May you and your loved ones stay safe and healthy during these trying times confronting COVD-19.  We carry you in our thoughts, sending you strength and resilient energy.  

We have been inspired by peoples ability to respond with love and solidarity. One story which surfaced was that when China sent medical marks to Italy, they taped a poem on the boxes that read: “Because we are waves on the same sea, we are leaves on the same tree, we are flowers in the same garden”.
 
Likewise, Japan donated supplies to China and send these with a message that reiterated: "We have different mountains and rivers, but we share the same sun, moon, and sky".
 
To our community, near and far, we join this message. We find strength, hope and acknowledge a profound lesson for humanity during these times. Let’s get through this, and when the time has come, let us, with all our strength, continue to build a path towards a just, conscious and healthy world - for all. 
 

Thank you for your support.  Our community is reminded of the flight of the condor, soaring among the peaks of high mountains. Ayni in Runasimi or Quechua expresses the constant flow of sharing: giving and receiving. Andean reciprocity is a core value of our culture, a dynamic and changing form of interaction that serves ethical, symbolic and economic purposes. Let us honor this understanding and continue to share, in heart and mind especially during these times.

Due to the present pandemic, we feel that it is our responsibility to pause the promotion of a cultural experience as our Raffle.  When this emergency ceases, Kusi Kawsay will begin suggesting a new drawing date.

We see the news and are in communication with many of you.  We have had a difficult year starting with floods that swept through Pisac. Many homes were affected and our community confronted reliving the trauma of the 2010 floods.  We supported one another then and we continue now to support each other.  Peru has been on lockdown with closed borders and empty sites since March 15. We are very worried that this emergency reveals the difficulties that our community faces with accessing basic needs. We cannot be indifferent to the hardship that is and will be confronting us. May this time serve as a reflection to strive for human rights for all.  Like nature, we are facing rough conditions but like nature, we too will overcome this and flourish once again.
 
Be safe. 
 
With love,
 
Kusi Kawsay Community

We would be grateful to hear from you and know that you are well.  If you are able to, send us message or an email.  During these times, positive memories are like medicine.  Leave a comment or write us an email with your memories of sharing experiences with us or one way that we put a smile on your face. Let us know if we have your permission to share some of these uplifting and encouraging memories.  Thank you.  We look forward to hearing from you.
 
We'll begin. One of our most treasured memories is when Ann Beckham came into our lives in 2008 and supported our community to cultivate our dream of realizing the Kusi Kawsay Andean School.  It makes us smile to remember Ann's wisdom through jokes, and learning about her life-story, which continues to inspire us.  Her strength was woven into the creation of a small yet powerful school.  Ann always brings laughter to us, right now we are remembering a particularly useful chocolate she gifted to Rene and Edy. Last but not least, we want to send a big river of energy to Ann, the woman who has helped for years with perseverance and trust so our dreams may become true. She walks protected by our hearts in the circle of the Life.

"Urpillay Sonqollay" - Quechua phrase to express Gratitude!

"LLaqtakunaq atipayninwan, Teqsimuyuntinta kuyuchisunchis"
When the villages work together, we will turn this world around.  

Thank you for all of your support this year and through the years. It has been quite a journey and we wouldn’t be where we are today without you! Our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation goes out to you.  Thanks for staying connected! Enjoy each other and this beautiful season! We’ll be in touch.