In the Indio language Quechua "Pukllasunchis" means "let's play". The Asociación Pukllasunchis is an officially recognized peruvian non governmental organization, working since 1981 for the improvement of education in Cusco and Peru, particularly in favour of the poor, for children and families in neglected urban neighborhoods and in rural communities.

Founded by a Swiss teacher and a small group of Peruvians, it first concentrated on building and equipping kindergartens and schools in the poor areas of Cusco. In close cooperation with the population this has by now developped into the following projects, all aimed at designing, practicing and improving modern methods of teaching, based on the concept of strengthening the children's self esteem and sense of democratic responsability:

• Model School with around 800 children from four to 17 years from different social levels (kindergarten, elementary and secondary education).
• Seminars for kindergarten and elementary school teachers, adopting the active learning concepts to their needs in workshops and in practice.
• Thirty teachers are being trained for bilingual teaching (Quechua as first and Spanish as second language) in rural schools around Cusco.
• Since 1995 Pukllasunchis is entrusted with the continuing education of all state kindergarten and elementary school teachers in the province of Cusco, including some 300-500 persons every year.
• A study center offers professional literature to interested people and the possibility to produce the often missing didactic material themselves.
• Forthcoming is the project of an own separate institution to train teachers, in order to spread the positive experiences of the model school and the other projects.

The entire Pukllasunchis project is financed by private donators, contributions from relief organizations, the peruvian ministry of education and - within their means - the children's parents.

If you would like to know more, please contact us. We are glad to answer your specific questions individually: stiftung@puklla.ch