Gina Pezet tells us about Growing and “Pianos and strings of solidarity”, a call to solidarity

Gina Pezet He never imagined that a visit to the Junín jungle, more than 20 years ago, would change his life forever. The abandonment and deprivation that he witnessed as a child in that place prompted him to found Growing, an initiative that not only builds classrooms and nourishes bodies and dreams, but also sows hope in the hearts of those who represent the future of our society.

“After living for many years in Europe, I returned to Peru and on a trip with my father to Satipo I saw the hunger, the abandonment, the little flies flying around the children. All of this led me to create Growing, and I did it without thinking that it would be my ‘fourth child’. I started alone in 2003, then on the recommendation of a friend, it became an association, and in 2013 it became a small NGO. We do not have the human capital, nor the money to apply to large international funds.”, acknowledges Pezet.

Growing was conceived with the purpose of transforming rural education into an opportunity that provides equity to children in these areas. From the beginning until today, Gina has faced numerous challenges and has had to overcome great obstacles to keep this altruistic project afloat, she says.

“A native family has between 8 and 9 children, and soon those people are going to run this country. If we continue to look at them from the side and do not worry about training or educating them, things will never change. I have been doing this for 20 years of my life, making great progress within the limitations of being in a country where everyone complains about how bad it is, but I realize that the agent of my economic condition doesn’t care what happens. with childhood”, he points out.

“I’m not going to deny that sometimes I felt exhausted, because it’s swimming against the current; but one of the reasons why I am still here is because when I started in the Alto Villa Victoria town center I had 52 students and today there are 298″, she points out excitedly.

Solidarity event

Through events such as “Solidarity Pianos and Strings”, ‘Growing’ seeks not only funding, but also to raise awareness about the importance of comprehensive education, which encompasses not only academics, but also art, music and sports.

“I thought that with my circle of friends and those of my husband I was going to have 300 associates who would contribute 50 soles each month. We are 18. We have always financed our works with events, since we do not have the foreign financing, which we are supposed to have. I did not have 5,000 dollars to pay an expert to do a project for me and what we do is correct the shortcomings that the State has and which are many with respect to education. In Germany, for example, a teacher earns more than a doctor here, when I started that time a teacher earned 550 soles in 2003. What can you ask of a person with that salary?”, he highlights.

The “Pianos and Strings of Solidarity” event is more than music; It is a call to solidarity and transformation. With the talent of Lisandro Gramajo on the piano, and the emotional virtuosity of Carlos Costa and Marielena Pacheco on the violin. The Appointment is this April 29, in the Alexander Von Humboldt auditorium, at 7:30 pm.

“We have to sell 500 tickets and I am already hearing many people say that it is expensive, that people do not have money, however in the end, we managed to convince good-hearted people, who will also enjoy a wonderful event with three first-class musicians. level. The idea is that people know a little more about the sacrificial work we do. The proceeds will be used to hire two teachers for our children, who will teach music, art and sports, so important for the development of children,” explains Pezet.

“I always say that God needs me here and that I am going to live to be 120 years old to continue changing the lives of many children. I feel satisfied with having done things well, in a small way, but well.”, he emphasizes.