Yanapanakusun

Yanapanakusun is a Peruvian non-governmental organization (NGO) brand based in Cusco, Peru. The name "Yanapanakusun" comes from Quechua and means "let us help each other." The organization has more than 30 years of experience in providing care for girls and adolescents who are victims of domestic servitude, and in defending the rights of children and adolescents to health, education, dignified work, and a life free from all forms of violence. Its work is rooted in community processes aimed at building a dignified life. The organization operates through various programs and initiatives, including online training for teachers and social leaders, a live radio program, responsible tourism (Tikaya Turismo Responsable), and direct care services such as the Casa CAITH project. It also runs a "Basura Cero" (Zero Waste) project. Yanapanakusun collaborates with a network of international partners and funders, including Ascoltiamo le voci che chiamano (Italy), Comundo, Terre des Hommes Suisse, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Oberle Perú, APIA, Terre des Hommes Italia, and Sogni dei bambini. The organization was founded by Vittoria Savio, who is recognized as its founder. Its work has attracted volunteers from Italy and other countries, who participate in construction projects, educational activities, and community development in the Cusco region, including communities such as Perccajata and Misanapata. The Italian association "Ascoltiamo le voci che chiamano" was founded in 2002 after its founders visited the Centro Yanapanakusun and met Vittoria Savio, and it has since supported numerous projects in Peru, including building schools and a house in Yucai (Sacred Valley) for self-financing through tourism and events. Yanapanakusun operates as a brand and organization dedicated to social justice, children's rights, and community empowerment in Peru, with a significant support network in Italy. Its activities span direct care, education, advocacy, and sustainable development, making it a notable example of a Peruvian NGO with international solidarity links.

Yanapanakusun is a Peruvian NGO with over 30 years of work in the care of girls and adolescents who are victims of domestic servitude and in the defense of the rights of children and adolescents to health, education, dignified work, and a life free from all types of violence. The organization was founded by Vittoria Savio, who is identified as its founder in the accounts of partner organizations. The organization is based in Cusco, Peru, and operates through a range of programs. Its work includes online training for teachers and social leaders, a live radio program, responsible tourism under the Tikaya Turismo Responsable brand, and direct care services such as the Casa CAITH project. It also runs a "Basura Cero" (Zero Waste) project. The organization's approach emphasizes strengthening community processes for a dignified life. A key development in its history was the founding of the Italian association "Ascoltiamo le voci che chiamano" (Let us listen to the voices that call) in 2002. This association was created after Giovanni Di Maria and his wife Danila traveled to Peru on a solidarity trip, where they met the Centro Yanapanakusun and its founder Vittoria Savio. Upon returning to Italy, Di Maria created a calendar with photos from the trip and placed it on the counter of his shop to raise funds for the Center. Along with others from the National Confederation of Artisans (CNA) and some municipalities in the province of Udine, he founded the association. Since then, the association has carried out projects to meet concrete needs of children in Peru, sometimes with the support and funding of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region (FVG) of Italy. Several projects have been realized in Peruvian territory with the support of this association: a school for working children in Cusco was built with funds raised from a foot race from Rome to the North Cape; a kindergarten was built in the community of Perccaccata; and work was done to finish the house of Yucai (Sacred Valley), a facility that includes spaces to receive tourists, hold events, and conferences with the purpose of self-financing. Thanks to the commitment of the school community of Martignacco (Udine), it was possible to contribute to the construction of a school in Misanapata, which today is the site of the secondary school; the association also supports nutrition there. Volunteers from Italy and other countries have participated in the organization's work. For example, in September 2023, volunteers Alvino, Giorgio, Claudio, and Antonino worked on replacing the roof of the kindergarten in the Perccajata peasant community (Paruro province, Cusco), in coordination with communal authorities, Yanapanakusun staff, and technicians from the municipality of Omacha. Another volunteer, Sofía Giunta from the Italian Fair Trade Cooperative of Udine, spent a month in Cusco, learning about the Casa CAITH reality and the "Basura Cero" project, and deepening her understanding of Peruvian culture and the Quechua language. The organization collaborates with a network of partners and funders, including Ascoltiamo le voci che chiamano, Comundo, Terre des Hommes Suisse, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Oberle Perú, APIA, Terre des Hommes Italia, and Sogni dei bambini. Its ongoing work focuses on community strengthening, children's rights, and sustainable development in Peru.

• 2023

  Volunteers replaced the roof of the kindergarten in Perccajata peasant community (Paruro province, Cusco) in September.

• 2002

  Founding of the Italian association "Ascoltiamo le voci che chiamano" after a solidarity trip to Peru and meeting with Centro Yanapanakusun and founder Vittoria Savio.

• Construction of a school for working children in Cusco funded by a foot race from Rome to the North Cape.

• Construction of a kindergarten in the community of Perccaccata.

• Completion of the house of Yucai (Sacred Valley) for self-financing through tourism and events.

• Contribution to the construction of a school in Misanapata, now the site of the secondary school.

A community-focused NGO brand defending children's rights and promoting dignified life in Peru, with strong Italian solidarity networks.

• Casa CAITH

  A care home project for girls and adolescents.

• Tikaya Turismo Responsable

  Responsible tourism initiative.

• Basura Cero

  Zero Waste project.

• Radio en vivo

  Live radio programming.

• Formación en línea para docentes

  Online training for teachers.

• Formación en línea para líderes sociales

  Online training for social leaders.

1. 1Yanapanakusun - Inicioyanapanakusun.org
2. 2Yanapanakusun - ¿Por qué soy voluntario en Yanapanakusun?yanapanakusun.org
3. 3Yanapanakusun - Experiencia de voluntariado en Yanapanakusunyanapanakusun.org
4. 4Yanapanakusun - La Asociación Ascoltiamo le voci che chiamanoyanapanakusun.org
5. 5Yanapanakusun - Wikidatawikidata.org