Cooperar Perú is a non-profit organization located in the small community of Tankarpata - about 20 minutes away from Cusco, Peru. Founded in 2010, they have been working with volunteers to improve the quality of life for their children, community, and local families. They focus on children and education, considering them to be the key to major community development. The local families often have insufficient access to health services, education, drinking water, water supply, and/or electricity. The children are also commonly exposed to alcoholism, domestic violence, agricultural work, and other work to help contribute to their family's income. With the rising impacts of COVID-19, including quarantine and shutdowns, the already-impoverished families are now struggling more than ever to retrieve basic needs.
        Thus, their center for educational support and playful activities opened in Tankarpata in order to prevent school failure, offer learning opportunities, and support socially excluded children, as well as those at risk of dropping out of school. They provide educational resources and teach basic hygiene habits. Each day, from 3-7pm, the children are met by the volunteers and go through their daily schedule including: hand washing, brushing teeth, homework, learning activities (motor skills, math, reading), free/play time, weekly themed activities (the five senses was one week's theme), discussion time, and snack time.
        Additionally, the organization works in agreement with rural communities to help strengthen them in a cooperative, voluntary way. In fact, their mission statement is: "Creating and strengthening capacities for community development." Some of their projects have been: building a greenhouse for learning purposes, family check ins and follow ups, collaboration with the local Solidarity Hospital, sending care packages to families, psychological assistance for children and families, and promoting agro-ecological practices and techniques. They also have been providing and donating to relief for COVID-19, since their community is not well prepared for an outbreak, and many local families do not receive any government aid.