F5 : Breaking Down the Barriers to Girls’ Education in Peru

Yet while the program opens up new opportunities, the girls continue to face economic barriers after leaving secondary school. Most of these young women don't have the necessary funds and school supplies they need to take the next step. And their families aren't able to give them the financial support they need.

To help address this challenge, Sacred Valley Project obtained an F5 2021 Tech for Good Grant, which it is using to purchase 27 laptops for girls graduating from the program over the next three years. Given to each graduate as part of a larger scholarship package, these laptops will enable the girls to study for university entrance exams, apply for programs online, and pursue their post-secondary school studies.

'Without laptops, our students wouldn't be able to access prep courses for entrance exams and college applications or study and complete their coursework,' says Cutler. 'And especially in the age of COVID, which is not disappearing anytime soon from Peru, our students aren't able to study or apply for college in person.'

In the past, Cutler says, Sacred Valley Project was primarily focused on providing the basics for the girls who attended the nonprofit's program, from nutritious meals to a safe and nurturing home to the academic assistance they need. But when COVID struck, it increased the need for technology. 'COVID has made our technology needs much more dire and really accentuated for us the disparities between those who have access to technology and those who don't,' she says. 'Our girls were completely excluded digitally from the resources so many had during this past remote learning year. To succeed, they really need access to their own computer.'