Archive news and photos from Perú

Our goals for 2021

Re-opening the classrooms when permitted due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. We hope to add another local teacher whilst covering their University costs. Investigate potential sustainable plans. Construction in the school, including fencing off the area for security.

It is generally accepted that the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic will affect us all for months and possibly years to come. Over the long-term we aim to provide hand sanitizer and supplies of soap for all our students for when they enter and leave the school each day to reassure parents that it is a safe place and also to reduce the chance of bringing the virus into the school and taking the virus back home and potentially afflicting the elderly.

For information about our 2022 Charity Challenges please follow this link.

Please donate here to our 2021 Appeal which is raising money to help cover project costs including local teachers’ salaries, classroom materials, Covid-19 hygiene programmes and sustainable income plans.

How we are achieving our goals:

November 2021

The children continued to study from home though it is hoped that some sort of classroom-based teaching will start in 2022. We managed to provide basic supplies for the families.

September 2021

With Perú suffering from a severe new wave of Covid Delta infections no classroom based teaching has taken place so far this year. The children continue to learn from home with the text and excercise books we purchased earlier in the year. There is a chance some form of teaching may take place in September though this is still to be confirmed.

April and May 2021

With some restrictions easing Edyluz was able to get to the school to hand out personal textbooks and utensils to the mothers of all the children so they can work from home. As virtual learning is not an option and the parents’ education limited it is hoped the students can get back into the classroom soon to receive their education.

February 2021

A surge in Covid-19 cases has led to much of Perú heading back into lockdown. The new school year has been postponed until March/April at the earliest. We are providing all the children with personal text books and workbooks to work from at home.

December 2020

With the school year finished, of which just a couple of weeks was spent in the actual classroom back in March, the children managed to complete their studies at home which has been a bit hit-and-miss. Once we get the go-ahead for the children to return to class in 2021 we will concentrate on making sure they understand all the topics from 2020 so they aren’t disadvantaged when moving up a grade and more advanced topics.

August 2020

Schools remain closed as Perú struggles to overcome the first wave of Covid-19. The students are working from home though with lack of internet and movement of people strictly controlled it is a challenge for the teachers though they are doing their best.

June 2020

With the country shut down until at least the end of June due to Covid-19 our students have to home-school which is difficult without internet and whose parents cannot read or write.

March 2020

The new school year had only recently started when classes were suspended until further notice due to Covid 19.

January 2020

A successful Summer School in January concentrated on going over maths and language as well as planting some trees in the community. The school returns for the start of the new year in March.

December 2019

Fifty-two children and parents headed out for the annual Phoenix beach trip this month to celebrate the end of the school year.

For many it is the first time they have seen so much water as they live in the desert outside of Arequipa with very little water.

Coming up: the end of year graduations.

November 2019

The children brought their pets into school to celebrate animal and plant life and the need to value and respect Pachamama (Mother Earth).

We celebrated our 13th Anniversary this month in Maldonado with lots of traditional dance, food and games.  As ever, huge credit must go to Edyluz who has been with us from the start.

Once final exams are over all attention turns to our annual beach trip for the children next month – always an experience!

October 2019

This month the importance of personal hygiene and prevention of illnesses was taught at the school. The lack of water means the families have to make the most of what they have.

September 2019

Edyluz, our longest serving teacher since 2006, teaching one on one.

August 2019

The children leaned about different traditions, food and cultures to celebrate Arequipa Day – and got to eat the results too!

June 2019

Earthquake drills were undertaken during the month as well as a nature hunt in the area around the school. Admittedly there were slim pickings.

May 2019

Well done and a huge thank you to our charity challengers who completed the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu as well other day hikes! We’re doing it all again in 2020 – for information please follow this link!

We also celebrating Mothers Day and the anniversary of the school with lots of folkloric dancing and food.

April 2019

Our fruit program continues in the school with bananas, melons, apples and more! We have seen such a change with the children with this program as they don’t eat much out of school. The government provides some limited food though no way to cook it, so we provide the gas for the cooker! May is a busy month with Mothers’ Day, Anniversary and of course this year’s Seven Continent Charity Challenge in Machu Picchu!

March 2019

School got back underway after the holiday in February with all the children back from the Altiplano. Thanks to the Selvin and Friends Foundation, who have supported Phoenix for years, the children will all have textbooks and materials this year.

January 2019

Summer school was a great success before the month’s holiday in February. Many children head back to the Altiplano during these two months to help their families in the fields though those who stay behind are given classes and reinforcement by Edyluz. Formal classes restart in March.

December 2018

Our annual trip to the seaside was a great success, a respite for the children and mothers living in the desert for 365 days a year. The school year came to an end with graduations and a Christmas party. Summer school will continue in January.

November 2018

Our 12th Anniversary was celebrated in Maldonado with dance and food led as ever by Edyluz who has been with us from the very start! The final exams loom though there is still the annual beach trip to look forward to in December.

October 2018

With no celebrations this month (!) it was all work in the school with the final exams just a few weeks away.

September 2018

School continued as usual during September though the children did get some time off to celebrate the Day of the Student with games and food!

The fruit program continues to be a great success and we hope to add to this program next year in conjunction with our sustainable plans, possibly involving the Chakras.

August 2018

As the school year heads into its final quarter our local teacher Edyluz has her hands full with her two grades she is in charge of! We hope to address the inequality between teachers to classes, which currently stands at one teacher per two grades, for the start of the new school year in 2019.

Meanwhile, grammar and multiplication tables aside, Arequipa Day was celebrated in the usual style with typical food and dress. It is hugely important to maintain the culture in the school and the surrounding communities.

It would be great if you could join us on our Inca Trail and Machu Picchu Seven Continents Charity Challenge in 2019 in Perú. Please follow this link for more details.

If you have any questions about our work in Perú or you want to receive our newsletter, please contact us.