As a young Peruvian who was born at the same time and location when and where terrorism struck in Peru, Nelson Rivas, tells me his story. Whether it’s about being a family member of the disappeared, internally displaced by the conflict, or the impact that racism against Quechua speakers has had in his life, his present line of work as a Researcher for EPAFs department of Memory, has been a testament to his resilience when growing up during Peru’s political violence. I had the pleasure of working closely with Mr. Rivas who constantly impressed me with his extended knowledge of the region of Ayacucho; from its in-depth violent past, optimistic prospects for its future, and endless promises for its people. Nelson shared everything from the different types of flowers that were in season in Ayacucho, the region’s many folk tales, to sharing his knowledge of one of the region’s Native languages. As truly a man of his time and an instrument to voice the voices of the voiceless,  I felt Nelson exemplified the importance of knowing one’s history while actively pursuing a better future for those who remain impacted the most by Peru’s violence. So please don’t forget to watch, Social Anthropologist and EPAF Researcher, Nelson Rivas, on his journey to preserve memory in Peru.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tur5uexEycw