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?
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?
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?
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?
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.
