The climate at these altitudes is incredibly challenging with the summer months bringing snow and ice and the winter months bringing extremely low temperatures. Many children living in these remote areas have to travel at least 30 minutes walking, some cycle up to 40 minutes, through the mountains to reach their primary schools every day. The reality of life for these children can mean daily discomfort and painful chilbains, especially where they have to use open toe sandals as their own footwear.
It is essential to evaluate and prioritize projects that have a significant and positive impact on the community. This involves identifying the most urgent needs, collaborating with community leaders, and ensuring that the initiatives truly benefit the recipients.
Ensuring that projects are sustainable in the long term is crucial. This includes planning for continuous funding, training the community to maintain the projects, and constantly evaluating to adjust and improve strategies as needed.
Transparency in the use of funds and resources, as well as accountability to donors, beneficiaries, and other stakeholders, is fundamental. This not only strengthens the trust and credibility of the agency but also ensures that resources are used efficiently and ethically.
Our goal is to work with primary schools in these mountain areas to help provide children with jackets and hats to provide them with more comfort in the cold and while they’re studying, as well as providing closed toe shoes for children who don’t have access to them.
Our first jacket delivery to a small primary school in the Ausangate region was unfortunately delayed by COVID, but we were able to successfully deliver them in March 2021. Our latest hat, jacket and shoe delivery to the Rodeana school was completed in July 2024 in another community located in Ausangate national park.
We hope to continue this project by working with different schools each year in the Ausangate mountain region. By booking with Andean Path Travel, you’ll enable us to provide another hat and jacket or another hat and jacket or another pair of shoes to a child greatly in need. Any and all support is greatly appreciated by the children and their families.