Sol y Luna
Intercultural School

Educating disadvantaged children in Peru’s Sacred Valley

Founded in 2009, the Sol y Luna Intercultural School provides education from kindergarten to 17 years of age.

We educate almost 163 students from 20 different communities. Many of the students come from very remote areas, so they stay in foster homes from Monday to Friday.

What is the Sol y Luna School?

EDUCATION
TRANSPORTATION
HEALTHY SNACKS AND LUNCH
CREATIVE WORKSHOPS, INCLUDING CERAMICS CLASSES AND MUSIC LESSONS
PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT
EDUCATION FOR PARENTS
INTEGRATION TRIPS
INTENSIVE ENGLISH PROGRAMME
medical and dental care
Cambridge University English exams
clothing and shoes
ACADEMIC SUPPORT
QUECHUA CLASSESQuechua, the language of the Inca Empire, is the most spoken indigenous language in the Americas.

Scholarships and financial support

Over 90% of our students receive a full or partial scholarship as they come
from families without financial resources and / or are overcoming
problems, such as violence or abandonment. Our goal is to include each and
every child, offering everyone the same opportunities.

Paqari

Inclusion, growth, revival

Paqari means ‘rebirth’ in Quechua

Established in 2015, Paqari is our center for disabled children. We currently have 14 Paqari students, with each one receiving therapy and rehabilitation according to their needs, as well as special academic education, psychological counselling and social support. We also offer emotional support for families.

What is Paqari?

Physical therapy
Language therapy
Music lessons
Special academic education
Psychological and social support
Study, diagnosis and evaluation
Emotional support for families
TRANSPORTATION
EDUCATING PARENTS
inclusion programme

Inclusion sits at the heart of the Sol y Luna
Foundation. For this reason, Paqari is located in the
middle of the school, helping to integrate our children
into the daily life of the school and community.

Children and young people born with special needs in Peru’s Sacred Valley do not
have access to the education and physical support they require. This means that in
the majority of cases, those with special needs become marginalized from society
and are seen as a burden to families without the resources to face the situation.

Our goal is to include our Paqari students progressively into regular classes and
into the community.

Sol y Luna Home

“Home is the nicest
word there is”.

— Laura Ingalls Wilder

Founded in 2018, the Sol y Luna Home is an orphanage that provides a loving and safe home for Peruvian children who have been victims of abuse or abandonment.

All the children at the Sol y Luna Home come from troubled backgrounds and many have suffered deeply. Step by step, we help them grow in confidence and self belief.

What does the Sol y Luna Home offer?

Children live at the Sol y Luna Home
We keep siblings together, often sharing a room
ALL MEALS AND MEDICAL CARE ARE TAKEN CARE OF
The Sol y Luna Home has a family atmosphere
We cover any need that occurs for our children

The children at the Sol y Luna Home come from
some of Peru’s poorest communities, with
many having suffered maltreatment, neglect
and abuse. The Sol y Luna Home has a family
atmosphere; it is a place where children can
learn, play and trust again. Just as it should be in
a family, there are no limits to what we provide
for the children of the Sol y Luna Home.

Roots & Wings

There are two lasting gifts we can hope to give our children: one is roots and the other is wings

Roots & Wings is our further education programme, where we support students who have graduated from the Sol y Luna School in their further studies. As well as covering fees and living costs, we also make sure our students have the emotional support they need.

What is Roots & Wings?

Cambridge University English exams
Studies in the International Baccalaureate in Cusco
Fees and accommodation for University studies in Lima
Support finding jobs after graduating from the Sol y Luna School

A few words from Sol y Luna students who
are currently continuing their studies
under the Roots & Wings programme.

Nery, Kusi and Carolina arę studying in Lima, and
Mateo is studying in Cusco.

Nery

“My name is Nery and I’m 19 years old. I was born in Urubamba, Cusco. I am the oldest child in my family, my parents live in the countryside and are artisans. I spent 12 years as a student at the Sol y Luna School, and am now studying law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru in Lima.

Kusi

My name is Kusi Uñapillco Franco, I was born in Chinchero, Cusco, and I am 19 years old. I went to various primary schools in the area before moving to the Sol y Luna School for my last year of primary, and then continued into secondary. I was supported by the Sol y Luna Foundation throughout these studies and also in the International Baccalaureate at The Andino Cusco International School. At present, I am studying Biomedical Engineering at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru in Lima, as such I moved to Lima and am following my dreams to become a successful professional and be able to support the community where I grew up.”

Mateo

My name is Mateo Suña Pinto, I am 18 years old, and am the fourth of six siblings. I was born in Yanahuara, and began studying at the Sol y Luna School in 2015. Thanks to the ongoing support from the Sol y Luna Foundation, I was able to complete my studies and I now live in Cusco where the foundation is covering my course in car mechanics at SENATI.

Carolina

My name is Carolina Soledad Ayma Sañac,
I was born in the province of Urubamba, and am 18 years old. I am the eldest of two siblings, and last year I completed the International Baccalaureate at The Andino Cusco International School thanks to support from the Sol y Luna Foundation. I am now living in the city of Lima, and this year I started my university career reading psychology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru.

The orphanage at Sol y Luna touched my heart like nothing else in a long time. The moment we arrived and met the children I knew I had to do something to help these beautiful children. We spent a morning chatting, seeing their rooms, looking around, playing games, having a snack and making them model aeroplanes which we brought to show them how you can fly around the world and meet wonderful people like them. They were totally engaged and it felt like we were with one big family. The main thing was that everyone was smiling with their hearts. Everyone was happy. You don’t find that sort of happiness everywhere, it’s a rare thing. It makes me very happy now to be part of their family too. Long may it continue. If you can change one life happiness will follow. The team are incredible with the children. The home is totally organised too. Please visit if you can. You will see what I mean.

Maggie Draycott, sponsor of Juan Carlos

In 2016 and 2018 I spent time at the Sol y Luna Foundation and was impacted by the daily work of Petit and her team. In 2019 I started to sponsor Ana Liz, but because of the pandemic I could not visit until August 2022. It was an unforgettable experience not only because Ana Liz is a beautiful and affectionate girl, but also seeing how the Sol y Luna team loves her and takes such good care of her. Three times a year I receive a detailed report with information about her academic progress. Ana Liz and the other children that live in the Sol y Luna Home are very well cared for and enjoy living in a family environment. The children have their bedrooms which they share with other children, a large dining room, kitchen, bathroom and a living room where they can study, read and play. On my recent visit I was able to spend precious time with Ana Liz, including a lunch at her parents house where I was welcomed by her mother and siblings. I feel very happy and proud to be able to form part of the Sol y Luna Foundation. Congratulations to Petit, Kelly and all the team for the daily work they are doing for all these children.

Jean Franken, sponsor of Ana Liz

Our first experience with the school was more than a decade ago; living in Urubamba for a few months, we obtained permission to enroll our daughters. Deep connection resulted from the friendships they made and the care we observed.

Sol y Luna is a place of warmth, safety, learning, and refuge—deeply meaningful to the children and to sponsors.

The children we assist have become part of our extended family. We think of them often, and cherish the recurring updates on their progress. Our involvement in their lives is an honor, one we hope to continue for decades to come.

John Montgomery, sponsor of Maricielo and Aaron

CONTACT US

T. +(51) 984700272
petit@colegiosolyluna.com
Address:
Fundo Huincho Lt. A-5,
Urubamba, Cusco – Perú

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Follow us in @asociacion_solyluna