Inti Runakunaq Wasin

Special Needs Support

"We are creating a new world for our different abilities"

In the city of Cusco, it is very difficult for people with physical or mental limitations to find a place where they can learn and develop their abilities and potential in order to be able to integrate adequately into society. This is partly owing to the lack of educational centres and workshops that offer possibilities and opportunities to people wrongly called disabled, such is the insensitivity of authorities and of society in general.

In January of 2006, a new experiment was started. This was the pilot project for young people with different abilities. The object was to offer a space for socialization, integration and learning that allowed the development of some abilities of a small group of adolescents and young people with different abilities, who for reasons of extreme poverty, lack of interest of their parents or failure of the regular systems were not assisted in any educational programme.

Five adolescents and young people were selected to start the experiment, seeking to offer an alternative space of development and learning for them and their families. The majority of them were in situations of extreme poverty, which meant that they found themselves in a situation of double exclusion, owing to the lack of funds or the indifference or mistreatment by their families and society.

At Inti Runakunaq Wasin, we believe that all people are capable of developing their abilities and capacities, regardless of the physical or mental limitations that they might have. For this reason, we have an integrated educational programme for people with different abilities. The objective is for them to develop their abilities, be independent, find a job and realize their own dreams, for them to be "independent, productive and happy" (CASP).

At present at Inti Runakunaq Wasin, the young people with different abilities participate in all the workshops together with the children and adolescents who assist with the programmes that our institution offers, working an inclusive programme in which all the participants learn and develop with equality of opportunities to strengthen and increase their abilities.

Each one of the young participants with different abilities counts/relies on an individual programme, in which basic academic activities are realized as soon as they are ready to work in the leatherwork, jewelry, handicrafts, creativity, cooking and pastry making, horticulture, dance and physical expression workshops. They have arrived at the stage of active integration with the group, improving their conduct.

The parents are fundamental in the children's education. This is the reason they are being trained to be able to respond in a better way to the needs of their children and have patience and confidence that they can achieve many things, they only need support and opportunities.