Qolqas for the People
We believe that in order for us to prosper, our neighbours must do so too. It is with that mindset that we set up a non-profit association to promote activities that will help contribute to the well-being of the Patacancha river valley.
The association is funded by 100% of the margin we make on the activities we promote and by generous donations from our friends and guests.
Asociación Las Qolqas has four main pillars of Community Work:
(I) CHILD EDUCATION
Peru has a serious educational deficit. More so in rural areas. Covid 19 has worsened what was already a critical situation.
We believe that investing in Education is key in order to structurally improve people’s lives and give them opportunities for dignified and rewarding occupations.
(II) FAMILY HEALTHCARE
Peru has large inequalities when it comes to availability and affordability of healthcare.
We aim to provide our staff and their families with good healthcare. We also aim to help the neighboring communities get better access & choices.
(III) PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT
Water quality and availability are of prime concern worldwide. We focus on building the right irrigation infrastructure for Las Qolqas Eco Resort and for its neighbours.
We also invest in water treatment, waste management, recycling & reforestation.
(IV) PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
Ollantaytambo is home to incredible archaeological sites. The cultural heritage that surrounds us is priceless.
We work with the ministry of culture and with our neighbours to maintain the agricultural terraces in the Patacancha river valley.
Projects undertaken by Asociación Las Qolqas:
September 2021:
Provided irrigation hoses, hired a hydraulic engineer and organized our neighbours to implement an aspersion irrigation system. Allowing each of the neighboring farmers that make use of the agricultural terraces to share water equitably and more efficiently.
August 2021:
Paid for the Translation of the national grade-school curriculum from Spanish to Quechua. This exercise was executed by MAB with the help of two local teachers and a psychologist from Ollantaytambo.
May 2021:
Commissioned an audit of the emotional and academic level of teachers, students and parents of the schools in our neighboring villages: Ollantaytambo, Pallata, Huilloc and Patacancha.
This led to the inclusion of the teachers of said schools in the program ‘De Tambo a Tambo’. The teachers now engage in monthly calls with other teachers and coaches, in which they have a forum to voice their doubts and get support in order to do the best job they can with their limited resources.
October 2020 – February 2021:
Restoration of Inca wall along the road from Ollantaytambo to Huilloc. Engaged an archaeologist to work alongside experts from the Ministry of Culture. They prepared a plan and subsequently monitored the restauration of a millenary Inca wall.
September 2019:
The entire staff of Las Qolqas participated in planting thousands of Queuña trees near Pumamarca
March 2019 – July 2019:
Built a river intake and canal system to be used by all the neighboring farmers on the south bank of the Patacancha river.