Our Schools
GirlSportWorks currently operates its sports program in five schools in the Cusco region. Below are examples of schools that have joined with GSW to create successful, nurturing environments in which to teach important life skills through athletics.
Colegio Pacca
Located 45 minutes north of Cusco houses over 100 female students aged 11 to 17. The school was founded five years ago, and GirlSportWorks has been involved with the institution since its inception. Students travel up to five hours to reach the school, which serves as a combination boarding house and education center, providing basic education, counseling, clothing, and food. Most students arrive speaking the native language, Quechua, and little Spanish, but as classes are conducted entirely in Spanish, students are soon masters of both languages. Coursework at Pacca covers the basics of mathematics, language, sciences, and arts, as well as skills necessary to survive and succeed in rural Peruvian communities. Pacca functions as a school in alternancia, meaning that students attend school for two weeks at a time, and then return home for two weeks to help with their familyÕs trade. GirlSportWorksÕ athletic curriculum thrives at Colegio Pacca as students delight in the variety of sports offered. They also benefit from the weekly English lessons taught by GSW staff that have now been institutionalized into the curriculum. Pacca is currently working on developing designs and budgets for a new school building. GSW plans to help fund this project in the coming year.
Colegio Los Nogales
Colegio Los Nogales is a co-ed, public, elementary school with 120 students ranging in age from 5 to 13 years old. Located in an extremely impoverished neighborhood, Colegio Los Nogales sits 15 minutes south of CuscoÕs center. The school offers traditional courses to its local student population and also serves as a social hub for the community. GirlSportWorks introduced the sports program at Colegio Los Nogales in December, 2003, making it GSWÕs longest member school. GSW leads the sports program for the girls in 5th and 6th grades on the schoolÕs playing field, often drawing crowds of neighbors who watch their daughters and friends from the sidelines. Commitment and enthusiasm define the studentÕs sentiments for the program.
Colegio Colegio Matar‡
Colegio Matar‡ is a co-ed, primaria day school located in the center of Cusco. GSW has been teaching at this school for the last 4 years. As of August of 2006, GSW added an additional class, and now work with the same group of students twice a week. The girls who attend class range in age from 9 to 13, and are currently in grades quinto and sexto (fifth and sixth), the two oldest grades in the school. Attendance is consistent and classes average 15 girls. The girls are extremely dedicated and continue to improve their athletic and team-building skills. Over the past year, GSW took the girls on several athletic trips to the pool and parks around the city, as well as to Sacsayhuaman, an important Inca site in Cusco.
Colegio San Luis Vallejo
Colegio San Luis Vallejo is a public day school located in Santiago, a very poor district of Cusco. GSW has been working with this school for the past several years and has been well received by the school community and director. Class is held at a public field and thus, the field is often shared with other neighborhood children. In addition to our successful weekly classes with the female students, the girls have had the opportunity to play a friendly games against the neighborhood boys. These experiences have been extremely rewarding, as theyÕve increased the girlsÕ confidence and competitive spirit. These girls excel at volleyball, and have enjoyed and benefited from trips to official volleyball courts in other parts of the city.