TEACHERS are the BACKBONE to EDUCATE GIRLS in Peru

               Our promising CW graduates are struggling emotionally !

 Chicuchas Wasi (CW) School has had many successes during our 20 years dedicated to the education of poor indigenous girls who are finally able to go to school. But the socioeconomic level in which they live has not changed and is not something CW school can change. During the last 2 months the Peruvian public schools (not CW) have been on strike and left our high school girls in limbo. Their families pushed them harder to work and as the strike continued the risk that they would not return to school grew. The strike finally ended last Thursday, but now there is additional pressure on the high school girls by the Peruvian Ministry of Education to make up the lost school time during the strike adding more stress and a greater level of desperation that the girls must struggle with. They desperately want to stay in school, but the family wants them to work. Alone, emotional, depressed and confused they suffered quietly.  Xiomara, a CW 2013 graduate and exceptional high school student, died suddenly last week. Her friends rushed to their beloved CW to tell Director Ruth how she struggled at home with her 'auntie' (Tia) and that they came to see Ruth for comfort and support.

At a recent CW Alumni Sisterhood meeting, OUR (now 12 to 15 year old girls) graduates in public high school spoke about the difficult reality they face every day at home. Like our 112 younger girls at the CW Primary School for Girls, the high school girls confront a list of serious challenges: absolute poverty, malnutrition due to inadequate nutrition at home, poor health, family dysfunction, alcoholism and abuse, neglect and abandonment to name a few. Those with loving & supportive parents represent approximately 30-40% of all parents. Some of our girls abandoned by both parents, end up with a 'Tia' (a non-relative and unloving caretaker) that uses and abuses them. The CW staff tries and generally is successful in keeping them in school and letting them know they are loved and being empowered for their future. In addition to academic education, CW is about LOVE and nurturing these young girls. We provide a nutritious daily meal and our girl's health is improved. Healing their hearts is ongoing and our staff is dedicated to filling our girls with the love that is often absent at home. We are blessed with success and strong confident girls when they move onto high school, but they now struggle away from the loving arms of CW and are asking CW for the emotional help all young girls need. The CW Alumnae Sisterhood has been ongoing and in constant contact with the older girls to mentor and assist them with money to buy their high school supplies and uniforms when needed.

Friday, OUR CW Alumnae girls reached out to us, saying their challenges have become too difficult for them alone and asked for help.

Ruth says: The girls tell us they have no one. She reports that when listening to their stories and troubles, she asked them what is it that they need most and is most urgent. They answered: "We need a Psychologist's help, and to know that we are still part of CW emotionally. When we were students here in CW school we knew we could trust you, that you listened to us and protected us and you gave us the strength we needed - now we feel alone".  Ruth added that one girl told her: "I have a mama with alcohol problems. She becomes very sad when I tell her something because she doesn't understand me and is not able to advise me, so I have to make all the decisions alone. She is very timid and afraid so I have to protect her, but I need help from someone I can tell my problems to who will advise me and help me to see what I cannot see".

After an emotional few days confronting their reality and listening to the stories of the Alumnae girls we understand they cannot manage alone and CW must remain their safety net. We must create a formal program for our still very young girls who have gone on to high school, to help them continue their education and prepare them for a bright and sunny future. 

This program will be named 'Xiomara" in honor of a very special young girl.

1- Ongoing psychological guidance with the school psychologist

2- Emotional support and affection from CW teachers and admin staff. 

3- Contract a social worker to identify the socioeconomic needs of these girls.

4- Financial help in March for 50% of the girls to pay for the high school registration fees, uniforms and supplies

5- The high school girls want to be big sisters and will give talks to the 5 & 6th grade girls about what they are living through and how they must defend themselves - preparing them for what they will experience when they leave CW school.

6- Formal committed monthly meetings in addition to personal or group meetings and conversations with CW when needed. 

                  Your donation is needed and much appreciated

                                   PLEASE DONATE

https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/educate-110-poor-girls-in-cusco-for-economic-survival/

“Girls are one of the most powerful forces for change in the world: When their rights are recognized, their needs are met, and their voices are heard, they drive positive change in their families, their communities, and the world.” – Kathy Calvin, United Nations Foundation President & CEO

                                      THANK YOU

Links:

• Official NEW Chicuchas Wasi website-please have a look