Goals and Objectives

Kusi Kawsay has a spectacular piece of land at the base of the Pisac archeological site. Construction began August 12, 2009 and we have made much progress! We were able to receive 65 students at our new school this year! Very exciting! We are close to completion of phase one – but works remain.

An existing building on the land was fixed up for a kindergarten schoolhouse. It is still being used this schoolyear for our kindergarten class while our new kindergarten is under construction, along with the kindergarten recreational area. The kindergathen bathrooms are complete and functioning.

Four elementary schoolhouses are complete and in use. The last two need to be built as soon as possible. We have first grade in one classroom, 2nd & 3rd in a classroom, 4th & 5th in a classroom and 6th in a classroom. For next year 2011, we hope to have each grade in its own classroom. The elementary school bathrooms are complete and functioning. Our septic system is ecologically friendly – it is a biodigestor – complete and working well.

Extensive terrace work is underway, with one last section to be completed. It is beautifully done, with stone pathways and stairways.

We still need to build the administrative area and a caretaker house in order to complete phase one, – and then we are ready for phase two – the library being priority – and a classroom for the upper grades is urgent. Because the Taray Cultural Center was damaged by the floods they are being hosted at the school, but in a very provisional area.

We also need to secure salaries for our excellent group of teachers and specialists.

Construction

Construction began in August! We need support to continue!

Our first phase goal includes the infrastructure and implementation of 6 schoolrooms, 2 kindergarten schoolrooms, 8 bathrooms, a water system, an administration area, a caretaker house and a recreational area. This total cost is $101, 580. Thanks to amazing support we have completed a great portion of phase one – but need more support to continue. The second phase programmed for 2011 is estimated at $40,000. Please see our complete budget under the links section in a printable PDF format.

We produce educational material for use by other schools in Peru or any other schools who wish to teach a section on Andean life. We aim to serve as a pilot project to inspire other schools to follow this method with the goal of providing an exceptional high quality education with access to the most updated teaching advances while honoring and celebrating traditional ways of life.

Method

We are a Waldorf inspired school initiative based in the local Andean traditions. We envision accompanying the children in their development respecting their being, customs, history, mythology, Cosmo vision and tongue, all rooted in their Andean heritage.

The official educational system diffuses values contrary to indigenous culture, thus further contributing to the loss of identity so fundamental to socio-cultural development. As adults, the children from Kusi Kawsay, boys and girls equally, will participate in society with developed problem solving, creative decision making and acute leadership skills woven with the common thread of an intact self-esteem and a richly dignified sense of cultural identity.

Information

The school Kusi Kawsay is formed by a group of people with a curriculum that promotes the diffusion and recuperation of Andean Culture who have organized a number of integral educational activities for the past 15 years aimed at reinvigorating, promoting, protecting and celebrating the Andean Culture – and in this way empowering the endangered traditional way of life.

Conclusions

The traditional Andean way of life understands all beings, humans, animals, plants and minerals to be equal and alive. The ecological ethic is a social ethic, in that we are all related: interrelated and interdependent on this existence.

By supporting this way of life and encouraging the revival of the practices that promote this dynamic of respect, this project takes ecological mindfulness a step further… into the realm of the heart, of truly respecting and loving the land. This is returning to the true essence of ecology. Our educational school material is focused on practicing traditions as well as presenting non-traditional practices (plays) for empowering ecologically and environmentally friendly consciousness. The school calendar follows the Andean Agrarian calendar that honors and celebrates the natural cosmic cycles.

The socio-economic conditions of this region, as you understand, are strictly based on daily survival for the majority of the participants. On the other hand, we have more than enough enthusiasm and dedication to contribute to the formation of a global conscience that respects cultural and ecological diversity, that honors the wisdoms and dignity of indigenous traditions, and that searches for the unity of human beings within a framework of reciprocity, respect and social justice.