Peru, a nation of approximately 29 million people with a high level of social inequality, is trying to consolidate and extend its social democratic principles. Since 1980, Peru has experienced periods of political unrest that have most seriously affected the poor rural Quenchua speaking communities along the Sierra.

The extensive poverty and exclusion that still exist in these areas do not permit the adequate nutritional levels necessary for healthy child growth. The majority of the children in the area live in conditions unfavourable to education and social development.

Quality of education in Peru is poor. We were rated last of 41 countries in the IEPS (International Evaluation Program for Students) back in 2002. As a result of this poor showing, education was prioritized within a National Agenda. Special emphasis was given to the rural areas of our highlands, where educational programs and levels of literacy are the worst.

Recent studies have found that the people of Puno have one of the lowest levels of education and health in Peru. The lack of economic resources and poor nutrition have resulted in high and increasing levels of anaemia.

On the basis of these findings action was needed to improve the quality of life of the children in this area by introducing an integrated care and education program with the aim to fight poverty and encourage community development.

As a result the Mirasol Project was born, the line was initialised by Peter Mulley from Diamond Yarn in Canada, and he then set about contacting other distributors to make sure the Mirasol Project was supported worldwide with contributing companies in the United States, Europe and the UK.

Peter also realised he needed a designer to support and develop the line. He approached Jane Ellison, a British designer who was already designing with a few of the many lines of US distributor, Knitting Fever Inc. And so the Mirasol Project was to be supported by the Mirasol Yarn Collection, where a proportion of the sales would directly benefit the children of Puno.

The proposal is focused on an infant and child care program and after school support for older children so that shepherd's families at Mallkini and surrounding communities have a secure place and means to develop their potential.

The after school care facility will include dormitories for boys and girls, a dining room, a sports area and classrooms where the children can receive assistance with their regular school homework as well as participate in extra curricular studies aimed at developing different skills and personal goals.

The facility will serve as a day care centre for children from one to five years of age, providing supervision, nutritious meals and early education while at all times respecting the region's cultural identity and traditions.

Dormitory rooms and meals will be provided for older boys and girls to stay during the school week. This is especially important to the many children who must now make a ten mile journey to and from school.

Workshops will provide tutoring and assistance with school home work, as well as offering specialized courses in languages, traditional textile arts and techniques and other occupational skills.

Because our target population lives in a typically remote alpaca breeding area where opportunities to study are not readily available, many of the workshop proposals are focused on developing different skills related to breeding and textiles so the children can become experts in these areas.

Our hope in the short run is for children to improve their capabilities and skills, which will enable them to face a modern world and improve their standard of life without forfeiting their cultural identity.

Vision

Improving the well being of rural children in the highlands of Peru.

Objectives

To provide accommodation, meals and health care for the support of the infants and children of the community.

To develop personal and occupational skills, study techniques and language communication through specialized workshops.