Chaska is a psychology-based program addressing the impact of poverty and inequalities, especially affecting vulnerable groups like women and children. We identify high school girls with immense potential through psychological testing evaluating character traits. When they join us at Chaska, they receive educational, financial, and emotional support so that they can overcome the barriers created by poverty and inequalities and reach their full potential, ultimately breaking the cycle of disadvantage and building brighter futures for themselves and their communities.
Our program operates on three pillars of support:
Educational: We assess each girl to understand their academic proficiency and goals for the future. Each girl receives a personalized development plan, academic tutoring, and specialized courses in the vocational field of interest.
Financial: We absorb the costs of high school administrative fees, additional academic tutoring, school materials, and academic preparation for higher education.
Emotional: Each girl receives individual mentoring and the support of our dedicated psychologist. We also provide workshops on life skills like self-esteem, goal setting, and sexual and reproductive health.
Academically, our students' overall grades have risen by an average of 15-20% since the program's inception. Originally shy and timid, the girls now exude confidence and outgoing personalities. Families report marked improvements in family life, thanks to our dedicated social workers and financial support.
Meet Miel and Nicols, two young women whose lives were transformed by our program. Discover their inspiring stories of graduating high school, finding their passions, and pursuing their goals.
Born from our 2017 in-house research, Chaska recognizes that character and personality traits are better indicators of success among under-resourced families in Cusco than measured intelligence or previous school results. Our High School Personality Questionnaire (HSPQ) accurately identifies "The Big 5" traits (extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness to experience, and emotional stability).In 2021, we updated our intake procedure based on advancements in psychology. In 2022, our research led us to the JS-Neo 60 test, more effective for determining personality factors, validated for our culture and age group. This knowledge has enhanced our program, supporting students on their academic and professional journeys. Join us in empowering success through personality-driven growth.
Our intake process occurs during the 3rd year of secondary education (equivalent to 2nd year of high school). Working with Cusco's three biggest public schools, we administer over 2,200 JS-Neo 60 tests to identify specific personality profiles. Thanks to research advancements, we select students with two personality profiles linked to academic and professional success:
High emotional stability, high conscientiousness, and average openness to experience.
High emotional stability, high openness, and average conscientiousness.
Conducting socioeconomic status assessments through home visits, we identify those who will benefit most from Chaska's program. Every October, we welcome more young women to join us on their journey to success. Be a part of their bright future with Chaska.
Empowering Development through Financial Support Studies show poverty hampers young people's growth. Providing financial aid to low-income families improves children's development, including academic achievement. When school starts, families face overwhelming expenses, leading to loans and credit reliance. We offer crucial financial support to create a balanced foundation for their education. Chaska provides 80%-100% of yearly education expenses for girls, promoting financial stability for their families. Beyond that, we offer access to essential resources, including electricity, water, classrooms, computers, internet, a library, nutritious meals, tutors, and focused small group classes, enriching their educational experience.
Empowering Educational Progress Peruvian public schools face challenges, lacking funds and resources, resulting in large classes, poor infrastructure, and lower performance compared to private schools. We aim to create an ideal learning environment for academic success. Chaska's effective system maximizes students' progress with additional classes and tutoring in STEM fields, languages, and subjects they struggle with in public school. Small group classes ensure optimal student-to-teacher interaction. Our non-traditional curriculum includes workshops on crucial topics like sexual education, substance abuse, bullying, and self-esteem. Adapting to COVID-19 challenges, we now support students attending Academias, covering 80% of their expenses for quality education and higher education preparation.
Nurturing Emotional Support for Bright Futures Poverty and inequality impact adolescents' mental health significantly, leading to poor school performance, low self-esteem, and increased substance abuse risk. To support positive outcomes, institutions must provide a healthy environment, safeguarding critical cognitive processes for learning, communication, academic achievement, and emotional well-being.
Chaska's dedicated social workers, led by psychology professionals, create a better environment and lifestyle for our students and their families. Acting as mentors, they offer valuable guidance on money management, hygiene, emotional stability, and parenting methods. To the girls, they serve as positive role models, providing emotional and psychosocial support while nurturing their talents and interests. Our staff and interns conduct psychological evaluations, address challenges, and ensure each girl's mental health is trending positively. Together, we foster holistic growth for a brighter future.