Peru: Khuyay Waldorf School Tarapoto
Two new classrooms for children in Peru
As the demand for Waldorf school places in Tarapoto (Peru) is constantly increasing, the Khuyay Waldorf School would like to set up two new classrooms for the 1st and 5th grade in 2024, as they would like to separate grades 4-5 and teach them separately. So far, the school is attended by 40 children.
Last year, the school community has already carried out various actions to raise money, but only 800 euros could be collected. In total, they need about 4,500 euros per classroom. With this money, the rooms can be equipped with blackboards, tables and chairs.
In total, the small school needs financial support of about 9,000 euros.
About the project:
Khuyay Waldorf School Tarapoto is a relatively young school in the northern Amazon jungle of Peru, born from a strong desire of many parents to have a Waldorf school for their children. In 2019, the initiative began with a Waldorf kindergarten with 11 children. In 2021, the school had to close temporarily due to the Covid 19 pandemic, but has since reopened to everyone's delight.
Now there is a kindergarten, a 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade, a united fourth and fifth grade consisting of a total of ten children and a sixth grade. In total, the school is attended by 40 children. The children are cared for and taught by four teachers.
The project is located in a beautiful renovated apartment building with a large garden. In the garden there are many bats, hummingbirds, monkeys, tarantulas and snakes that bring joy and fright to the children. So far, the house has four classrooms. In the garden there is an octagonal wooden building built for the kindergarten children. All the rooms are very small, so only 10 children can be accommodated in each room. However, there is already a waiting list of 32 children who want to be enrolled in the school.
The economics of the educational institution are quite limited. Ideally, the cost per child would be $150 per month, but the reality is that 30 of the children pay $100 per month, two pay nothing, and the rest pay between $50 and $60 per month. 15% of parents are behind on their school fees.
"KHUYAY means LOVE in the Quechua language spoken here in Tarapoto in the northern jungle of Peru in the province of San Martin.