PERU | CLEAN COOKSTOVES | Heifer International
By the time I arrived at the home of Sofia Arivilca, she had been homeless for most of her 64 years.
Over the two days I spent with her near Lake Titicaca, Peru, she shared with me how she had been abandoned by her family, abused by her husband, and endured economic hardship. And then, a neighbor knocked at her door, and Arivilca rushed off to participate in the life she’d always imagined.
I met Arivilca through Heifer International, with which Harbers Foundation partnered on a project called “Healthy Homes.” The initiative supports women by providing them with homes and training in distinct living spaces, hygienic food storage, safe cookstoves, and functional sanitation. But the most incredible part happens afterward, when the women take the lead, sharing the skills they’ve gained with their communities and creating ripples of transformation far beyond their own lives.
With her participation and consent, I photographed moments from Arivilca’s new life that reflect her perspective — focusing on the profound beauty, joy, and connections she has built through her resilience and strength.