Education for 50 children in the Andes of Peru

KUSKA TURNS 10 YEARS!

This year, Kuska celebrates 10 years of continuous growth. This is a definitive milestone in the history of the project and allows us to stop and look back, observe the present and ask ourselves what our community will be like in the future. This moment allows us to reflect on the purpose of the project, how it was born, who participated, what we want to promote, what we leave behind, how we can improve, what we value and how we maintain our essence in a context that is constantly changing. Check out this short video from Guillermina, Kuska School´s principal:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRxUvJcYDpc

OUR AYLLUS
 
In Andean culture, there is no individualism but instead, The Ayllu, which means living in community. In this sense, living well not only encompasses the life and relationships of humans but the dedication of an entire community willing to be the guardian and support of everyone in it.
 
In this first bimester we worked with our closest circle, our classroom and peers; we then observed that we are part of a larger circle: The school. Finally, we focused on the community of Ollantaytambo, as the third circle of our great Ayllu

Become part of our ayllu Kuska:  https://kuskaschool.org/es/participa

THE FIRST PROJECTS

 
At the beginning of the year, our Kuska community formed four Ayllus, each of which built their learning from a problem or question that gave rise to a specific project. Below, we briefly tell you about our community growth and the various learning paths:

The Guardians of the Fire (group of 3 and 4 years
 
During the first two months, we organized our activities around the question: How can we live Peace in Kuska? It was articulated in 3 investigations: Who am I? What are my emotions? How can I learn to live harmoniously with my peers?
 
After recognizing our individual traits, we realized the need to establish agreements together that would enable our peaceful coexistence. In the process of identifying what we feel in our body and defining emotions, we discovered and put into practice an active meditation.

The Shining Stars (group of 4 and 5 years old)

In this first two-month period, the question that helped start the project was: How to be an Ayllu? This learning journey began with personal knowledge; recognition of the physical characteristics and qualities that each one brings to the Ayllu and strengthens it. Later, we focused on the Ayllu of the room, and agreements were reached for coexistence, responsibilities were chosen and so was a name that would identify them as a group: Brilliant Stars. Finally, the Ayllu of the Ollantaytambo community and its peculiarities were known.
 

Creative Spirits (group of 6 and 7 years old)

At the beginning of the year, the trigger question that led the project  was: What can we do for our community? This question led us to reflect and address issues of what it means to live in a community and be part of it, which resulted in a range of new concerns: What do we do for our Ayllu Creative Spirits? What do I do for my Ayllu Kuska School? What do I do for my Ayllu Ollantaytambo?

The Willows (8, 9 and 10 years old)

The Los Sauces group developed the project, How to Build Peace, even if we are different, it is possible to reflect on our actions and their impact on the spaces we inhabit. Socio-emotional skills were a very important basis for our project, as they allowed us to recognize how emotions provide us with support to resolve conflicts and find solutions to live together in a friendly, respectful and safe space.

Links:

• Get involved!
• A message from our principal for our 10 years!

The year 2021 was one of much resilience, adaptation and transformation. We started the first part of the year virtually, delivering to our children the long-awaited "magic boxes" with material for the month´s project, books every week and work sheets.

In May, we welcomed the new members of our Advisory Board, a great group of people, with diverse backgrounds, who supports and give our organization perspective, knowledge and experience. Get to know them! https://kuskaschool.org/nosotros/quienes-somos/

In the month of August, the Peruvian Ministry of Education gave us authorization to progressively return to in person classes, news that filled us with joy. After one and a half years, the children, teachers and families enjoyed this reunion very much.

At the end of August we travelled to Seattle, Washington and organized a friend and fundraise event, where we met with friends, family, educators and lovers of the Peruvian Andes. We shared with all of them our purpose and dreams. Thank you Seattle for receiving us with such openness, interest and joy. We left with a full heart ♥ and with new friends. The Kuska community is growing! Check full post : https://www.instagram.com/p/CUNlt_6JlNM/

From August to December we prepared and executed a progressive back to school program focusing in the social and emotional needs of our students, as a priority. 
 

We finished the year with a lot of laugh and joy, children´s dance presentations and a tasty "chocolatada with panetón", a peruvian tradition for christmas.

Links:

• Get to know more about the Kuska Scholarship Fund
• See the wallata andean dance!