WHO WE ARE

Kusimayo, “river of happiness” in Quechua, is a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the quality of life of children, families and senior citizens in rural communities of Puno, Peru, since 2008, through early childhood nutrition programmes, home improvement, transfer of agricultural technologies and support for senior citizens.
Our vision is to create a virtuous circle: a child attending a PRONOEI (early education centre) receives a nutritious breakfast to combat anaemia and malnutrition, school supplies, develops hygiene habits, learns with a motivated teacher, returns to a warm, smoke-free home, and has access to vegetables and fruits grown in a family greenhouse with year-round water access.

WHERE WE WORK

We work in rural communities in the provinces of Azangaro, Lampa and Puno, in the Puno region. Puno is one of the poorest regions in south-eastern Peru, bordering Bolivia. It has a population of 1.1 million, of which:

• 42% of households lack access to water
• 92% lack electricity
• 14% of the population is illiterate, rising to 36% among children under 12
• 56% school attendance at early education level
• 16% of children suffer from chronic malnutrition

76% of children under three suffer from anaemia, severely affecting cognitive development
Kusimayo works tirelessly to combat anaemia and malnutrition through various programmes and initiatives. The organisation seeks to reduce these figures and promote the all-round development of the most vulnerable communities in the region.