Making an Impact Together

Alice Mao’s love of the Q’ero people led her to Heart Walk Foundation (HWF). She reached out to learn more about our work and to inquire about the current health and medical needs of the communities. This year, HWF made a bold commitment to fund and staff the medical clinic in Quico from April through June, at which time the Ministry of Health agreed to take over staffing and running the clinic. Unfortunately, when Malynda and her team of volunteers arrived in July, they found the gates closed and the clinic empty, leaving the vulnerable communities again without medical access.

After learning that Heart Walk Foundation had led dozens of successful medical brigades to the region, Alice felt inspired to support our mission by funding a medical brigade alongside Bertha Ramirez, our field director, who organized a medical team through the Red Sur (Cusco’s Health Network). Alice funded the transportation, meals, and provisions to support a team of ten medical and dental professionals for four days. She accompanied Bertha and a team of doctors, dentists, obstetricians, and nurses who were contracted with the help of the Red Sur.

Big Thank You to our Friend, Alice Mao,

for Taking Compassionate Action

Alice Mao, third from left bottom, with a team of Cusco medical professionals from the Red Sur Health Network, September 15th – 18th.

The brigade brought medical and dental services to everyone in need in the four communities. For Mao, the expedition was an introduction to the greater needs of the Q’ero communities and the beginning of a beautiful relationship between organizations, “I’m grateful to continue working in alliance with the Heart Walk Foundation to support the Q’ero people, helping their communities feel supported, respected, and cared for. Thank you to Malynda Madsen and Bertha Ramirez for your generosity of spirit and guidance on this path.”

Everyone received a dental cleaning and exam, as well as fillings and extractions as needed.

Doctors, nurses, dentists and medical staff set up their first clinic inside the Quico Community Center. The team traveled and attended to all four communities.

It’s amazing how much good can transpire when people who care come together. Alice and Bertha will unite again to fund and execute a second Medical Brigade to the distant Hatun Q’ero communities. The Red Sur Health Network will provide the personnel and authorization for the coming expedition. This Brigade will take place October 21st – 24th and will also provide Bertha and HWF with a familiarization of the distant Hatun Q’ero communities outside of the ones we currently serve.

New Classroom Brings Hope to Rural High School Students

Alice continued to partner with us by purchasing windows and doors for a new school room in Ccochamarca which will serve as an annex to the Hapu High School. Now young people from Ccochamarca will be able to finish their studies without having to make a strenuous hike to the neighboring community every day.

Roof donated by Heart Walk Foundation, windows and doors donated by Alice Mao, and the adobes and labor to construct the annex classroom donated by the people of Ccochamarca.

Materials were delivered by Heart Walk Foundation during the expedition of the medical team.

More Partnerships to Celebrate

Bertha and Malynda have been engaged in talks with Vacaville Rotary Club to find ways in which they might collaborate. The Vacaville chapter is preparing an international grant and had planned to help the community of Quico build a water project to each home. (As you recall, Quico was excluded from our Running Water Project this year because the Municipality of Paucartambo had already passed a proposal to bring water to each home in Quico.) We have been keeping Rotary Club abreast of developments, as the government water project is now underway. To avoid duplicity of projects we are examining other ways to work together in this community.

The families of Quico are anxious to have wash basins and running water spigots at their front door. They are pleading with Bertha and Heart Walk Foundation to help bring toilets and solar showers to their homes in 2026. We are rolling up our sleeves to launch this year’s Giving Tuesday Campaign. I hope you will join us in this undertaking. No Family left behind!

Climate Threatens Food Security

Last week the Q’ero communities were blanketed by an unseasonal snowstorm that has threatened their newly planted potato crops. We are awaiting news of any crop damage, but are hopeful that most of the seed potatoes haven’t sprouted yet and remain unharmed by the snow.

We are collecting warm winter coats, or small donations to purchase winter coats for the children of Q’eros suffering from extreme weather events. Reach out if you can help, or donate here.

Not a resident of Canada or US? Donate here.

As always, we thank you for the connection, care, and compassion you send to the Q’ero people. Your love reaches the highest mountain tops. Urpillay Sonqollay!

Watch for future emails about our Giving Tuesday campaign to bring latrines and solar showers to the Q’ero community of Quico, improving hygiene and easing everyday life for families. Save the date. December 2, 2025.

Connect with us

With your support, we delivered food staples to the elderly, widowed, and disabled this past September — part of our twice annual campaign to address food insecurity.