Meet My World: Seeing the world through their eyes
- Francesca Servalli
- Jul 25
- 2 min read
In a quiet gallery tucked away in the heart of Lima, something extraordinary is happening.
Visitors walk slowly. Some pause for a long time in front of a single photograph. Others lean in to read the handwritten captions. There’s a sense of stillness — the kind that invites listening.
These are the stories of young people from the Peruvian Andes, told by the young people themselves. The Meet My World exhibition — still open to the public at the Cultural Center of Universidad del Pacífico — is a moving collection of short films and photographs created by Indigenous youth from rural communities in Cusco. It offers something we rarely get to see: a window into their world, their memories, and the way they understand the landscapes that shaped them. It's a statemet full of love, resilience, and identity.
A journey that began over a decade ago
The roots of Meet My World go back more than ten years, when Amantani opened boarding houses in Cusco to support children who would otherwise walk hours to reach school. These boarding houses were more than just a place to sleep — they became spaces of care, growth, and imagination.
It was there that the first cameras were handed out. Not to document poverty or hardship, but to let the young people document their lives — on their own terms.
Since then, Meet My World has grown from a small creative project into a long-standing movement. A place where young people can explore what it means to speak up, to be seen, and to reclaim the narrative often written for them.
This year, at the opening of the exhibition, two of our scholarship students — Lourdes and Frank Luis — traveled to Lima to represent their peers. For both of them, it was the first time on a plane. For Frank Luis, it was also his first time ever in the capital.
Their excitement was contagious. Their presence, unforgettable. And their stories, like those featured on the gallery walls, remind us of the power of opportunity — and the courage it takes to step into new spaces and be heard.
And now, we’re turning the page — literally.
We’re thrilled to be working on the first-ever Meet My World book: a publication co-created with the same young people who made the exhibition possible.
The book gathers over a decade of visual storytelling — their photographs, their voices, their traditions — and brings them together into a powerful collective memory. It’s not just about looking back. It’s about making sure these stories live on, are shared, and continue to challenge how Indigenous youth are seen.
With your help, we’ll be able to print and distribute this unique publication in Peru and beyond — reaching schools, libraries, and communities where it can continue to inspire. If you feel called to donate and support us launch this project, you can do so here:
