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The Project
Wiñaypaq is a non-profit association, dedicated to cultural, ecological and educational work. We develop various projects through which we revalue the teachings of ancestral cultures, disseminating their importance and validity, thus promoting models of dignified and sustainable life.
Wiñaypaq Intercultural School
One of the association’s projects is the Wiñaypaq Intercultural School, located in the district of Pisaq, a peasant community of Huandar, in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Cusco; where we provide quality and free initial and primary education to 80 girls and boys of Quechua and mestizo origin from different peasant communities.
Bahuaja Amazon Conservation Area
Another of the projects underway is the “Bahuaja” Amazon Conservation Area. A private conservation area, recognized by the Ministry of the Environment of Peru, where we develop different projects such as conservation, planting of medicinal plants and reforestation with bamboo to reduce the pressure on forest clearing.
Wiñaypaq
The Context
Peru is a multicultural and multilingual country, each culture keeps a great legacy of human values, knowledge and wisdom, which have been transmitted from generation to generation since time immemorial.
The current process of globalization that the world is experiencing, although it brings some good things, irresponsibly endangers the survival of millenary cultures that do not fit into its parameters of competitiveness and thus gradually destroys this great treasure that is cultural diversity.
This is an irreparable loss not only for them but for all humanity since knowledge, technologies and values that are indispensable for a harmonious and sustainable life on our planet are extinguished.
Wiñaypaq allows children, heirs of Andean culture, to reconnect with their roots and thus ensure cultural continuity from generation to generation. At the same time, space is given to a respectful and enriching cultural exchange with children from other backgrounds.
“Wiñaypaq” means “to grow” and “forever” in Quechua.
Wiñaypaq
Our History
Our Values
Teaching Values
For us, revaluing ancestral culture is much more than just presenting a folkloric dance for a parade. It is the real recognition of the essence and validity of the worldview and values of the original cultures of America.
- Recognition of all our relationships
- Ayni – Reciprocity
- Worldview
- Mutual Parenting – Horizontal Relationships
- I Am You – You Are Me
Our Vision
Knowledge
Symbolic Communication
Agriculture and
Technology
Astronomy and
Agriculture
Our Vision
Educational Proposal
We support the different stages of children’s development and their needs as multi-dimensional beings. Creativity, motor skills, emotional health, and practical skills are just as important as cognitive learning.
Intercultural education is an opportunity for children from native cultures to acquire a solid learning base in their own culture and then to be able to include beneficial contributions from other cultures. Learn reading, writing, science, the use of new technologies and languages without having to give up their culture of origin, on the contrary to be able to use this new knowledge as tools to strengthen it and bring positive changes to their families and communities.
Wiñaypaq is an Andean school inspired by Waldorf pedagogy. We include their materials and methodologies adapting them to the Andean context.
In our region, many families live with the prejudice that their children should no
longer speak Quechua, because for them it is a symbol of marginalization and poverty. The result is that these children are losing their mother tongue. They no longer speak Quechua or Spanish well and this decreases their self-esteem and cultural identity, which is why we practice bilingual teaching.
In Wiñaypaq we have a maximum of 20 students per teacher. This allows for very personal attention and a family atmosphere of trust and affection. In this way, children with exceptional abilities and others with emotional, cognitive difficulties or physical disabilities, can learn together while finding the necessary support for individual development.
We also include the community and parents, which is essential for a successful work in the school.
One of the most valuable teachings of Andean culture is the concept of brotherhood among all beings of creation. The relationship between humans and with other beings is one of equality, respect and reciprocity. Our mission is to recover this feeling for our children.
This is expressed in practice in promoting eco-conscious habits such as:
1. Avoid products that generate garbage, grow organically, build dry toilets, etc.
2. Use different artistic media such as theater and music to spread the care of mother earth in our community and in other schools.