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Huchuy Yachaq Community Project

For many years we have been supporting the Huchuy Yachaq community project in the marginalised neighbourhood of Hermanos Ayar with the help of everybody who has travelled with Andean Trails.

Anually, we donate USD 3,000 to this community project on the outskirts of Cusco, perched in the hills that overlook the city.

You can also read about Maria’s week volunteering in her blog, as well as Nigel’s visit.

The project has been set up by volunteer social workers and teachers to provide much needed social and educational support to the children and families of this impoverished neighbourhood.

Children are encouraged to attend study and games sessions held each afternoon and participate in holiday projects.

Our contributions have so far paid for educational books and games, tables and chairs, structural improvements to the community-owned building including adding toilets, school materials and books for the children and holiday programmes.

You can volunteer or help by donation. If you would like to donate materials, please get in touch with us to work out logistics.

More on Huchuy Yachaq

In this neighbourhood there are high poverty levels and little in the way of guaranteed income.

Most houses have had water and electricity installed recently, but most adults work long hours in poorly paid insecure jobs with many of the children also having to work, usually on the street selling postcards to tourists, cleaning shoes, washing cars etc. There is no public transport.

In 2006 the project started a programme of “useful holidays” with a 2 month programme of educational activities for 120 children involving five teachers.

During the holidays courses are run in logic and maths, communication, dance, theatre, crafts, and the kids go on organised visits to local attractions etc.

Also in 2006 a small library was established, to provide support to the children that come to the centre after school to do their homework and school projects.

Assistance is also provided to some of the children so they could register for school, providing text books, note books, pencils, school clothes and so on.

How can I help?

If you wish to contribute please send a donation to the Andean Trails office stating what it is for.

Every penny donated will be given to the Community – it costs USD 30 for a child to receive all the materials necessary for one year at school.

The project has also encouraged mothers to generate their own income by providing training in handicrafts, which the project sells.

Items available to buy include leather bags, jewellery and textiles such as wall hangings.

The project is very happy to receive volunteer workers on a short or long term basis. Daily help is required with the kids, helping with games and studying. Help is also required to look after the building, and volunteers are always made welcome.

Please contact the office for more information on how to get involved.

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Testimonials

Andean Trails put together an amazing 3 week adventure for us to take in Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu and the Inca trails and history of the Andes, the rainforest and then a trip to discover the wonders of the Galapagos. Everything ran so smoothly with luxurious accommodation, expert guides and fun activities such as cycling and white water rafting. Indeed, as we left the rainforest with just over a week to go we had already decided that it was our best family holiday ever… And that was when the airline cancelled our flight out of the jungle. Any good travel agent can sort out the holiday you want but its when things go wrong that the best agents excel. Missing the flight out of Porto Maldonado meant we would miss our two connecting flights to get us to the Galapagos. It was unclear if we would get on another flight out there as it was a busy time of year. Alan and the team worked tirelessly to resolve the situation and rerouted us through Quito (with stop off and a visit to the equator) from where they managed to get us on another flight to the Galapagos. They turned a potential disaster into another part of the adventure. There is no way we could have sorted it out ourselves. So we just wanted to say a massive thank you to Alan and the team and we are only too happy to recommend Andean Trails. It was epic!

K Aylmer, UK, 2017
» Tambopata Research Centre

- What was the highlight of your holiday? Was there a low point? Highpoint - the great tour guides and visit to Machu Pichu. Low point was a flight cancellation in Lima. - How would you rate accommodation/ food/ guides/ overall organisation? Fantastic! The hotels were all lovely and the tour guides were friendly, smart and helpful. In Lima when we ran into trouble with a flight cancellation, Alan's team on the ground went to great lengths to rebook us on a new flight (with a different airline). Had it not been for your office in Peru we would have been stuck in Lima over night and missed out on Tambo del Inka, which was a lovely resort. - Did you feel you benefitted the local communities? Somewhat. We are not shoppers, so each time we wound up at a 'market' we didn't really buy. - What would you like to do differently next time? Spend more time in Cusco and the Sacred Valley. We could have skipped Lake Titicaca. - Out of interest why did you choose the places you visited and why Andean Trails to organise your trip? Our goal was to visit Machu Pichu and Alan put together the rest of the trip around that highlight. We came away with a great feel for Peru and (fingers crossed) would love to revisit one day.