How we make a difference

Every child is unique and deserves tailored opportunities

Our mission is clear

To combat poverty and social inequality by increasing the future opportunities of every child in Peru.

Oye LENA is not a school, but a safe, inclusive, and warm educational project in Curahuasi, Peru. We offer after-school support and specialized daycare to a highly diverse group of children, ranging from preschoolers to children with multiple disabilities. We create a place where they can be carefree children, feel good about themselves, and are given the space to discover their own talents through learning through play.

Oye NIÑOS - Regular Education

Equal opportunities and the space to discover talents

Through our after-school education project, Oye Niños, we welcome children from Curahuasi every afternoon. Many children from disadvantaged families need extra support with learning to read, write, and do math. That is why we offer targeted homework guidance and work together on essential skills such as math, English, and communication. We not only provide them with high-quality and playful education but also ensure a warm meal and structural dental care. In doing so, we place an extra focus on the development of girls, as they are unfortunately often still disadvantaged in rural areas. After all, every child deserves the chance to discover his or her talents!

See our approach in action

Drie kleuters zijn samen met hun mama's aan het spelen. Er wordt boven de hoofden van de kinderen een doek gewapperd. Iedereen is aan het lachen.
Verkleede kleuters zijn samen aan het spelen
De grotere kinderen zijn samen aan het spelen

Oye JUNTOS - Special Education

Tailored individual care

Children with disabilities are all too often forgotten or hidden away in Peru. With our project Oye JUNTOS, we are changing that. In the mornings, these children receive one-on-one guidance, physiotherapy, and adapted activities (such as sensory ‘snoezelen’ and Sherborne developmental movement). We always look at what each individual child needs. For some of them, it is a wonderful milestone to occasionally join the regular group in the afternoons. During these shared moments, we playfully build inclusion, empathy, and acceptance.

See our approach in action

Een vrijwilliger doet samen met 2 leerlingen met het syndroon van Down een yoga-oefening
Een vrijwilliger is samen met iemand van het syndroom van Down muziek aan het spelen
Verschillende leerlingen met een beperking zijn samen een kunstwerk aan het maken

Oye MUNDO - Global Citizenship

Cultural exchange and a heart for volunteers

Volunteers from all over the world are the key figures of our project. Thanks to their daily dedication and passion, we succeed in making our vision for the children in Peru a reality. At Oye MUNDO, we also want to give something valuable back to this group of people.

We not only offer them the love of the children but also let them experience that things can be done differently. We fill their backpacks with images and ideas that will stay with them forever, centering around values such as respect, honesty, team spirit, and positivity. This way, they go home richer and can continue to spread our message there.

Slowly but surely, together we are building our own network of ambassadors: a group of conscious global citizens who, with great self-awareness, do their part to make our world a more beautiful place.

Een vrijwilliger geeft een oprechte knuffel aan een leerling
Een verkleede vrijwilliger en verkleede kleuter omarmen elkaar
Twee vrijwilligers knuffelen een leerling met het syndroom van down. Het is in een kerstsfeer.

Oye LOCAL - Local Community

Joining forces for a strong, local community

Strong ties with the local population and local organizations are the heart of our project in Curahuasi. At Oye LOCAL, we do not believe in a one-way street, but strive for a valuable and equal exchange of knowledge, materials, and experience. Only by joining forces locally can we work towards the full development of the child.

In terms of education, we bring local institutions together to create a powerful mix of Peruvian and Western educational methods. This way, we can optimally stimulate children with a different home language and also involve parents, who often did not get the chance to study themselves, in the enormous importance of good education for their children.

In addition, in close collaboration with local health authorities, such as the Centro de Salud and Diospi Suyana hospital, we watch over the well-being of our children. From preventive dental care and the fight against malnutrition to direct help with accidents: we are building a local safety net. After all, a child can only truly be happy and learn well in a healthy and strong body!

Een bijeenkomst van de ouders van de kinderen
Een marktje op het plein van het dorp
Een leerling doet mee aan een lokale wedstrijd

HIGHLIGHT

Water therapy

Water offers a unique form of freedom. For children with a physical or multiple disability, gravity temporarily disappears in the pool. This provides immediate relaxation of the muscles and creates movement possibilities that are often unthinkable on dry land.

In addition, the warm water is the perfect place to overcome fears, build self-confidence, and strengthen the bond between the child and the supervisor in a very relaxed, playful way. It is intensive therapy, but for the children, it simply feels like a wonderful adventure.

whatsapp image 2026 04 22 at 20.27.50

Our Methods

Learning through experience

Instead of using standard textbooks, we build our lessons around themes that connect with the children’s perception of the world (such as the seasons, the human body, or the market). This makes learning immediately applicable and tangible. By doing crafts, singing, and playing around one central topic together, the learning material sticks much better, and there is room for everyone to participate at their own level.

Balanced stimuli

For children with a (multiple) disability, the world can sometimes be overwhelming. In our special sensory ‘snoezel’ room, everything revolves around sensory activation and relaxation. With soft lights, textures, music, and scents, we create a safe cocoon. Here, children can relax, release tension, and connect with their supervisor in a low-threshold way, finding the right balance between unwinding and softly stimulating the senses.

Growing through movement

The Sherborne pedagogy is a movement method that is on our schedule weekly. By moving and playing together on the mat, the children learn to know their own bodies (self-confidence) and learn to communicate and cooperate with others (trust in the other). It is a playful and highly effective way to work on social and motor skills.

Inclusive Communication

Every child wants to be understood. For children with a speech or language delay, we use SMOG (Speaking With Support of Gestures). By combining spoken language with simple gestures, we bridge communication gaps. This not only gives children a voice but also prevents a lot of frustration and enormously builds their self-confidence.

Discovering Talents

Because we are lucky enough to work with international volunteers, we literally bring the world to our children. Every volunteer brings unique skills and passions. This allows us to offer surprising workshops and specific topics that fall outside the standard curriculum, such as theater, IT, photography, or even circus! This broadens the children’s horizons and gives them the chance to explore new interests and discover hidden talents.

Learning through experience

Instead of using standard textbooks, we build our lessons around themes that connect with the children’s perception of the world (such as the seasons, the human body, or the market). This makes learning immediately applicable and tangible. By doing crafts, singing, and playing around one central topic together, the learning material sticks much better, and there is room for everyone to participate at their own level.

Een leerling is een wereldbol aan het verven

Balanced stimuli

For children with a (multiple) disability, the world can sometimes be overwhelming. In our special sensory ‘snoezel’ room, everything revolves around sensory activation and relaxation. With soft lights, textures, music, and scents, we create a safe cocoon. Here, children can relax, release tension, and connect with their supervisor in a low-threshold way, finding the right balance between unwinding and softly stimulating the senses.

Growing through movement

The Sherborne pedagogy is a movement method that is on our schedule weekly. By moving and playing together on the mat, the children learn to know their own bodies (self-confidence) and learn to communicate and cooperate with others (trust in the other). It is a playful and highly effective way to work on social and motor skills.

Een vrijwilliger doet sherborne met iemand met een beperking

Inclusive Communication

Every child wants to be understood. For children with a speech or language delay, we use SMOG (Speaking With Support of Gestures). By combining spoken language with simple gestures, we bridge communication gaps. This not only gives children a voice but also prevents a lot of frustration and enormously builds their self-confidence.

Discovering Talents

Because we are lucky enough to work with international volunteers, we literally bring the world to our children. Every volunteer brings unique skills and passions. This allows us to offer surprising workshops and specific topics that fall outside the standard curriculum, such as theater, IT, photography, or even circus! This broadens the children’s horizons and gives them the chance to explore new interests and discover hidden talents.

Een leerling met een beperking leert fotos trekken met een professionele camera
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