Reports on Books and Education for Children in Rural Peru

Project Report | Mar 12, 2026
Bringing the Magic of Reading to the Andes

By Rodrigo Pereyra | Fundraising Officer

New van for the Mobile Library.

A Major Milestone: Our New 2026 SuperVan

In December, we achieved a monumental milestone: the arrival of our brand-new Mobile Library vehicle! This was made possible through a generous donation from the Jephcott Charitable Trust. Our new 11-seat 2026 Changan Gran New SuperVan is larger, safer, and significantly more comfortable for the children.

Most importantly, its improved reliability allows us to reach the most remote communities around Oropesa, ensuring that geographic isolation is no longer a barrier to education. For our students, the sight of the "new car" arriving in their village has become a powerful symbol of opportunity and joy.

Active Learning: Literacy Through Play

Even during the high-pressure exam season, the children remained incredibly enthusiastic. We integrated literacy into high-energy activities that transformed reading into a joyful experience:

Read and Dance: A twist on musical chairs! When the music stops, the student left without a seat gets the "honor" of reading and interpreting a short text for the group.
Hula-Hoop Teamwork: Teams pass their entire bodies through a hula-hoop while holding hands. The final team to finish reads a story together, promoting collaborative storytelling.
The Spoon & Egg Relay: A classic game requiring focus and coordination. Winners celebrate their team effort by engaging in group literacy activities.

Academic Growth: From "Having to Read" to "Loving to Read"

This quarter, we witnessed a profound shift in how students engage with books, moving beyond simple decoding to active, critical thinking.

80% Engagement: Eight out of ten students now actively participate in debates and dramatizations based on the stories they read.
Inferential Comprehension: By December,70% of students demonstrated the ability to identify key messages and moral lessons in complex texts.
The Narrators’ Circle: We used culturally relevant stories—such as the water deities of the Cusco Valley—to help children connect their own identity with their reading.

Stories from the Road

Carla’s Transformation: Once a timid reader, Carla ended the year leading shared readings and critically questioning characters' actions during group discussions.
Roger’s Leadership: As a Mobile Library Monitor, Roger developed vital leadership and empathy skills while mentoring younger children.

Holiday Spirit & Community Traditions

December was a month of celebration and deep cultural connection. We celebrated the beloved Peruvian "Chocolatada" tradition, sharing hot chocolate and panettone during special trips before our final session of the year.

Quillahuata: The children enjoyed a day of community games and delicious food, with special prizes for the winning teams. The excitement was peak as they opened their new Christmas gifts!
Killarayan & Inkiltambo Ruins: We organized a meaningful field trip to the Inkiltambo archaeological site. Under the guidance of Teacher David, the children learned about the importance of sacred sanctuaries and Quechua cultural beliefs. David explained the historical symbolism of the mountains (Apus), fostering a sense of pride and respect for their heritage. We concluded the day with games, gifts, and more traditional chocolate.

Local Support & The Book Drive

Our local "Book Drive" campaign was a huge success! We partnered with local businesses to gather over 120 books, ranging from encyclopedias to interactive storybooks.

A special thank you to our local partners: Lexus Library, Cusco Planetarium Mattu Coffee Shop

A Heartfelt Thank You:

The Mobile Library is a moving classroom that carries hope across the mountains. Whether you donated toward our new vehicle or supported our book drive, you are helping us turn the page toward a brighter future for the children of Cusco.

Thank you for keeping our wheels turning!

Sharing games and joy in Quillahuata

Reading and playing in Killarayan

Mis sharing new stories with the kids

Excitedly opening Christmas gifts in Quillahuata

Kids visiting the Inkiltambo ruins near Killarayan

Opening Christmas gifts with chocolate & panetton

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Nov 11, 2025
Empowering Rural Children Through Reading

By Rodrigo Pereyra Jemio | Fundraising Officer

Children fully engaged as they listen to a story

The Mobile Library continues to bring transformative educational opportunities to rural Andean communities in the Cusco region. Between July and September 2025, our team worked in Kallarayan, a remote agricultural community located at 3,545 meters above sea level in the province of Calca. Through this initiative, we reached children from grades 1 to 6 and the first year of secondary school.

This project helps provide not only access to books, but also the joy of learning, imagination, and cultural connection. Despite the challenging conditions of the highlands, cold weather, frequent rain, and long walking distances, the children continue to attend with remarkable enthusiasm.

The Mobile Library has become a cherished space where they can explore stories, strengthen their literacy skills, and connect with their peers through art, storytelling, and creative play.

Educational Achievements Throughout these months

The project focused on developing the five essential reading skills: letter recognition, phonological awareness, reading fluency, vocabulary enrichment, and reading comprehension. Each session combined educational and playful strategies such as storytelling, dramatizations, reading games, and art-based learning.

From July until the end of September, students had read a total of 37 texts, including short stories, folk tales, and adapted readings suitable for their level, an increase from previous months.

The children demonstrated clear progress

All participants showed increased engagement and enthusiasm during reading sessions, they strengthened their reading autonomy, choosing books on their own and gaining confidence. Something very important for their academical development is that they improved comprehension, oral expression, and critical thinking through reflection and discussion.

The integration of diverse pedagogical methods, including the dramatization and educational theater, art-based projects, and interactive storytelling, allowed us to make reading a creative, multisensory, and culturally relevant experience. Creative and Community Activities During this period, children participated in a variety of artistic and recreational activities designed to strengthen their self-expression and emotional development.

Here are some of the activities made during this period:

Built handmade kites using natural and sustainable resources.
Teamwork games in reading activities to improve their social skills.
Drawing and painting contests, to develop their soft hand abilities with pencils and crayons.
Acting and expressions activities, to promote their creativity, exploring stories that inspired them to imagine, express, and care for their surroundings.

Inspiring Stories Several heartwarming stories reflect the spirit of this project

Three sisters who attend every Saturday see the Mobile Library as a place of learning and reflection. Deeply committed to both their education and faith, they share a strong sense of curiosity and gratitude. Their parents, proud of their progress, ensure that the girls return each weekend to continue learning.

Dilan and Killian, two siblings who recently visited their older brother in Sicuani, came back to the sessions full of enthusiasm and stories to share. Their dedication to reading and participation shows how family connections and learning can enrich one another.

Job, Mateo, and Abel, cousins who walk long distances from their homes to meet the Mobile Library team on the road, symbolize perseverance. Abel often helps his family with agricultural work but returns with renewed energy and commitment, showing that effort and learning can coexist even in challenging rural contexts.

These personal stories remind us that the Mobile Library is more than a program, it’s a bridge that connects education, family, and community values.

*Names of children have been changed for their protection*

Challenges and Lessons Learned

The project continues to face several social and logistical challenges, including irregular attendance due to agricultural responsibilities, delays caused by long travel times, and the lack of adequate infrastructure for reading sessions. Weather conditions persistent rain and cold temperatures also limit participation. However, despite these difficulties, the children’s enthusiasm and resilience remain inspiring.

Each week they demonstrate that, with the right support and motivation, rural education can flourish even in the most adverse environments. Long-term Impact The Mobile Library is gradually transforming how children in rural Cusco relate to books and learning. Beyond improving reading mechanics, the project fosters curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking, helping students see reading not as an obligation, but as a gateway to discovery and self-expression.

Our long-term goal is to expand to new communities, improve our mobile infrastructure, and train local facilitators who can continue this work sustainably. Each book we deliver and each story we share brings us closer to reducing educational inequality in rural Peru.

We are deeply grateful to our supporters and partners who make this initiative possible. Together, we are nurturing not only readers; but dreamers, thinkers, and future leaders of the Andes.

Happy faces after making their own handmade kites

Friends sharing smiles and stories

Children holding their plants after a learning act

Children gathered in a small classroom, enjoying t

They always enjoy stories together

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Jul 15, 2025
Turning Pages, Changing Futures

By Jim Elliott | Project Leader

Kids from the villages

The Picaflor House Mobile Library continues to bring transformative educational opportunities to rural Andean communities in Peru. Between March and May 2025, our team worked at three high-altitude villages reaching children from 5 to 11 years old. Despite low governmental support and harsh environmental conditions, these children and their families demonstrate incredible commitment to education. Many students face challenges such as domestic instability, economic hardship, and demanding agricultural responsibilities. Yet, each Saturday, they eagerly await the arrival of the mobile library—a lifeline for their learning and growth.

Over the past few months, we achieved several educational milestones. In Quillahuata, we built a nurturing and engaging environment where reading and writing became joyful, relevant, and expressive experiences. Using culturally adapted materials and strategies—such as read-alouds, guided reading, and interactive games—we observed remarkable improvements in literacy, comprehension, and written expression. Similarly, in Kallarayan, students read dozens of books, including a strong focus on Andean tales, enriching both literacy and cultural identity. For early readers, we combined the Waldorf and syllabic methods to teach phonological awareness and letter recognition, laying a solid foundation for lifelong learning.

Nevertheless, we continue to face considerable obstacles. Inadequate infrastructure, limited furniture, and irregular attendance due to rain or farming duties remain significant barriers. Social issues such as family issues and low parental literacy compound the difficulties. Yet, individual stories like that of Nemias in Quillahuata—who overcame behavioral struggles to become an engaged reader—remind us why this work is so vital. These children are not just learning to read; they are finding confidence, identity, and hope.

We are heartened by the growing enthusiasm from families and the students themselves, who now see the mobile library as a meaningful part of their lives. With continued support, we aim to expand to new communities, provide better materials and facilities, and train local volunteers to lead literacy efforts. Donor support is critical to sustaining and scaling this project. Every book purchased, every story shared, and every child reached brings us one step closer to breaking the cycle of rural educational inequality. Thank you for believing in this mission—together, we are planting seeds of change.