Volunteer Staff

Ashli Akins

Director & Co-Founder

Ashli is 25 years old from Fort Langley, BC, Canada and is currently living somewhere near the Pacific Ocean. She graduated from the University of Victoria in 2009 with a BA in environmental studies, Latin American studies, and professional writing (journalism & publishing), and is currently a Community Research Fellow for the Centre for Co-operative & Community-Based Economy in Victoria, BC. She is a freelance photojournalist and writer, and uses communication as a means of educating about international human rights issues. She recently completed a photography internship in New York with National Geographic Adventure magazine. She first stumbled upon Ollantaytambo, Peru, in the summer of 2006, when it captured her heart and accidentally became her life. She has since returned each year and dedicated her energies to the development of both Mosqoy & the Q’ente Society.

Jasmine Nielsen

Assistant Director/ Volunteer Coordinator

Jasmine became involved in Mosqoy three years ago after attending a lecture given by Ashli in one of her classes. She was struck by the potential of the project, and has been involved in Mosqoy in various capacities ever since. Currently Jasmine is completing a double major in Women´s Studies and Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria. She hopes to pursue human rights law in the future, and is interested in studying law on both local and international levels. Jasmine grew up on the prairies, and while she loves Victoria, she hopes to return to real winters one day, because she misses sledding and snow forts!

Andrea Di Lucca

Communications Coordinator

Andrea got involved with Mosqoy and Q'ente in September, 2006 and is continuously inspired and motivated by the work of the organizations. She is currently a Bachelor of Commerce student at the University of Victoria specializing in International Business and Spanish. As the Communications Coordinator, she enjoys the opportunity to interact with sponsors, students, and partners in North America and Peru. Above all, she values the sense of community that has been created with the volunteers and supporters of Mosqoy and Q'ente, along with the focus on creating positive change and fostering reciprocity between cultures.

Denise Clarke

Treasurer

Denise earned her Bachelor of Commerce degree at UBC too many years ago to mention and has spent the last 28 years balancing work in the accounting field with the more important task of raising her four daughters and one son. She has recently gained one wonderful son-in-law and one absolutely, completely delightful grandson. Denise has had the opportunity to participate in two short-term missions trips to Mexico and Haiti to reach out to the poor and has come to appreciate the value of giving people a hand up rather than a hand out. She is very excited to work with Mosqoy and Q'ente where the "hand up" philosophy is having a huge impact on the people of the Sacred Valley in Peru.

Reanna McMillan

Administrative & Outreach Director

Reanna has recently completed her Bachelor degree in Anthropology with a minor in Hispanic Studies at the University of Victoria. She is fluent in Spanish as a result of her studies and her numerous travels and exchanges in Spain. Reanna has enjoyed attending functions such as the Model United Nations in Milan, the Explore Program in Quebec and is also involved with the Global Medical Brigades in Honduras. She heard about Mosqoy through the University of Victoria’s co-op program and was excited to work for an organization that promoted positive changes and sustainable development in Latin America.

Mark Knudsen

Grants & Funding Coordinator

Mark is 21 years old from Victoria, BC, Canada. He is currently enrolled in the Social Science Co-operative Education Program, studying Political Science and Hispanic Studies. Mosqoy: Sacred Valley Youth Fund has provided Mark with his first CO-OP work experience through his position as the Grants and Funding Coordinator. Mark’s interests include music, specifically playing guitar, sports, such as tennis and lacrosse, and travelling. Mark has previously worked as a Water Safety Instructor and a Recreational Activity Supervisor. He developed a keen interest in Latin America and the non-profit sector during his year studying at the Universidad Veracruzana in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.

Cait Vince

Global Education Program Director

Cait is 24 years old from Hudson’s Hope, British Columbia. She now resides in Victoria, BC, while attending the University of Victoria to obtain her bachelor's degree in Anthropology with a minor in English Literature. Cait traveled to Peru in May-June 2009, where she met the Mosqoy students.

Cait plans to pursue a career in social justice and hopes to work in the field of sustainable international development. Cait enjoys the outdoors, reading, and playing guitar. She is also a volunteer with the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS) where she is an English tutor. She is Mosqoy’s Global Education Program Director and helps with various other fundraisers held in Victoria.

Colin Aspinall

Webmaster

Colin is a Uvic Computer Science Graduate currently living in Victoria. Upon moving to beautiful Victoria from snowy Prince George he explored the worlds of coffee and cooking while he earned his degree. Currently Colin works at a rapidly growing GIS software company and gets to travel to places like Downtown LA and the Colorado mountains doing software installations and trainings. In his spare time he is learning web design and helping to maintain and improve the Mosqoy and Qente Society websites. Colin is eagerly awaiting the start of the camping/hiking season.

Sonya Rokosh

Intern Supervisor/Peru Liaison

Sonya is a 4th year student at the University of Victoria pursuing a double major in Environmental Studies and Hispanic Studies, as well as a Diploma in Restoration of Natural Systems. Sonya spent ten years of her childhood in the southern part of Peru, where she was first exposed to the rich culture found in the Andean mountains. A Mosqoy presentation given by Ashli Akins resonated with Sonya during her first year of studies at UVic, rekindling nostalgic feelings from her Peruvian upbringing, and since then has been involved with both the Mosqoy and Q’ente organizations. Sonya plans to pursue a directed studies placement in Peru during the spring of 2011 where she will finally get to meet some of the Mosqoy students.

Adrian Jimenez Suma

House Supervisor

Adrian is 23 years old and he is originally from Mandolista, in the Sacred Valley. He graduated from Official Tour Guiding at the Instituto Americana del Cusco in December 2009. His dream is to study English and to work as a tour guide on the Inca Trail.

Adrian’s younger sisters do not have parents who live with them, so he goes back to Ollantay each weekend to see them and take care of them.

Adrian is a dancer in the folkloric dance “Chileno,” of Ollantaytambo as well as in the dance “Cuk’as,” in Urubamba. He plays the quena (a traditional Andean flute) in dances.

Adrian is volunteering with Mosqoy because he realizes that Mosqoy needs a lot of help to continue beyond the first group, and he wants to make sure that it keeps going for future generations.

Rolando Auccapuri Iturriaga

Communications Coordinator

Rolando is originally from Pachar, in the Sacred Valley. He is 21 years old, and he studied Official Tour Guiding in the Instituto Americana del Cusco. He graduated in December 2009 and currently, he works at a tour agency in Cusco. Rolando is interested in adventure tourism and cultural tourism. His goal is to bring tourists to various communities in the region and be a tour conductor for cultural tourism. He would like to discover and establish new tourism routes – Rolando does not want to do traditional tourism. Rolando’s dream is to start a Cultural Centre in Ollantaytambo and revitalize the old museum there.

On weekends, Rolando acts as a father for his family: he takes care of his mother and younger brother, their house, and their farm. In his spare time, he loves to do sports like hiking and biking.

Thanks to his commitment to the Mosqoy program, Rolando was Mosqoy’s first Mosqoy Ambassador: he went to Victoria, Canada in 2010, where he studied at UVic for four months, learned English, and participated in Mosqoy Canada operations.

Rolando is volunteering for Mosqoy to give back what Mosqoy has given him. He has seen what Mosqoy does, and can do, and because of his time in Canada, he knows how much work it takes to make Mosqoy succeed.

Elvira Huaman Guerra

Education and Volunteer Program Coordinator

Elvira is 21 years old, and she is originally from Tanccac, in the Sacred Valley. Elvira graduated from the Hotel Administration program in the Instituto Americana del Cusco. Currently, Elvira is doing her practicum in a hotel: she does everything, from housekeeping and reception, to running the café and Laundromat. Elvira’s dream is to help the Ollantaytambo district in the future.

Elvira is the captain of her folkloric dance “Mestiza Coyacha,” in the community of Tanccac. She leads this dance team to many competitions and performances in the Sacred Valley. Elvira also likes sports: she plays on the Women’s Ollantaytambo District Football (soccer) team.

Each weekend, Elvira helps her family on their farm and at their store in Tanccac.

Elvira is volunteering for Mosqoy to give thanks to the program, because she cannot do that by giving money. Elvira wants to help other youth by being an advisor, a good role model, and an example of a good leader.

Ebhert Alvarez Huaman

Activities Coordinator

Ebhert’s hometown is Ollantaytambo. He is 23 years old, and graduated from the Instituto Americana del Cusco’s Official Tour Guiding program. At the moment, works as an assistant chef on the Inca Trail. In the future, Ebhert would like to open his own business.

Ebhert likes soccer: he plays for “Estudiantes Ollantay,” the Men’s Ollantaytambo Distric Football team. Ebhert also dances – he is the main character, the Doctor, of his dance “Chileno” in Ollantaytambo. The Doctor is the joker of the dance, and he has played this part for 6 years.

Ebhert is volunteering for Mosqoy to give thanks for the help that it has given to him and his family. He is very happy because his two younger sisters are now in the program too. It has made his parents’ lives much easier.

Patrick Grace

Volunteer Translator

Patrick is a Master's student in the department of French at UVic focusing on the effects of technology on language and communication. He teaches beginner-level French tutorials throughout the school year, and his interest in languages led him to receive a double major in French and Hispanic Studies in 2009.

Andres Palomino

Volunteer Translator

Andres was born in Cali, Colombia. In 2004, Andres graduated with a bachelor's degree in Sports and Physical Activity from the Escuela Nacional del Deporte. He then moved to Toronto. Andres obtained a graduate certificate in Workplace Wellness and Health Promotion & Marketing Management from Centennial College. Currently, he is doing a Master in Exercise Science, Kinesiology at the University of Victoria.

Andres has used his academic knowledge to supplement his technical inline skating skills. He now teaches Inline speed skating/rollerblading to children, adolescents and adults in Victoria. Andres joined Mosqoy because he wants to support his fellow Latin Americans.

Jacqui McGuire

Sponsor Liaison, Communications Coordinator

Jacqui heard about Mosqoy through a friend and was eager to help out as the Communications Coordinator, as the position had just become available. Jacqui studied at the University of Victoria and completed her Bachelor's degree in Sociology and Psychology, with a concentration in Social Justice in 2009. She grew up in a small town called Tsawwassen and now lives in Vancouver, BC. Jacqui is currently employed with Delta Community Living Society as a Community Support Worker for people with developmental disabilities, as well as in the Banquets Department at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel. She is very interested in furthering her career endeavors with Non-Profit Societies or Non-Government Organizations, as helping people is what she intends to dedicate her life to. Jacqui loves traveling, snowboarding, soccer, animals, learning, music and reading.

Tia Low

Administration and Outreach Coordinator

Tia, 21 years old, was born and raised in Victoria, B.C. She is currently working towards a BA in Applied Linguistics and minor in Journalism and Publishing at the University of Victoria. There she is also enrolled in the Humanities, Fine Arts and Professional Writing Co-operative Education Program.

In between her studies at UVic, she has completed a Co-op work term as Communications Assistant at Natural Resources Canada, studied abroad in Spain, and worked as "Conversation Café" Assistant at UVic's International and Exchange Student Services. Mosqoy Sacred Valley Youth Fund has provided Tia with her second work term. During spare time, she enjoys writing, reading, travelling and playing piano and guitar.

Jesse Holth

Global Education Program Director

Jesse is 21 years old and is originally from Calgary, Alberta. She has been attending the University of Victoria for three years, studying English and Psychology. She is currently completing her first Humanities, Fine Arts, and Professional Writing Co-op work term. She is very excited to be working with Mosqoy and hopes to volunteer with them in the future. Her interests include playing guitar, enjoying the outdoors, and meeting new people. She is also actively involved with Amnesty International and various organizations dedicated to environmental conservation.

Leslie Lai

Special Projects Coordinator

Leslie is currently a 4th year Bachelor of Commerce student from the University of Victoria. Being born and raised Calgary also attended SAIT Polytechnic and received her diploma in Hospitality Management. There she was the Event Leader and coordinated a fundraising dinner for a local Hospice alongside 15 of her classmates. She was also involved in many of SAIT’s special events and galas including ‘07 & ‘08 President’s Reception, 100Club Dinner, and the Willow Park Vintage Fund. After a dip in the hospitality industry, she wants to pursue event planning and coordinating. With that knowledge from the BCom program and a member of the Sustainability Club at UVic, she is excited to be onboard with Mosqoy and the Q'ente Society.

Board of Directors

• Ashli Akins
• Brent Akins
• Raul Cobos Mejia
• Kennedy Leavens
• Lauren Portner