Letter from the Board President
especially di cult in the Altiplano: the impact of the pandemic was devastating in the rural areas and political unrest and drought added to the challenges facing our Pro-DIA sta . Despite all this, the Pro-DIA team has had remarkable success, which we were able to witness rst-hand during our post meeting trip to Puno, Pucara and six di erent communities. It is your support that has made this work possible.
The increased growth and strength of the Pro-DIA Board was one of the most important changes we celebrated during the annual meeting. The Chijnaya Foundation has always worked in conjunction with our Peruvian counterparts. This January we celebrated the installation of an expanded new Board of Directors for Pro-DIA. Under the leadership of President Dr. Ricardo Roca and Executive Director, David Cajo Cosavalente, Pro-DIA now has a Board of nine members. Dr. Ricardo and several members of both Boards shared our journey to Puno, Pucara, Amantaní and a range of other communities and associations to observe the projects underway. Creating such a strong Board of committed Peruvian leaders was a highlight of the meetings: it broadens and strengthens our e orts in the Altiplano. The leadership and commitment of the new Pro-DIA team is a vital step in ensuring the ongoing and continued support for sustainable integrated rural development in the Altiplano.
As always, the work of the Foundation was accomplished through the active participation of all members of the Board of Directors. Special thanks are due to the Executive Committee: Kathy Oths, VP and chair of the Scholarship Committee, Liz Klarich, Secretary, Mike Rensink, Treasurer and Makensie Brown, Director of Operations. Special thanks are also due to David Cajo Cosavalente, as the Executive Director of Pro-DIA and to the Pro-DIA sta : Dra. Maria del Carmen Aragon, Lic. Jhuver Aguirre, Sra. Rosmery Montesinos. It is this team of four sta members that has been the key to our e orts, combined with the e orts of the communities and associations with whom we work. As always, none of this would be possible without your nancial support. We hope you’ll take pride in the report that follows and share it with your friends. It is testimony to the good that can be done through collaboration, mutual respect and generosity.
With my continued thanks for your collaboration in this effort,
Susie Bourque President and Chair of the Board, The Chijnaya Foundation
Letter from the Director of Operations
past year. These are your achievements, catalyzed by your investment in our projects and your sustained support for our shared vision of addressing extreme poverty in underserved Andean communities. Thank you!
As I re ect on our journey during 2024, I’m struck by the powerful connections we’ve built with not only you, our donors and supporters, but with the 48 communities with whom we partner. I’m deeply grateful for your generosity that makes it all possible. Together, we are building a future of resilience, connection, and hope.
To celebrate, we’re proud to share recent highlights with you in this 2024 Impact Report, including:
• Reaching a landmark milestone of than $1,000,000 accumulated, managed, and reinvested as a part of our Rotating Fund Program by 48 communities since 2007.
• The formation of three new Savings Groups, adding to the already successful 13 groups who regularly meet to discuss nancial-readiness.
• Delivering support for 45 students to access higher education through our Scholarship Program.
• Providing 383 uoride and curative dental treaments across three schools for 28 children.
We’re thrilled to be at the forefront of a vital shift towards an improved quality of life for highly-motivated individuals in the Altiplano.
Thank you for standing with us to build development capacities that expand from individuals to larger, entire communities in the Puno region.
In partnership,
Makensie Brown Director of Operations, The Chijnaya Foundation
Our Mission
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. Our work supports community-led e orts to create viable futures, preserve culture, and improve social and economic conditions.
Health
The Dental Program provides oral health education and dental services that were previously unavailable to communities. Other health and environment-focused projects have included improving cook stoves, water infrastructure, and high altitude wetlands.
Economic Development
We empower communities to improve their income generating activities by providing access to a sustainable source of capital to invest in their businesses through the Rotating Fund Program and by promoting nancial self-reliance through the Group Savings Program.
Education
The Scholarship Program promotes equitable access to higher education in rural and indigenous communities. It provides an average of 50 scholarships a year to high school graduates from our partner communities to pursue degrees at universities and technical institutes.
Our Approach
Our Peruvian counterpart organization, Pro-DIA, works with communities long-term to develop a comprehensive development strategy and on-going collaboration to meet their goals. All projects must emerge from the community itself and be based on the perceived needs of the members of the community. Pro-DIA and The Chijnaya Foundation serve as consultants to the communities in the network and assist them in implementing approved projects.
Where We Work
The Chijnaya Foundation works in the Puno region of Peru, a southern state that borders Bolivia. In Puno, our work is focused in the altiplano, a geographic area of high altitude plains and rolling hills that is located at elevations of 12,500 feet and above. The Foundation has worked with communities in the following six districts in Puno: Pucará, Choquehuanca, Taraco, Paratía, Capachica, and Amantaní.
Our Commitment
As a US-based nonpro t, we strive to be allies to indigenous communities and support community-led e orts that do not perpetuate colonialism or neocolonialism
All administrative expenses of the Foundation are covered by donations from Board members; all private individual donations are devoted exclusively to projects in Peru
Once a community becomes a partner, we work with them long-term to develop a comprehensive development strategy and on-going collaboration to meet their goals
The Rotating Fund Program
The Rotating Fund Program was created in 2007 to address communities' need for capital to invest in their income generating activities and to improve the family economy.
Community members work with our Peruvian partner organization, Asociación Pro-DIA, to de ne long-term goals and design projects to achieve their vision for economic development. Projects are focused on increasing family income and are funded using a rotating loan model, meaning communities pay back the amount used for each project to a community fund.
Community members decide on loan payback periods and interest rates. Once the loan is paid back, community members use the funding to implement additional projects. The community fund is managed by the community with support of our team in Peru.
$278,673
Invested by 34 communities in projects to improve their income-generating activities and family economy
$1,159,435
Accumulated, managed, and reinvested by 48 communities since 2007
6,364
Persons directly bene tting from the Rotating Fund program
Highlighted Projects
Tourist Lodging Improvements
The Wiñay Cantuta Association dedicates their time to providing touristic services on the Lake Titicaca. They utilized rotating funds to improve the quality of lodging for their visitors in order to showcase their picturesque community.
Ceramic Workshop
The Mosoq Pakariy Association from Pucara borrowed funds to create an adequate environment for the elaboration of ceramics. Previously, the rain and elements ruined their product. By creating an enclosed area for creation and storage, they have increased the quantity and quality of their artisanry.
Solar Powered Water Baths
Potters from 25 de Diciembre from Choquehuanca requested support to purchase solar-powered water baths that allow them to work with warm water. Many members previously worked in cold water, which made them ill and unable to earn income for their families. By improving working conditions, they have improved the quality of their product and the support they o er to their families.
The Savings Program
In 2024 the Savings Program was named Waqaychasun, which in Quechua means “Together we’ll save.”
Accessing loans with fair interest rates can be very di cult for rural communities in Peru. The Group Savings Program facilitates the creation of small savings groups and community banks to provide members with a place within their community to save their money and take out loans. All of the money saved and invested by these groups comes from the members themselves. The groups are able to provide members with low interest rate loans and all interest paid on the loans directly bene ts the groups’ savings.
In 2024, savings group members reported using their savings and loans to purchase things such as business inventory and small farm animals, as well as cover expenses such as children’s education and medical care. Women play a major role in these organizations and often assume leadership positions, including roles of President and Treasurer. In recent years, the program evolved to also provide groups with nancial training on topics such as how to save and create a family budget as well as areas related to managing the nances of a small business.
$217,585
Saved and invested by the 16 savings groups and community banks
234
nancial-readiness meetings held across 16 savings groups
3 new savings groups formed in Pucara, Nicasio, and Qquepa
49 participants in two workshops about cooperative principles and legislation
Since 2007, The Chijnaya Foundation has responded to the overwhelming desire of rural families for access to higher education by o ering scholarships to high school graduates to attend universities or technical institutes.
In 2013, scholarship recipients organized a group called Dawn. The group meets throughout the year to share their experiences and use their elds of study to implement projects that help solve some of the challenges their home communities face. This group not only helps students give back to their communities, but also provides a space for them to practice self-governance. In addition, it allows them to network with other students from nearby communities who are the rst generation in their family to pursue higher education.
Scholarships awarded to students from 27 di erent communities in the altiplano since 2007 45 Scholarships awarded in 2024
The Health Program
21,995
Fluoride and curative dental treatments provided since 2013
3
Schools received educational, remedial, and preventative activities in 2024
According to a 2017 report from the Peruvian Ministry of Health, Puno is one of the three regions in Peru with the highest incidence of cavities in children 3 to 15 years of age. The report found that over 98% of children in these regions had cavities due to inadequate oral hygiene and lack of visits to a dentist.
28
Children received training on dental hygiene and hygiene kits to support healthy habits at home in 2024
The Chijnaya Foundation created a Dental Program in 2010 at the repeated request of communities and due to the apparent need for access to dental services. The program prioritizes providing uoride treatments, curative dental treatments, and training sessions on oral health for children. Several community-wide clinics are also carried out each year to provide dental services to adults.
Communities submit project proposals at the end of every year. The following economic development projects have been selected for implementation in 2025. You can now partially or fully fund a specific project with your donation.
Ceramic Workshops
With a long tradition in the elaboration of decorative ceramic pieces, this association maintains the production of the traditional torito as well as plates, piggy banks, nativity scenes for Christmas, and a variety of products. The main objective of this initiative is to protect their art from the uncertainties of nature such as frost, wind and torrential rains in the months of September to March. This project will allow the artisans to reach su cient production levels and will ensure the handcrafted products reach consumers more e ectively.
Community: Asociación de Cerámica Innovada de Pucará
Beneficiaries: 8
Amount to invest: $2,739
Purchase of Alfalfa Seeds
All of the bene ciaries work as farmers and ranchers. Less than half supplement their income by marketing products such as groceries or products derived from their own production. This project seeks to increase the families’ milk production through planting and cultivating alfalfa for the cattle’s consumption. By diversifying the cattle’s diet, milk production will increase by approximately 10%.
Community: Asociación Huito Balsapata - Choquehuanca
Beneficiaries: 17
Amount to invest: $2,739
Purchase of Alfalfa Seeds
The members of the association are engaged in agricultural activities such as raising cows that produce milk. Some of the members also grow products such as potatoes, quinoa, cañihua. The income of the families comes from the sale of milk and oat bales. By diversifying the cows’ diet with alfalfa, the bene ciaries of the project will increase their income by at least 5% with their earnings from the sale of milk.
Community: Asociación Pukarani – Nicasio
Beneficiaries: 10
Amount to invest: $2,739
Purchase of Display Cases
The production of ceramics traditionally takes place in the homes of the potters themselves, and all members of the family participate in the task. Through their pottery production they express the complexity of the Andean cosmovision regarding agricultural life and natural resources. This project will provide transparent display cases to members of the potters association so that they may better exhibit their products to local and national markets. They anticipate their sales will increase by 40%.
Community: 25 de Diciembre – Choquehuanca
Beneficiaries: 10
Amount to invest: $2,739
Implementation of Cattle Holding Pens
This association earns a living from the sale of cow’s milk. Through this project, they seek to improve the infrastructure related to their cattle, which will contribute to the development of a better production system and the overall economic situation of each family. Cattle holding pens will separate the cows during feeding and veterinary care, thus improving their management and reducing their stress. At the end of the project the groups hopes to increase their milk production by 27%.
Community: Qquepa
Beneficiaries: 8
Amount to invest: $2,191
Tourism Kitchen Improvements
This community is located on Amantaní Island on Lake Titicaca and earns a living in part through hosting tourists. They seek to improve the quality of their kitchens in order to ensure the safety and satisfaction of their customers with the hope their guests will encourage others to visit. Their goal is to increase their economic income by 10% with the help of these home improvements.
Community: Santa Rosa Amantaní
Beneficiaries: 8
Amount to invest: $2,191
Potter's Wheel Purchase
This association consists of families that dedicate their time to creating decorative and ornamental ceramics. They will use the potter’s wheels to improve their product production. This community has bene ted from roof coverings to improve their working conditions and increase their sales by 40%. This further improvement and change will allow the members to increase their production by 50 pieces per person per day.
Community: Chaska Pukara – Pucará
Beneficiaries: 5
Amount to invest: $2,739
Mini Stable Construction for Calves
Livestock is the main means of livelihood for this community. They are seeking to improve productivity of milk and meat. By creating mini stables, the cattle will experience thermal comfort, thus increasing production and resulting in higher incomes for each family. They hope this infrastructure will allow each member to increase their average amount of milk by 350 liters per month.
Community: Asociación Virgen de Carmen – Nicasio
Beneficiaries: 10
Amount to invest: $3,287
Solar Water Baths
This artisan community creates ceramics to make a living. In order to improve working conditions and increase productivity, and therefore income, they will utilize their rotating funds to purchase solar panels that will allow them to work with warm water.
Community: Copacabana – Choquehuanca
Beneficiaries: 5
Amount to invest: $2,191
Solar Heated Water
This community, on Amantaní Island on Lake Titicaca, previously bene ted from a water project. In order to continue providing an improved experience for the tourists who visit their island, they plan to implement solar panels to heat their water for warm showers for their guests.
Community: Lampayuni – Amantaní
Beneficiaries: 5
Amount to invest: $2,328
Water Projects
In 2025, The Chijnaya Foundation received six project proposals to support water projects in several di erent communities on the Island of Amantaní and in Pucara. These communities do not have consistent access to water within their homes.
This year we are partnering with Inkatiana and Colquecachi to ensure 624 people have basic water services which is foundational to the health and well being of their communities. The total cost for both projects is $19,178.
There are several other communities that need access to water and if you feel compelled to help, contact us or donate.
Our Board of Directors
Executive Committee:
Susan C. BourquePresident
David Cajo CosavalenteExecutive Director Pro-DIA
Liz Klarich - Secretary
Kathy Oths - Vice President
Michael J. RensinkTreasurer
Board Members:
Dan Bauer
Judy Bauer
Ralph Bolton - Founder, Past President
Carla Dahl-Jorgensen
Judith Farmer
Abby Levine
Roland Moore
Ricardo Roca Torres
John Rouse
Christine Shelton
Richard Waller
George Whitman
Leadership Circle
Gifts of $1,000 and up
Abigail Levine
Alida Metcalf & Daniel Rigney
Anke Dew
Ann Stromberg & Rudy Volti
Ardell One Sr.
Bill Dressler
Bill Mitchell
Bob & Ana Cook
Carole & Leigh Paquin
Charles Haug
Chris Shelton
Connie Jaquith
Cynthia McClintock
Dave Moghadam
David Buchner & Marian Huhman
Diane Palmer
Donald Dyche & Phyllis Cummins
Elizabeth Boylan
Elysia Solomon
Eugene Bolton
Gillian Speichinger
Gloria Levin
Heather Williams
Ian Dew
Emeritus Members:
Anne Bages
Eugene Bolton
Jerome Crowder
Robert O. Frost
Connie Jaquith
Peggy Slater
Ann Stromberg
Raymond Rifenburg
Heather Williams
Thanks to generous contributions from our supporters, The Chijnaya Foundation celebrates two action-packed years of implementing health, education, and economic development projects in Southern Peru. Thank you for your continued support!
James Bass
John Bryan
John Rouse
Judy & Dan Bauer
Judy Farmer & Connie Knapp
Kathleen McCartney & William Hagen
Kathy Oths
Keelung Hong
Laurie Sanders & Frederic Morrison
Leah Sanders
Leo Schoenhofen
Margaret Anne Pierce
Martha Egan
Mary Beth Klarich
Melody Foti
Michael J Rensink MD
Molly Burke
Peggy Slater
Penina Glazer
Phoebe Dent Weil
Ravi & Mona Sinha
Roland Moore & Marlowe Baldwin
Sally & James Lindsey
Sara Bourque
Steven Bosiljevec
Susan Barrett
Susan C. Bourque
Suzanne Frayser
Vikki Lenhart
Vivian & Fernando Mendez
Friends of the Foundation
Gifts of $500 - $1,000
Camille DeFrank & Edward Chez
Carla Dahl-Jorgensen
Charles & Karen Staelin
Frederick & Maria Cornelius
Jane & Clif Taylor
Jane Jaquette & Abe Lowenthal
Margo Smith
Mark & Jean Farmer
Mary Clare Wilkinson
Merry Keefe
Nikolas Perakis
Peter Hofman
Rolly Thompson
Stephen & Sharon Wiley
Theodore Terry Clattenburg
Tom Lockard & Alix Marduel
Wendy Stickel
Advocates
Gifts up to $500
Allan Hoben
Andrew W. Zanella
Angel Pineda
Anonymous
Anthony & Kerry Oliver-Smith
Anton Bauer
Besty Collins & Mary Whitney
Bill & Carmen Bollinger
Bill & Caroline Bissell
Bill & Georgeann Andrus
Bob & Julie Beanblossom
Brad Goodman
Brian Polovoy
Brooke Holmes
Brooke Thomas
Burt Lazarin
Carol Doolittle
Cecilia Riddell
Charlene Bolton
Cheryl McFadden
Christine Masson
Chun Wei
Daryl Smith
David & Melissa Solomon
David & Sherry Bourque
David Solomon
Debbie Cottrell
Delia Anderson
Diane Palmer
Douglas & Karen Raybeck
Dr. Mary Patterson McPherson
Edward & Cheryl Heneveld
Edward Glab
Elizabeth Abel
Elizabeth Arkush
Elizabeth Briody & Marc Robinson
Elizabeth Moynihan
Ellis Ho man
Eric & Amy Montgomery
Esther Kissamore
Everett Snowden
Fatma Kassamali & Kim Bruce
Garry Chick
George & Dorothy Gamble
Geraldine Benson
Glory Day Collectibles
Greg & Angel Meyers
Greg White & Patricia Reidy
Gregory Emerson Bocquet
Gregory Larson
Gregory Maniatis
Hans Sono Jimenez
Harriet & John Taylor
Ira Holmes
Jackie Gri th
Jacquelyn & William Daley
James Likens & Chris Irons
James Tate
James Wallace
Jane Bryden & Christopher Krueger
Jane Douglass
Janet Mcgrath & David Zordan
Je rey Chernin & Peter Nardi
John Davis & Jason He ner Davis
John & Linda Dressman
John & Sigrid Southworth
John Bemis
John & Marianna Connolly
John Davis & Jason
He ner
John Clark & Catherine Botelho
Joseph Bourque
Joshua Glazer
Judith Helzner
Judith Ratcli e
Judy Yates
Julia Brown
Julia Mehrer
Katherine Magoutas
Kenneth Erickson
Kevin Pitcock
Kim Sturdivant
Lawrence & Maryann Malinconico
Lawrence Soderholm & Judith Parr
Lee Carlin
Linda & Ken Stoltz
Linda Moore
Linda Seligmann
Lisa & Je Bennett
Lisa Markowitz
M.L. Church
Marcy & Neil Alexander
Margo & Louis Komarmy
Mark Aldenderfer
Marie & John Stoutland
Marina & Tigran Gulyan
Mark & Carolyn Landis
Martha Ackelsburg & Judith Plaskow
Maynard Wheeler
Michael & Joanne Bailis
Michael & Elizabeth Burns
Michael Hirsh
Michael Rouse
Michiko Okaya
Mike and Barbara Coleman
Molly McLaughlin
Nancy & Michael Lofaro
Nancy Dollahite
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Nyla Musser
Olivia Radcli e
Paula & Charles Goldsmid
Paula & Michael Koshmrl
Peter & Wanda Michaelson
Peter Hofman
Ralph Slaght & Susan Bauman
Richard Barron
Richard Muirhead
Robert Blomberg
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Robert & Susan Knox
Robert & Suzanne O'Hatnick
Robert & Janet Bissell
Robert & Suzanne O'Hatnick
Robert Fraga
Robin Lamonte
Roland Alum
Ron & Sandy Peters
Ronald & Judith Inskeep
Rosemary & Franco Arnold
Sally Bourque-Laycsak
Samantha Roberts
Sara Abraham
Sharen & Peter Gendebien
Sheila Gaa
Shirley Colodny
Sidney H. & Judith S. Golub
Starr Bourque & Martin P. Wyland
Stephen Schnitker
Steven Glickel & Georgia Mattison
Steven Oder & Robin Nuskind
Sue Schafer
Susan & Eric Mangler
Susan Niles
Susan Phelps
Susan Seymour & Laurence Graham
Suzanne Wells
Teall & Cynthia Messer
Ted Tate
Thomas & Donna Divine
Thomas & Margaret Greaves
Ti ny Tung
Todd Peebles
Tom Hunsdorfer
William & Barbara Turner
Wilson Will
Yanina Vargas
Organizations
Give Lively Foundation
Global Giving
New England Biolabs
Patient First
Western Wind
Legacy Society*
Connie Jaquith
Dan & Judy Bauer
Judith Farmer & Dr. Connie Knapp
Michael J Rensink MD
Ralph Bolton
Susan Barrett
Susan C. Bourque
* These individuals have designated the Chijnaya Foundation in their estate plans or wills. If you are interested in joining this group, please contact us at info@chijnaya.org.
Planned Giving
You can make a planned gift by naming The Chijnaya Foundation as a beneficiary in your will. A planned gift will continue your legacy of generosity beyond your lifetime and support projects in southern Peru long into the future.
IRA Charitable Rollover
You can make a difference while also reducing your tax liability! If you are 73 or older and own an IRA, the IRA Charitable Rollover allows you to make a charitable gift and satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD).
Appreciated Stock
This is a donation of stock that has increased in value since it was purchased. Donating appreciated stock can provide tax benefits for you and can help us keep the full value of the donation.
Charitable Gift Annuity
This is essentially a contract between you, the donor and us, a charity, that provides you with a fixed income for life in exchange for a donation to the foundation.
Other Ways to Give
Shop at Ebay and Kroger to donate at no extra cost! You can also start a fundraiser, give monthly, create a named scholarship, or make a tribute gift. There are so many different ways that you can get involved and help us make a difference.
* For more details or questions about how to give, please contact us at info@chijnaya.org.
