About the Projects
Consisted of the distribution of school supplies to students in the mountain villages of Willoq Alto (62 students) and in Paru Paru (185 students), Peru.
Location
Willoq Alto and Paru Paru, Pisac, Peru
Quick Project Stats
| Funding Date | February 2023 |
| Luena Investment | $3,000 |
| CBO Partner | Apurimac and Global Pearls |
| Village | Willoq Alto and Paru Paru |
| Country | Peru |
| # of Children Impacted | 80 in Willoq Alto and 80 in Paru Paru |
| Community Contribution | each family contributed $10 per child |
Marginalized High-Mountain Communities Struggling on Multiple Fronts
These two tiny mountain communities are found above 12,000 feet in the highest part of the Andes where it is almost impossible to grow anything besides potatoes and grains, and even then the growing season is very short. Prior to the pandemic, families were able to earn income by serving as porters on the Inca Trail or by selling weavings through intermediaries, to tourists. But with the collapse of tourism, they have struggled. In addition, the recent political turmoil and road blocks in Peru have been very harmful to families living in the Cusco region. Many families work as porters on the Inca Trail or make handcrafts for sale, through intermediaries, to tourists. But tourists have cancelled their planned trips to Peru over safety concerns.
Compounding the issue, costs were up markedly this year due to general inflation and the dramatic rise in transportation costs. Between higher gas prices and road closures, the cost of transporting goods has risen significantly. Many families simply can’t afford the required supplies. Our school supply distributions were therefore greatly appreciated by these families.
Donation of School Supplies Helped Families Cope During a Particularly Complicated Year
We distributed school supplies in Paru Paru and Willoq Alto, two traditional villages located over 12,000’ in the Andes overlooking the Sacred Valley. We also gave supplies to children in Cachora and the villages along the Choquequirao Trail. Altogether, $3,000 provided supplies for 80 children, and the matching funds from our partner organization, Global Pearls, helped 80 more. The school supplies cost approximately $35 USD per child, but each family contributed approximately $10 USD. Normally the families are able to fully cover these costs, but as tourism has dried up to almost nothing during COVID, these families are experiencing very bad financial conditions. The school supplies in total cost approximately $6,000.
Meet our Partner Community-Based Organization
Apurimac Adventures is a locally-owned tour operator based in Cusco, Perú. The founder, Juan Covarrubias Ccaihuari, is a Quechua from Choquequirao, whose ancestral family has lived in the mountains for over 150 years. Apurimac Adventures is devoted to promoting the welfare of the indigenous peoples of the region. They pay their staff a generous wage to help them make a better life for themselves and their families and are also actively engaged in designing and implementing development projects that benefit the communities along their trekking trails.
