Khelo is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to ensuring access to quality playgrounds at disadvantaged schools located across the globe. At Khelo, our underlying belief is that play offers children a tremendous opportunity to learn while providing an incentive to attend school. We believe that by imparting playgrounds to these schools, the prospects of keeping children enrolled increases. By obtaining their education, the children will create the opportunity to escape cycles of poverty and create better lives for themselves and future generations.
Our families have always been avid world travelers. As our children grew, we became mindful of our fortunate circumstances, which allowed us to see and experience the world. We wanted to foster empathy, compassion, and generosity, not only in ourselves but also in our children. Before traveling to Peru in 2018, we researched and found a school in the city of Oropesa, located 15 miles outside of Cusco. The school teaches both mathematics and English, educational skills which can lead to meaningful employment in a tourist centric area such as Cusco. While communicating prior to the trip, we discovered that the school was in need of basic school and dental supplies. During the visit, after making the donation of supplies, we were able to spend several hours visiting with the school children and touring the rudimentary facility. Our team noted that the decrepit playground was in feeble condition. Much of the equipment was broken, irreparable, and hazardous. The children couldn’t play on the equipment for fear of injuring themselves. We decided that building a new playground would provide not only a safer play experience, but also be a draw for the students to stay in school and continue their studies in the very subjects which could help them obtain well-paying jobs in nearby Cusco. While our goal in visiting the school was to show our children the importance of service, the rewarding visit created a more worthwhile mission and served as the catalyst for founding Khelo.
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