Educate 120 Girls in Cusco for Economic Survival

Every March we celebrate women and girls globally and especially on March 8^{th -}  International Women’s day. Our mission for the school is to empower and educate forgotten indigenous girls of the Peruvian Andes. After 31 years serving children of Cusco, I find myself reflecting on the question I have been asked all these years: WHY? and HOW? did you do this. To document our CW history and to think about those questions on paper, I began to write the Story of Chicuchas Wasi and the result is the CW book, ‘Jump on the LOVE Train,’  now being published. I find myself drifting into the past at times while reflecting on these questions people have asked me over the years.

If you are allowed to peek through a magic window into the suffering reality of children in another country far away from your personal comfort zone, and if the timing is right, like me you might hear a faint voice deep inside of your being that says you can do something to help.And with a bit more time to witness a heretofore-unknown reality out of that window, you might take the first step forward to become a change-maker for these children – because down deep you know you can. The how, why and when will come when the time and conditions are right. Your heart is speaking to you, not your head. You are unaware that you will be required to make life-changing decisions in the service of others, and they might be difficult. Many people asked me why would I do this, and how could I take on such a big responsibility? My heart told me I could. The how and where I would learn step by step. Little by little my innocence was replaced with understanding and wisdom and I my naïve began to fade.

                   Sometimes you just have to take that leap

                     And grow your wings on the way down.

                                                        --Karen Frank

 I never looked at these questions the way others did.  My vision captured the immediate situation and I chose to act to create Chicuchas Wasi in 1987. Had I mapped out a 10 year or even 5 year plan - many warned was indispensable to properly launch a nonprofit - and create a funded budget ready and standing by to begin such a big undertaking, it would surely have scared me off. The reality of what it takes to start up a nonprofit would absolutely have had me running as far away as possible. This is one of those times that ignorance is bliss. Looking back I recognize that if I had known all that CW would require I would never have taken the first step in fear of failure. I think this is what holds most people back from stepping up to the plate to make a difference when they know too much.  So one step at a time did work for me and for CW.  Not alone for long, I watched as many people were attracted to step up to help CW succeed. In thirty-one years we have achieved enormous success to change the lives of hundreds of children in Cusco, Peru who are now able to grasp the opportunities available for them to create a better life. 

                         WE DID IT!

  We created a special CW school together.

                                       *************************

Links:

• Official Chicuchas Wasi website