The Andean Research Institute (ARI) is dedicated to helping the people of Maras and other villages in the Sacred Valley region of Peru create their own sustainable ways of life and maintain their extraordinary culture, even in the face of dwindling natural resources, economic challenges, and radical climate change.
Like many villages throughout the world where food, water, jobs, and education are scarce, in villages like Maras new ways are needed to revitalize the community as a whole. Chairman and Founder, José Luis Herrera, believes this is best accomplished through the power of practical education, and he is guiding ARI to become a leader in creating and implementing educational programs for the social and economic wellbeing of indigenous communities, beginning in Maras, and extending to other villages in the Sacred Valley. Eventually our programs will become models for assisting communities in similar regions throughout the world.
Already, ARI’s Weaving Program and Children’s Education programs are helping the people of Maras and nearby villages improve their lives socially and economically while preserving their culture. We believe that education is a primary tool that can be used to enhance what has value for local communities. Whereas many Western efforts to assist indigenous people and economies can create dependencies or put the indigenous culture at risk of extinction, ARI’s way weaves indigenous wisdom with modern technologies and puts the power to thrive in the hands of the communities we serve.
