Yachachiqs. The public sector has started to establish a system of community promoters affiliated with the public sector (JUNTOS, CRECER, SIERRA PRODUCTIVA) who would have direct contact with local communities.
Rural development means developing the capacity of rural people. It means developing their skills so they become competent with the confidence to act on their choices. Importing technology from USA or China and sell these in Peru is not the right option. It creates disempowerment, leaving them dependent. But there is another way to empower the people. They must have access to information, knowledge, tools and the right to decide whether they want to do, independent of outsiders.
Technology is designed by engineers outside of the country and is in need of a redesign by Yachachiqs (local inventors). There is a need for developing appropriate technologies mainly irrigation technologies (drip and aspersion irrigation), food preservation, water and sanitation, soil regeration and others. It would allow rural farmers to generate additional income and should be designed so that they are affordable and available to rural farmers.
The purpose of our project is to review various technologies, configurations, identify locally available materials and components, perform usability tests, make recommendations for improvements and then create construction manuals for inexpensive DIY technologies to make components for agriculture, energy, health and environment preservation.
Yachachiq are DIY people, they dont buy things, they do their own things from available materials and they could learn about mechanics, electronics, software and manufacturing. We are not planing to use modern technology with Yachachiq, we are going to do a research about DIY projects and learn how to design an "appropriate technology" to be builded by Yachachiqs, they could make any changes and create their own machines and of course they will use their own ideas.
They already have such incredible technical habilities and creativity. They can even decide whether some information, knowledge or tools would be useful if they could adapt it to serve their needs. When provided with that they can achieve wonders without any outside interference or advice. A Yachachiq could use modificated mechanical pieces from a motor to do pieces for agriculture or toys for their children, with the time and access to microfinances their could scale up and start their own factories and sell their services to near towns and cities.
New local initiatives emphasize participation of local people. In addition to appropriate technologies the new approach includes education on entrepreneurship. They are more applicable to Peru, due to understanding of budget, government, and cultural constraints. By Example, The Lemelson RAMP project in Peru, from 20 grassroot inventors, only 6 are based in urban zones, the other 14 are from rural zones of Cajamarca, Cusco and Puno.
Non-governmental organizations in Peru have many years of experience working successfully with the model of Yachachiqs. The public sector has started to establish a system of community promoters affiliated with the public sector (JUNTOS, CRECER, SIERRA PRODUCTIVA) who would have direct contact with local communities.
Rural development means developing the capacity of rural people. It means developing their skills so they become competent with the confidence to act on their choices. Importing technology from USA or China and sell these in Peru is not the right option. It creates disempowerment, leaving them dependent. But there is another way to empower the people. They must have access to information, knowledge, tools and the right to decide whether they want to do, independent of outsiders.
Technology is designed by engineers outside of the country and is in need of a redesign by Yachachiqs (local inventors). There is a need for developing appropriate technologies mainly irrigation technologies (drip and aspersion irrigation), food preservation, water and sanitation, soil regeration and others. It would allow rural farmers to generate additional income and should be designed so that they are affordable and available to rural farmers.
The purpose of our project is to review various technologies, configurations, identify locally available materials and components, perform usability tests, make recommendations for improvements and then create construction manuals for inexpensive DIY technologies to make components for agriculture, energy, health and environment preservation.
Yachachiq are DIY people, they dont buy things, they do their own things from available materials and they could learn about mechanics, electronics, software and manufacturing. We are not planing to use modern technology with Yachachiq, we are going to do a research about DIY projects and learn how to design an "appropriate technology" to be builded by Yachachiqs, they could make any changes and create their own machines and of course they will use their own ideas.
World Digital Library
UNESCO and 32 partner institutions launched the World Digital Library, a web site that features unique cultural materials from libraries and archives from around the world. The site – located at www.wdl.org – includes manuscripts, maps, rare books, films, sound recordings, prints and photographs.
The Shape of Music
The Shape of Music
How do harmony and melody combine to make music?
by Dmitri Tymoczko. Seed Magazine
How do harmony and melody combine to make music?
by Dmitri Tymoczko. Seed Magazine
Roughly 2,500 years ago, Pythagoras observed that objects, such as the anvils he purportedly studied, produced harmonious sounds while vibrating at frequencies in simple whole-number ratios.
The Great Peruvian Sushi
Peruvian cuisine is one of the best in the world and it is known not only for its exquisite taste, but also for its variety and ability to incorporate the influence from different times and cultures.
The Peruvian cuisine is an important expression of its own culture and tradition. It embraces new trends and influences and fuse them into something uniquely Peruvian. In fact, like Chinese and Italian, Japanese is one of the great late 19th and early 20th century migrations to Peru. The Japanese immigrants began opening seafood centered restaurants that inspired a resurgence love of fish and consequently the development of the “Ceviche” and “Tiradito” we know today.
The mayors of the ingredients found in every Peruvian dish are rice, potatoes, chicken and fish. Most of these meals include one of the different kinds of "Aji", or peruvian hot pepper, which mainly are: yellow aji pepper, red aji pepper, red rocoto pepper, and many others. Most of these kinds of aji are difficult to find in any other country. The Quechua word for Aji is “Uchu”.
Uchu Sushi is an amalgam of Peruvian and Japanese cuisine that goes beyond Sushi. It is a mixture of flavors that integrate Peruvian and Japanese cuisine at its highest level. The local ingredients and seafood from the Peruvian ocean creates an exquisite plate.
Uchu Sushi: (serves 4 people)
Ingredients:
1/4 kg of fresh Anchoveta fillet (Peruvian fish).
2 cups of Peruvian white rice.
4 Yellow Aji (Peruvian hot pepper).
1 Red Aji (Peruvian hot pepper).
4 Leaves of Acelga (Peruvian plant)
Preparation:
Slice the Anchoveta into rectangles, about a quarter-inch thick. Place the Yellow Aji in boiling water for 3 minutes, then transfer to ice water. When cooled remove the veins and keep the shell. Place one slice of Anchoveta and one red aji strip on the leave of Acelga and roll to form a cylindrical shape. Using your hands, take the yellow aji shell and form a cylindrical shape to match the previous roll. Take a small amount of the Peruvian white rice and place the rice block on top, and press gently to shape the sushi. Roll the sushi and cut into slices. Decorate the plate with Cilantro leaves. Serve with Aji Amarillo Sauce, Soy Sauce and a cup of Pisco Sour.
Aji Amarillo Sauce:
Ingredients:
2 Tbs. Sacha Inchi Oil
1 small onion, minced
2 tablespoon minced garlic
2 1/2 tablespoon dried aji amarillo
some drops of lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
Preparation :
Saute onions and garlic in Sacha Inchi oil, add aji amarillo, stir for 3 minutes, season with salt and pepper. Transfer mixture to food processor to produce a smooth sauce.
Drink: Pisco Sour (serves 4 people)
Ingredients:
4 measures of pure Peruvian Pisco
1 measure of gum syrup
1 measure of key lime juice
1/8 of a measure of an egg white
4 ice cubes
3 drops of Angostura Bitters
Preparation:
Place all the ingredients, except for the Angostura Bitters, in the order listed above in a cocktail shaker. Shake for 15 seconds. Strain and serve in a chilled, 8 oz. cocktail glass. Decorate the top with 3 drops of Angostura Bitters.
The Peruvian cuisine is an important expression of its own culture and tradition. It embraces new trends and influences and fuse them into something uniquely Peruvian. In fact, like Chinese and Italian, Japanese is one of the great late 19th and early 20th century migrations to Peru. The Japanese immigrants began opening seafood centered restaurants that inspired a resurgence love of fish and consequently the development of the “Ceviche” and “Tiradito” we know today.
The mayors of the ingredients found in every Peruvian dish are rice, potatoes, chicken and fish. Most of these meals include one of the different kinds of "Aji", or peruvian hot pepper, which mainly are: yellow aji pepper, red aji pepper, red rocoto pepper, and many others. Most of these kinds of aji are difficult to find in any other country. The Quechua word for Aji is “Uchu”.
Uchu Sushi is an amalgam of Peruvian and Japanese cuisine that goes beyond Sushi. It is a mixture of flavors that integrate Peruvian and Japanese cuisine at its highest level. The local ingredients and seafood from the Peruvian ocean creates an exquisite plate.
Uchu Sushi: (serves 4 people)
Ingredients:
1/4 kg of fresh Anchoveta fillet (Peruvian fish).
2 cups of Peruvian white rice.
4 Yellow Aji (Peruvian hot pepper).
1 Red Aji (Peruvian hot pepper).
4 Leaves of Acelga (Peruvian plant)
Preparation:
Slice the Anchoveta into rectangles, about a quarter-inch thick. Place the Yellow Aji in boiling water for 3 minutes, then transfer to ice water. When cooled remove the veins and keep the shell. Place one slice of Anchoveta and one red aji strip on the leave of Acelga and roll to form a cylindrical shape. Using your hands, take the yellow aji shell and form a cylindrical shape to match the previous roll. Take a small amount of the Peruvian white rice and place the rice block on top, and press gently to shape the sushi. Roll the sushi and cut into slices. Decorate the plate with Cilantro leaves. Serve with Aji Amarillo Sauce, Soy Sauce and a cup of Pisco Sour.
Aji Amarillo Sauce:
Ingredients:
2 Tbs. Sacha Inchi Oil
1 small onion, minced
2 tablespoon minced garlic
2 1/2 tablespoon dried aji amarillo
some drops of lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
Preparation :
Saute onions and garlic in Sacha Inchi oil, add aji amarillo, stir for 3 minutes, season with salt and pepper. Transfer mixture to food processor to produce a smooth sauce.
Drink: Pisco Sour (serves 4 people)
Ingredients:
4 measures of pure Peruvian Pisco
1 measure of gum syrup
1 measure of key lime juice
1/8 of a measure of an egg white
4 ice cubes
3 drops of Angostura Bitters
Preparation:
Place all the ingredients, except for the Angostura Bitters, in the order listed above in a cocktail shaker. Shake for 15 seconds. Strain and serve in a chilled, 8 oz. cocktail glass. Decorate the top with 3 drops of Angostura Bitters.
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