Sarela Matios Melendez

Born and raised in the Shipibo village of Santa Isabel de Bahuanisho in Ucayali, Sarela grew up surrounded by a rich family lineage of healing and tradition. As the daughter of Maestro Deodomero and the niece of Maestra Rosenda, she carries deep roots in her community’s cultural heritage. At the age of 12, she moved to Pucallpa to find work and support her parents and younger siblings, and later relocated to Lima when she was 17.

In 2020, Sarela returned to Pucallpa with her partner and daughter to help her father with the construction of Jochipapanete. Today, she serves as the center manager at Jochipapanete, where she ensures everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. Her care and dedication help create a calm, well-organized environment so guests, healers, and facilitators can fully focus on their work during retreats.