Neyda Rivera Barazosdo has worked as the dinner cook for VISIONS Peru since 2008, and she and her son, Kenny, are a special part of our program each year. Neyda whips up a variety of local dishes for VISIONS participants each evening, and always joins us as mealtimes. She also comes along for our visit to Machu Picchu and some other excursions, and Kenny participates in many of our activities as well.

Neyda was born in the small community of Vilcabamba, just east of the Cordillera Huayhuash mountain range in Central Peru, and has lived in the rugged Andean nation her entire life. Today, she lives further south, in the Sacred Valley of Ccotohuincho, Urubamba, and has no plans to leave. She says she loves Peru for its rich archeological heritage, not to mention the plethora of fresh, organic produce that’s easily found in the local markets. The latter is probably to be expected, since Neyda is a passionate chef. She particularly enjoys cooking the traditional lomo saltado (a traditional Peruvian stir fry dish that pairs beef sirloin with grilled veggies, fries and rice), but says, “I love cooking whatever the VISIONS kids want to have for dinner!”

Above all else, her favorite memories with VISIONS revolve around the deep bonds she forms with the kids each summer. “We all become like family, working as a team,” says Neyda. Before VISIONS students leave Peru, Neyda likes to share her “experience in the kitchen, a bit of [her] culture and significant values. In addition to treating them with great affection, as if they were my own children!”

“Me gusta compartir con los estudiantes mi experiencia en la cocina, un poco de mi cultura y valores significativos. Además de recibirles con mucho cariño ¡Como si fueran mis hijos!”