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Project - Kusi Kawsay |
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Kusi Kawsay
www.kusikawsay.org
See our updated report on the completion of the building of the school roof.
Kusi Kawsay (Happy Life) is providing access to education that is rooted in Andean culture and tradition by enabling a bilingual intercultural experience using the most up-to-date teaching methods, and provide certification to continue on to further education. This academic environment confronts the challenges of today's reality for children, who have few opportunities to access a respectful and respected education.
What was once a boulder-strewn piece of unused land on a hillside overlooking the town of Pisac, is now home to the Kusi Kawsay Andean School. The school was built in the traditional Andean way using adobe, straw, wood and stone. The community was a pillar of support throughout the entire process lending their labor and skills, donating land and defining the mission, architecture and dissemination of this beautiful school.
When the school was built, the material for the roof were thin tin plates and nails that were covered with straw. The harsh and unpredictable weather conditions of the Andes, specifically the heavy rains, caused damage to these materials resulting in leaks and an undesirable learning environment for the students. The highland community of Pisac rests at an altitude of almost 3000 meters (10,000 feet). When the sun is shining, the classrooms are almost unbearably hot because the sun penetrates the weak tin and the straw rots in the intense sun and rain.
The Forix grant will be used to replace these straw roofs with Onduline grooved panels made of organic fibers. This material is not a tile but rather a type of compressed green board. It is lightweight, reflects the heat and radiation of the sun for
better protection, is durable and has a long life span, eliminating the need to regularly replace the roof in years to come. This roof will ensure a better learning environment for the children and a longer life span for the school itself.
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