Educate 120 Girls in Cusco for Economic Survival

Dear CW community,
Thank you friends for sticking with us all these years-some of you for the last 35 years. The times are hard for us all, but we must remain positive. Itzel (photo on top) is mostly taking over the newsletter now. The California Board will hold an urgent garage sale to raise the short fall to complete this school year. Any support is appreciated. Love from Rae, Blessings.

Despite hard times let's focus on a positive story that reflects all the good and hard work Chicuchas Wasi has provided to our friends with Ariana's story by Itzel.

Empowerment of Ariana
Ariana is the youngest of three sisters. She lives with her parents and middle sister, who is sixteen years older than her. Unfortunately, the significant age gap did not foster a close relationship. Instead, their relationship became strained over time as Ariana’s sister often assumed the role of a second mother—disciplining her harshly and enforcing strict rules. This treatment gradually wore down Ariana’s self-esteem and confidence, leaving her hesitant and fearful, even when participating in everyday school activities. 

However, Ariana never thought her sister was wrong. Her sister would often say she was only “correcting” her so that she would not suffer later in life- insisting it was all for her own good. However, over time, Ariana internalized this and believed that the harsh discipline was something she deserved. As a result, she became quiet and fearful in class, rarely speaking up or participating. 

One day, during class, we began a conversation about our feelings and our thoughts. It was during this moment that Ariana finally opened up. She shared that she believed her parents preferred her sister over her as she spoke about feeling overlooked and pushed aside. Ariana longed for time and attention from her parents, who were almost always busy working. When her father was home, he would often sit in front of the computer and rarely engage with her. This made Ariana feel as though she didn’t exist—as if she were invisible in her own home. 

With this new understanding, we began working to support Ariana's self-esteem. One of the first steps has been giving her leadership roles within the classroom. This has already made a difference—Ariana is slowly becoming more engaged, playing with her classmates, sharing her opinions, and asking questions. We are also collaborating with her parents to shift the family dynamic, encouraging each member to fulfill their role in a healthier, more supportive way so they can better nurture Ariana's emotional needs.

The Peruvian School year will end mid Dec for summer break. Jan and Feb 2026 teachers will be preparing the 2026 class workbooks for every student and every subject. Your donations are always needed. The 2023 budget below is dated 2023 but the amount needed for 2026 school year.

**.                PLEASE DONATE**
Https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/educate-120-poor-girls-in-Cusco-for-economic-survival

Links:

• Chicuchas Wasi official website