Project Launch:

The Sincape Summer Eco School project is a summer school program run for the primary level students living in Sincape, Peru. Throughout the 3 months of a hot summer vacation (January – March), students and youth often become family workers. Girls as young as seven start helping their mothers and older sisters with chores such as cleaning house, doing laundry, and cooking and young boys are put to work carrying water, tending to animals or going to the fields with their fathers and brothers. The main goal of the Sincape summer school was to give youth the opportunity to enrich and cultivate their interest in learning and education, explore their creativity and boost their self-esteem. With support from World Connect in 2011, the summer school accomplished these goals by implementing a variety of activities including arts and crafts, games and organized sports, and scheduled reading times. Every activity was environmentally focused, from reading environment-themed story books for the youngest of students to creating environmental signs to post in the town during arts and crafts times.