PATRIZIA Inclusive School Lima
In San Juan de Lurigancho, one of Lima’s most populous and poorest districts, many children grow up under challenging conditions. Children with disabilities, in particular, have very limited access to early childhood education, therapy services, and safe learning environments. Existing facilities are often overcrowded, inaccessible, or difficult for families to reach.
By constructing a new inclusive preschool, the PATRIZIA Foundation is creating a place where children with and without disabilities can learn, play, and develop together. The new facility will provide the foundation for a modern, inclusive education center and pave the way for an inclusive educational journey right from the start.
The Challenge: A Lack of Opportunities
The PATRIZIA School was one of the first in the city to offer a truly inclusive education. A total of 1,667 children, both with and without disabilities, learn together here, from preschool through primary and secondary school, and on to the CETPRO, the school’s technical vocational training center. CETPRO also provides practical, skills-based training for young people with learning or physical disabilities (e.g., tailoring, laundry services, or baking), opening up real opportunities for independent and self-determined lives.
The preschool serves as an important entry point into this inclusive educational pathway. Here, acceptance, participation, and self-confidence are nurtured from an early age for all children.
However, the youngest children are currently taught in temporary wooden classrooms that are more than ten years old. The walls and roofs have been damaged by rain, the floors are uneven, and cracks run through the structures. Technical assessments confirm that the buildings are at risk of collapsing in an earthquake, which is a very real threat in this seismically active region. The outdoor sanitary facilities are in poor condition and inaccessible to children with disabilities. The classrooms provide little protection from noise, become extremely hot in summer and cold in winter, and negatively affect the children’s learning, health, and safety.
This is especially critical for children between the ages of three and five, a period during which the foundations for cognitive, social, and emotional development are established. A lack of appropriate learning environments can lead to developmental delays and endanger children’s long-term educational prospects, especially for those with special needs.
Therefore, the construction of safe, accessible, and child-friendly facilities is not only a matter of physical safety. It is also a prerequisite for achieving inclusion from the beginning, enabling children to learn, grow, and thrive together.
Our Solution: An Accessible Learning Environment for Every Child
- new accessible classrooms with age-appropriate and hygienic sanitary facilities
- additional rooms for therapy, care, and targeted support services
- safe, durable, and hygienic buildings,
- integration of the new preschool into the existing school operations, combined with close collaboration with parents and the local community.
- construction supervision and quality assurance by experienced professionals, in close coordination with Fe y Alegría Perú and the school leadership team
„With the construction of the new preschool, we are creating a safe and nurturing environment for 360 preschool children each year. Through individualized support, every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
Astrid Gabler
Chairwoman of the Board & Managing Director, PATRIZIA Foundation
Our Impact: Inclusion from the Very Beginning
With the new preschool building, around 360 preschool children each year will gain access to safe, stimulating, and high-quality learning environments. Children with disabilities will benefit from therapy services, individualized support, and an inclusive community where they can learn, play, and grow alongside their peers. The project strengthens not only the children themselves, but also their families and the wider community. It demonstrates that every child has the right to education, protection, and participation.
The new preschool is a flagship project for inclusive education in Lima. As part of a campus serving more than 1,600 children, it will help create a holistic environment that combines education, care, and community support.
The long-standing partnership with Fe y Alegría Perú, together with government-funded teaching staff, ensures the sustainable operation of the school. As a result, the impact of this investment will extend far beyond the construction phase, creating lasting opportunities for future generations.
Our Project Partner:
Funded by:
