Group of young women scholars smiling outdoors in Peru, holding notebooks and backpacks

Group of young women and PAKA staff gathered in an indoor meeting room during a scholarship visit

Basecamp

Our 2024 Scholarship Announcement

As part of our 2024 Impact, we're financing 17 scholarships for Peruvian young women. Your support in our mission continues to change lives in Peru.

With a steadfast pledge of 1% of Paka's annual revenues, we have dedicated ourselves to supporting the education and ambitions of underprivileged Peruvian young women. Our partnership with Peruvian Hearts, an NGO devoted to girls’ education in Peru, has been instrumental in our efforts to close the gender gap in education. Through your unwavering support, we are enabling these 17 remarkable young women below to attend university, equipping them with the tools to become leaders in their communities.

Photo grid showing 17 Peruvian women awarded PAKA’s 2024 scholarships, headshots labeled with names and short captions

Three Peruvian scholarship recipients smiling on a campus lawn, two in gray Peruvian Hearts hoodies and navy caps with backpacks

Expanding The Scholarship Program

Our scholars, each at the pinnacle of their academic classes yet facing financial hardships, embody stories of perseverance and determination. These young women have overcome substantial challenges to become the heroes of their own stories. Our team flew down to Peru last month to meet with each of these 17 exceptional scholars. Each young woman will receive full scholarships to pursue their professional dreams. They are on a path to not only transform their own lives but also to create lasting, positive impacts within their communities.

"The darkest nights produce the brightest stars."

Paola

PAKA team with Peruvian scholarship recipients smiling together outside in a village setting

Group of Peruvian young women scholars smiling and sitting together in a home during PAKA scholarship visit

Entrepreneurial Fund

In addition to our scholarship program, we are excited to introduce PAKA's Entrepreneurial Fund. This innovative fund is designed to support our scholars in creating their own businesses, fostering a spirit of innovation and sustainable development. We firmly believe that empowering women entrepreneurs is crucial to driving economic growth and social progress in their communities. The fund extends beyond our current scholars, also supporting Peruvian Hearts alumni. By providing financial backing and mentorship, we are enabling these young women to turn their creative ideas into businesses that will drive economic growth and address societal challenges.

Peruvian scholarship recipients and PAKA team meeting in a classroom, smiling and talking

Peruvian scholarship recipients and PAKA team meeting around a table during a site visit in Peru

Young woman smiling and holding a framed diploma and bouquet outside a university building

Dreams For The Future

Your contributions have made immeasurable impacts in Peru and in the lives of our scholars. Each of them shares how this opportunity has become a beacon of hope that they can now extend to others. Margarita, one of our scholars working to become a teacher, told us, "Life is not about who you were yesterday; it is about who you are now and who you have the potential to be. Remember that every day can be the beginning of something wonderful." Paola, another PAKA scholar who's pursuing a career in nursing, added, "The darkest nights produce the brightest stars."

Life is not about who you were yesterday; it is about who you are now and who you have the potential to be. Remember that every day can be the beginning of something wonderful.

Margarita

Peruvian scholarship recipients smiling together outdoors during a PAKA visit

Group of young women scholars smiling and posing together during PAKA’s scholarship visit in Peru

Your Tangible Impact

We believe that education is the path to change. We've already seen the impact through our scholars who have graduated and stepped into their careers. We are inspired to already see this tangible impact in local communities, as well as on Paka's value chain in rural parts of Peru. None of it would be possible without your support.

So - thank you for enabling us to create real change and set a new bar for the apparel industry! We can't wait for all that's ahead in the second half of 2024.