About Us

Community Background

CusiMaky is located in the San Jerónimo district of Cusco, Peru.  This neighborhood is situated half an hour from the city’s historic center.  San Jerónimo is a community populated by migrants who were originally settled in the mountains.  These families came to San Jerónimo in the hope for a better future, however their reality in the city remains difficult.

The quality of life for the majority of these families is very hard due to high poverty rates and the harshness of the mountain climate.  The families of San Jerónimo suffer from low incomes and inequality, which prevents them from living a ‘normal’ life.  The families live in precarious and primitive conditions, often without running water or a bathroom, and must use firewood to prepare their food.  The majority of the families suffer from alcohol related problems and aggressive behavior is common place. The parents’ level of education is extremely basic, often only finishing primary school, and in some cases they are illiterate.  Often, the parents do not speak Spanish; they only know the native language of the mountains, Quechua.

Many times, the older children are required to help at home, in the fields, or at the market.  Meanwhile, the younger children are often home alone without supervision or support from their parents.  Their education is not seen as a priority and, as a consequence, families can only access the free education offered by the state.  Unfortunately, these state run schools only offer low quality education.  Due to their limited knowledge, parents are often unable to help their children with schoolwork.  In other cases, parents refuse to send their children to school because they require their assistance at home or in the workplace.  The children often are subject to a poor diet which leads to malnutrition and further health problems.  This results in their further inability to concentrate while at school.

CusiMaky – The Project

CusiMaky is an after-school program that operates Monday through Friday.  We start preparing the meals and cleaning the halls for the arrival of the children at 3:00 PM.  Upon arrival, the children wash their hands and faces to practice good hygiene habits.  The teachers and volunteers help them with their homework and check their notebook to ensure they are reaching their goals and are progressing in school.  All of the children participate in English language classes provided by native speaking volunteers.  After completing their homework, the children are free to play until 5:00 PM, at which time we clean the classroom and tables in preparation for the food.  Before departing for the evening, the children brush their teeth and receive hydrating cream for their skin (due to the severe cold at night and the strong sun during the day).

We call Friday a ‘day at the park’ because the children take a break from their schoolwork.  On this day we play, run, shout, sing, do sports, and arts and crafts.  For the children, this is a time to have fun and play with their peers.

Once a month, we invite the children’s parents to talk about their school performance, difficult home situations, and we listen to their problems.  We create dialogue about their child’s attitude and performance.  Together we search for solutions and ways to support these families.  During this time, we organize a workshop about nutrition, hygiene, good attitudes, and education.

For more information, please contact us via email at cusimakycusco@yahoo.com.
whatsapp: +51960683034