By Janett Chávarry García

In my country, half of the young people live in the capital, Lima. These people are traveling around the city looking for a special way to live. Some of them study, work, combine both together and they always think, and I think the same — that the government has to provide a sound foundation to build our lives so we can contribute to our country’s development and economy.

Recently, many people, including me, received the news that the government didn’t approve a project that involves young people and their education. Peru is the only country in South America that does not consider art students as professionals with an endorsed degree from the government.

Many people believe this rule is unheard-of because music or art students are professionals in the same way as a doctor or lawyer. As such, they need this degree for access to scholarships or to get a good position in a European conservatory or art academy.

In Peru, an art career is the worst paid profession and many artists compensate their salaries in the streets by singing or playing in weddings or parties.

Students at Peru's National Conservatory of Music and the National School of Bellas Artes protest the university decision to not grant degrees in music and the arts.
(Photo: Andino / Victor Gomez Palomino)

I’m not convinced that staging strikes will solve problems. Sometimes, they create more disturbances and don’t contribute to the dialogue between the opposing parties, but many people like students, teachers and members of parliaments joined together to force the change of this rule.

But no traditional methods were executed in this strike.

By Rocío Arango Giraldo

COLOMBIA:

Here in Colombia, the expression "BIT Women," is a fashionable way to describe a woman who is an achiever, intelligent and a multi-tasker. (In Spanish the acronym stands for: Berraca, Inteligente y Todera).

I have discovered that every woman is a "BIT" woman, and I'm sure that in every place around the world the situation is similar. BIT isn't only an Angela Merkel, Germany's Chancellor, or Michel Bachelet, Chile's President, women who are smart and high-profile.