English School For Porters’ Children In The Patacancha Community, Sacred Valley

In January, AB Expeditions launched a transformative social and educational initiative with the establishment of an English language school in the Patacancha community. This project is primarily focused on providing English lessons for the children of Inca Trail porters, as well as children from nearby communities such as Willoc, Rumira, and Huacawasi. By introducing English education at an early age, the initiative aims to support their academic development, strengthen communication skills, and create greater future opportunities.

The school is equipped with desks, interactive whiteboards, and essential teaching materials, offering a safe, inclusive, and well-structured learning environment designed specifically for young learners. Beyond language instruction, the project seeks to build a strong foundation for long-term educational growth within the community. As the program develops, AB Expeditions plans to expand English lessons to adult porters in the future, further reinforcing the company’s commitment to porter welfare, responsible tourism, and sustainable social development in the regions where it operates.

How did this social project begin

Since the establishment of our company, social responsibility has been an integral part of our values and operations. From the beginning, we have carried out various community-oriented initiatives, such as supporting families with essential supplies, helping transport water to communities located far from reliable sources, and organizing seasonal activities including the distribution of Christmas gifts and food for children. These early actions were driven by a genuine desire to support local communities and respond to immediate needs in a practical and respectful way.

As our company continued to grow, we recognized the opportunity and responsibility to develop social projects with a more lasting and meaningful impact—particularly those that could positively influence future generations. Through our experience, we identified education as a key area for long-term development. In particular, we strongly believe that learning English is an essential skill in today’s world, as it provides access to a vast amount of information, improves communication, and opens the door to better educational and employment opportunities.

With this vision in mind, we decided to launch an English education project for the local community. Initially, our intention was to use an existing school facility to offer English lessons; however, our request was not approved. Following this, we approached Mr. Eusebio, a respected community member, who generously offered a small piece of land for the construction of a modest school building. We were deeply grateful for his willingness to support the project, and a formal agreement was established.

Mr. Eusebio and his family were directly involved in the construction process, and we ensured they were fairly compensated for their work. The construction took approximately one month to complete. Once the building was finished, our team collaborated to furnish and decorate the space, creating a welcoming and functional learning environment. Today, the English school is fully operational. We continue to support the project by paying a monthly lease for the land and employing a qualified English teacher to provide consistent instruction.

This social project would not have been possible without the trust and support of our travelers. By choosing our local company for your journey to Machu Picchu, you are directly contributing to initiatives that support education and community development. For this, we extend our sincere gratitude.

How We Transported All the School Supplies

As this project began during the rainy season, the transportation of school supplies presented several challenges. Although there is a road that leads toward the community, heavy rainfall had turned it extremely muddy, making it impossible for our vehicle to continue beyond a certain point. As a result, we were required to transport all the supplies manually.

With strong teamwork and commitment, our office staff, guides, cooks, drivers, and support team worked together to carry the materials in backpacks, much like porters do on trekking routes. The terrain after the rain was slippery and difficult to navigate, which required extra care and physical effort. Despite these obstacles, the entire team remained motivated and determined. Through cooperation and perseverance, we successfully delivered all the school supplies to the community school, ensuring the project could move forward as planned.

How the People of Patacancha Received Us

The reception we received from the people of Patacancha was warm and deeply meaningful. The entire community expressed genuine happiness and appreciation for our decision to begin this project and to choose their community. During the welcome, the president of the community gave an emotional speech, explaining that they had worked for many years with large and well-known companies but had never received this type of direct support. His words, filled with gratitude, moved many of us, as he became visibly emotional while speaking.

This moment reinforced our sense of purpose and confirmed the importance of the project. As a gesture of appreciation, the community shared their traditional food with our team. We were honored to take part in this moment of cultural exchange, enjoying a delicious meal together and strengthening the bond between our team and the people of Patacancha.

Teaching Materials: Equipping Children for the Future

To ensure quality education, the project includes innovative resources:

• Specialized books for children’s didactic learning
• Playful and practical games that encourage balanced learning
• Bilingual materials that integrate English with local concepts, making it easier to connect the global with the traditional
• Writing materials and crafts that help stimulate their minds

This approach not only improves access to education but also strengthens the children’s cultural identity, allowing them to grow with modern tools while respecting their roots.

Logistics for Better Performance

Apart from the teaching materials provided, ABexpeditions also delivered:

• Desks: A tool for student comfort, as they need the best conditions and an optimal environment to carry out their activities
• Whiteboards: To create dynamic classes and encourage student participation, where they can express their ideas and learning
• Teacher’s desk: Our teacher has a space to store materials and plan didactic lessons
• Wooden shelf: With the delivery of teaching materials, we knew our students would need a place to store them, so we provided one

Benefit to the Patacancha Community

The project goes beyond the school walls, generating a positive effect throughout the region:

• Benefit for the Children of Porters and Cooks and all people live in the área.

Every Sunday, these children have the opportunity to participate in English workshops, improving their skills to interact more effectively in their future studies or jobs. This project will improve the quality of education for the children of the people who collaborate with us so diligently.

• Connection Between Communities

The project will also benefit the communities of Rumira and Huacahuasi and other nearby areas, since Patacancha is the center between these communities and through this point we will create educational and social support networks that promote inclusion.

• Child Empowerment

The children not only learn English but also develop confidence and skills for the future, becoming agents of change in their own communities and helping their families move forward.

• Our Vision for the Future: Sustainability and Collaboration

ABexpeditions works closely with the local community president to ensure the project is sustainable and self-managed. In the coming months, the following are planned:

• Ongoing training for teachers and volunteers
• Volunteer programs for English professionals—both Peruvian and international—who can support the monthly classes
• Community feedback to adjust content according to the real needs of the children and their families