Cusco where he has been living for the past 22 years. Upon arrival, he fell in love with the mountains, rivers, culture, and people of Cusco. Beginning as a river guide, Mr. Ugarte then learned to guide the trails and the jungle, as well as lead cultural tours throughout the city. Having his degree in tourism, Mr. Ugarte now works as an Official Tour Guide in Cusco and as a tour leader in other parts of Peru and Bolivia.
As a guide, and working with the local people from in and around Cusco, Mr. Ugarte has become quite familiar with the struggles that people in Cusco, many illiterate, face on a daily basis. Mr. Ugarte would like the standard of living to improve for Peruvians, especially for those who live in the provinces such as Cusco, and believes that through improved literacy and education there is great hope. An avid reader himself, Mr. Ugarte would love to see the gift of literacy and the love of reading, grow in each child. Mr. Ugarte often brings tourists to see and spend time with the children at La Pagina en La Puerta.
Rachel Rose Reida
Ms. Reida is the other Director of La Pagina en La Puerta. Born in Boulder Colorado, raised in New
York City and its literacy based education in the public school system, Ms. Reida moved to Cusco Peru when she was eleven. It was quite a shock and a bit troubling to Ms. Reida to enter the Cusco school system and discover that literacy and writing were not the main teaching vehicle for each subject learned in school. Ms. Reida attended one of the better educational institutions here in Cusco – the alternative school Pukllasunchis, where she graduated 5th in her class.
Ms. Reida began to read at age 4 and hasn’t put a book down since. She can’t even imagine a world in which books, and sharing and talking about books, does not exist. While still in Cusco, Ms. Reida spent much time with the children at the library helping them read and develop the same love for books and stories that she has. For the moment Ms. Reida has had to put down her favorite books and pick up textbooks until she is finished with her studies in Hospitality and Administration at the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, Lima. She looks forward to holidays in which she can read for pleasure, share books with her younger sister and the children at the library when she visits Cusco.