04.08.16 / Category: Impact - Grant Awards

Grantee Spotlight – Chicuchas Wasi

The Circle of Sisterhood supports entities that remove barriers to education for girls and women, uplifting them from poverty and oppression. Because of the generous support of our donors, we’ve had an impact in 22 countries since our founding in 2010.

Circle of Sisterhood Foundation is proud to announce its support of Chicuchas Wasi School for Girls (CW) in Cusco, Peru. Founded in 1987, CW promotes gender equality, self-esteem and human dignity for the indigenous girls of rural Cusco by educating, empowering, and preparing them for economic independence and unlimited opportunity. However, when the school was constructed, a shortage of funds prevented the installation of electricity. Despite minimal provisional electricity from a neighbor, CW still needed the ability to bring students in contact with the rest of the world.

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Circle of Sisterhood’s $5,000 grant recently funded the installation of electricity, expanding educational opportunities for over 110 girls. For the first time, the students have access to the internet and school administrators will now be able to expand crucial academic programs with the use of technology. For instance, the students were recently connected to a classroom in Great Britain, opening the door to other cultures. Rae Lewis, Chicuchas Wasi president, shared with us recently that, “…the Chicuchas Wasi School has plenty of electricity now and even wonderful new opportunities we could not have received before your grant.” In addition to providing Internet access, this grant has also gone towards:

• The implementation of several good outside spotlights for security
• Outlets and light switches in every classroom
• TVs and video players in each room for educational films
• A hand-held microphone that now serves all assemblies and presentations, replacing the battery-operated megaphone CW used before they had the electricity available
• And lastly, the six donated computers now provide basic entry-level computer lessons for students.

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The Circle of Sisterhood strongly identifies with CW’s mission and is very excited to support a school that maintains a large presence in the community through cultural celebrations and supporting social and women’s issues. Today, Chicuchas Wasi School for Girls is recognized as an esteemed educational institution within the Cusco community and, with the help of the Circle of Sisterhood, highlights the value and importance of educating girls.

Thank you, CofS supporters, for changing lives in Cusco, Peru. Your gifts are making an impact!

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