Build a School Room for Yachay Wasi in Ecuador

Naya is fundraising for the Yachay Wasi (House of Knowledge in Kichwa) PreK-5 school in Quito, Ecuador. The school's focus is preservation of native traditions and knowledge. Monthly tuition is only $30, but there is more demand than space. The school would like to build a ecological room to expand the number of "wawakuna" - children 5 and under - who can be taught. The school lost its original wawakuna room when the government of Ecuador recently required designation of a room exclusively as an infirmary in response to the ongoing pandemic.

In this picture, Naya is with Mashi Laurita (little friend Laura) the founder of the school. Laurita started by homeschooling her children more than 32 years ago. Eventually the school was certified as a government-recognized school and non-profit with approximately 75 students (PreK - 6) each year.

The school aims raise $10,000 for the wawakuna room preserve and expand learning opportunities for the young children this coming school year.

During our short visit, Naya learned to harvest about 20 indigenous plants, which the school prepared into a lovely soup lunch for us and others helping to build the school room. We donated some learning items, school supplies, and money to help support the creation of the classroom.

Naya asked if she could use social media to encourage others to consider if they can help as well.