Ashley Akins

Director & Co-Founder

Ashley 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.

Raul Cobos Mejia

Field Coordinator & Co-Founder

Jasmine Nielsen

Assistant Director/ Volunteer Coordinator

Jasmine became involved in Mosqoy three years ago after attending a lecture given by Ashley 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.

Beatriz Palacios Fernandez

Administrative & Outreach Director

Beatriz, 24 years old, was born and raised in Madrid, Spain. After graduating in England with a BA in English Literature and Cultural Studies, she spent a year in Paris studying French and trying to figure out what to do next. She finally moved to Victoria in 2008, when she enrolled in the Cultural Resource Management Diploma program at the University of Victoria. Over the past two years, she has completed two co-op placements, one as Communications Assistant with the BC Heritage Branch, the other in India with a leading development organization. Upon returning to Victoria, these two experiences shaped her current involvement with Mosqoy, working for four months with the team as a co-op student. Having heard of Mosqoy's great work from the moment that she first arrived in Victoria, 2010 was finally her year to get actively involved.

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 Ashley 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.

Janette Delong

Communications Coordinator

Janette spent 18 years growing up in Prince George before moving to Victoria in 2007. Originally, the plan was to pursue a degree in sciences, with languages on the side, at the University of Victoria, but as time went on, that order reversed: she is now in her third year of a BA in French and Hispanic Studies.

Janette first heard about Mosqoy and the Q’ente Society in an Environmental Studies class in 2009. As one of those rare students who has always loved going to school, Janette would have been very disappointed if she had not had the opportunity to attend university. One year later, she is so happy to finally be working with Mosqoy and the Q’ente Society to assist fellow students pursue higher education and contribute to the revitalization of traditional knowledge.

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.

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.

Also...

• Adrian Jimenez Suma: Resident Advisor
• Rosmery Olivera Sinchi: Resident Advisor
• Rolando AuccapuriIturriaga: 2010 Ambassador
• Ebhert Alvarez Huaman: Peru Activities coordinator
• Elvira Huaman Guerra: Peru Activities coordinator

Board of Directors

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