The children of Ollantaytambo and the Patakancha Valley (in the Sacred Valley region of Peru) have limited means of turning their future dreams into reality after they graduate from high school. On average, only two or three students out of the 70 that graduate each year from Colegio Estatal Mixto Ollantay will continue their studies at a technical institute or university. Colegio Ollantay is the only high school in the town, and the only one available to children from the poor communities of the Patakancha Valley. The rest will follow their family jobs either working in the markets or on the farms, uneducated and without an income to support a family of their own. Every generation of children becomes poorer, and the number of professionals in the community is decreasing rapidly, representing only 5% of the district’s population.
The selected students have demonstrated the following: i) strong desire to pursue their education after high school and obtain a professional career, ii) a lack of economic resources to continue their studies, iii) willingness to assist their families, the Sacred Valley Youth Fund, and the community of Ollantaytambo, iv) Good grades and leadership qualities, as recognized by the directors of Colegio Ollantay.