Manchay is a settlement of campesinos from the mountains around Ayacucho, who fled the brutality of the Shining Path insurgency of the 1980s and early '90s. It is a shantytown that sprouted up in an old sand quarry at the outskirts of Lima. It is a desolate, dry and dusty place where people live in extreme poverty and a great many of its residents do not have access to water and electricity. Towering over the settlement is the church of Manchay, built in Ayacucho style to give the people a sense of home. The parrish of Manchay is lead by Padre José who swore to put his life at the service of the people of Manchay after having escaped his own execution by the Shining Path.
Next to the church is a school with a remarkable music program that was made possible thanks to a private donation of instruments.
When we visited it happened to be "teacher's day" and our musicians were invited to play a concert in honor of all the teachers of the settlement, more than 600.
At the end of the concert each musician received a typical Peruvian hat and the school band gave a concert in our honor in return. For many of our musicians this was the most powerful and moving concert of the festival.
