The Andean village of Chijnaya was born after a flood in 1963 devastated villages near Lake Titicaca.  As part of the resettlement project, and through the influence of Peace Corps volunteers, the concept of having the children embroider scenes of daily life took hold.  What emerged were “bordados” – hand-dyed, alpaca yarn embroideries on a ground of “bayeta” (hand-woven, simple weave, wool cloth).  These “life stories in thread” soon focused worldwide media attention on the plight of Chijnaya’s villagers.  The tradition lasted until political conditions made it impossible to export the embroideries in the 1980s. This changed with the revival of “bordados” that took place just a few years ago.  Each piece tells a specific story of an aspect of life in today’s Chijnaya—and most are made by the children, now adults, who found a voice and expression of their cultural identity in the original project. The Chijnaya Foundation, headed by ex-Peace Corps volunteer and Santa Fean Ralph Bolton, seeks to improve living conditions in Chijnaya through agriculture, animal husbandry, health and the support of artisans.

Zenovia Paricela attended in 2008.
Hugo Yucra Quispe Paricela attended in 2009.
Zenovia Paricela Huancollo attended in 2010.