Each spring a group of Alberta musicians has a teary reunion with the children in the remote mountain villages of Peru.
The volunteers from the foothills of Alberta bring thousands of satchels stuffed with school supplies purchased from funds raised at events such as the Kimmapii Kids Music Festival which will be held on Sept. 10 at Redwood House in Redwood Meadows just north of Bragg Creek.
This is the fourth annual music festival and organizer Barry Penny said the event is a substantial fundraiser for the volunteer group which has dedicated itself to helping the children in Peru receive an education.
“If they don’t get these supplies they don’t go to school,” said Penny. “When we go there to pass out the satchels it is pretty emotional for both sides. We are crying, they are crying — we are all bawling.”
The Kimmapii Kids charity had inauspicious beginnings but was rooted in a trip by a group of Albertans who traveled to Peru in 2007 to learn about the ancient wisdom of the indigenous elders. During their travels the group witnessed the great challenges of the children in the remote villages.
Upon returning home Penny said a group was discussing what they could do to help and during the brainstorming the thought of doing a fundraising concert emerged.
“When we asked the shamans there what we could do for them they said to send educational tools for the children,” said Penny. “When we were at home we were sitting around a table think of ways to raise money for those educational tools.”
The first concert was a show at the Empress Theatre, but the scope of the event expanded and was moved to Redwood Meadows to accommodate two stages (one indoor, one outdoor), a tent village, a carnival tent and an area for silent auctions, food vendors and other activities.
Trina Rowsell, a volunteer with Kimmapii Kids, said 95 percent of the funds raised at the music festival and other fundraisers go directly towards purchasing items for the children in Peru.
“Volunteers pay their own way each April and hand deliver the satchels,” she said. “Last year we delivered 1,212 satchels and our goal this year is 1,500.”
Since 2007 Kimmapii Kids has delivered about 6,000 satchels benefiting 15,000 children in Peru.
Initially Kimmapii Kids purchased the school supplies in Canada and shipped them to Peru, however, it proved to be too costly and the volunteers were looking at other options.
As a result, they secured help in Peru and now all of the satchels are made in Peru and all of the school supplies are bought in Peru.
As a result, the Kimmapii Kids volunteers are not only helping the children in the South American country, but also the local economy.
“It is all about giving back,” said Rowsell.
When Rowsell said it is about giving back, the exchange goes both ways. When the Kimmapii Kids arrive in Peru each April they are greeted with gifts and food from the village residents.
“When we go down there they have gifts for us, things they have made,” said Rowsell. “They don’t have much, but they give us something.
“It really is a connection between north and south.”
Penny said the villages often feed the volunteers and it can be anything from potatoes and corn to roasted guinea pig. Meanwhile, the children make bracelet and necklaces Penny brings home and gives to the musicians who perform at the Kimmapii Kids Music Festival.
Nine bands will be performing at this year’s event and they will be coming from across Alberta to participate in the event.
It will be an eclectic line-up including everything from country to bluegrass to classical. Penny’s own band The Playmates will also be performing.
“These musicians come from as far away as Camrose and Fort McMurray just to be here for one day,” said Penny.
Some of the other activities will include children’s games, bake sale, vendors and a Peruvian marketplace where goods sent from Peru will be for sale.
Tickets for the music festival are $20 for adults, the exact cost to fill one satchel with school supplies. Teens and seniors tickets are $15 and children are free. There is also a family ticket for $40.
The Kimmapii Kids Music Festival will be held Sept. 10 from noon to 6 p.m. at Redwood House. For more information on Kimmapii Kids visit www.kimmapiikids.org or www.facebook.com/kimmapiikidsfestival
