Purpose
The Chijnaya Foundation works in partnership with rural communities in Southern Peru to design and implement self-sustaining projects in health, education, and economic development. We believe in the capacity of Andean people to create self-sustaining activities that will improve their living standards and quality of life.
On the Ground
The operational arm of the Foundation is our legally-constituted Peruvian counterpart, the Pro-DIA Association (Dr. Javier Avila, President). Pro-DIA has a full-time paid Project Director, a young anthropologist (Jhuver Aguirre), and two part-time employees, including the dentist in charge of the oral health program (Dr. Maria del Carmen Aragon) and a young woman responsible for our savings programs (Rosmery Montesinos). Executive Director of the Pro-DIA Association, David Cajo, is instrumental in organizing and supervising projects “on the ground” and aiding communities as they form associations to accomplish projects. All of these staff members are Peruvians.
Economic Development
Rural community economic development is at the heart of the Chijnaya Foundation mission, specifi-cally agricultural microlending.
Health & the Environment
The fortunes of families and communities are closely tied to basic health care access, clean water, and native plant and aquatic ecosystems.
Education
We respond to the overwhelming demand of rural families for access to higher education by establishing a university scholarship program.
Latest from the #Chijnaya Blog
Interviews with Chijnaya Foundation Scholars
Two men discuss their scholarships from the Chijnaya Foundation. A woman discusses her scholarship from the Chijnaya Foundation. A man discusses his scholarship from the Chijnaya Foundation. Two women discuss their scholarships from the Chijnaya Foundation.
Summer 2019 Matching Grant Challenge
Four friends of the Foundation pooled their resources to create a $75,000 Matching Grant Challenge. For every dollar contributed by individual donors during the months of June, July and August, these generous supporters donated a dollar. This means that your gift of...
Brochures Highlighting Current Activities