One participant wrote: “That was the highest of feelings
Some department heads sit together and listen to the words of the coordinator of our festivals. Karina Pereyra quit a lucrative job at a ministry in Lima at the beginning of 2023 to prepare the “Eco en los Andes”, “Gozo en los Andes”, “Vida en los Andes” and “Luz en los Andes” festivals for a significantly reduced salary.
The numbers on the screen are breathtaking. The participants and bands came from 23 countries around the world and 4,000 enthusiasts sat in the large semicircle over the five days. 4.3 million views on social media are a lonely record. Two positive TV reports in the secular Peruvian media underlined the true significance of the event.
Karina talks about her big worries before the festival, when the guest house and amphitheater still resembled large construction sites. The transformation in the last few days from chaos to festival seemed almost impossible. But the unbelievable happened.
Now she responds to the exuberant comments from the young people on Instagram, TiK Tok, Facebook and YouTube. Karina’s tears well up as she talks about the young people’s gratitude and emotion.
“I felt like I was in the church of the first Christians. We were all of one mind,” writes a young lady. “I went through a very difficult phase in my life, but now I not only have peace, but also friends in faith!” – “I felt like I was in heaven. An incredible experience” and one young person summed it up as follows: “For me, the festival was the highest of feelings!”
When Karina mentions the two thunderstorms, our thoughts immediately return to the big semi-circle at the end of April. What could have been an absolute disaster turned out to be an unforgettable community experience. No concert had to be canceled, but groups gathered everywhere in the amphitheater and outside for prayer. Many describe Funky’s last concert as the highlight of the festival.
