Kantaya

What Kantaya does

Kantaya (Asociación Kantaya) is a Peruvian non-profit founded circa 2004-2005 and headquartered in San Isidro, Lima, with a US representative office in New York. It operates an After-School program (Casitas Kantaya) for kindergarten through 6th grade children in vulnerable situations, a Youth Plan for high school students, and a Sponsorship Program linking individual and corporate donors to beneficiaries across 8 regions of Peru (Áncash, Callao, Cusco, Huancavelica, Junín, Lima, Lima Metropolitana, and Piura). The proprietary methodology combines intellectual learning (reading comprehension, numeracy, technology, science) with socio-emotional learning (mindfulness, arts and craft, yoga, soccer, dance), supported by experiential visits to corporate, museum, and university partners.

The organization reports quantified outcomes including 3,500+ children benefited, 74% reading comprehension, 70% numeric ability development, 1+ year ahead in emotional regulation versus national baselines, and 86% job placement among Podera course graduates (a corporate-partner employment program for female family members). Disclosed funding sources include individual recurring donations (from S/30/month or $1/day), corporate sponsorship (Tawa, Arval Perú, Apoyo Consultoría, Cummins, Playing House, The Excelerator, Linde), branded merchandise sales under multiple sub-brands (Kantaya, WeCool, Mariella Camborda, Inti Wayta, MeniPulseras), and multi-year grants from The Funding Network, Project Redwood, and Australian Aid (2021-2023).

Commercial operations run through kantayaperu.com with payment integrations spanning Culqi, PayPal, YAPE, Plin, and Pago Efectivo, plus a Donor-Advised Fund channel launched in 2024 under US EIN 81-3453418 and the 2024 Guidestar Platinum Transparency Seal. The Luzio Family represents Kantaya internationally. A 27-person team delivers programs on the ground while a volunteer and ambassador network supports community-led fundraising (Run and Educate, Ambassador Program, Corporate Volunteering).

Name

Kantaya

Legal name

Asociación Kantaya

Website

https://kantayaperu.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kantaya (Asociación Kantaya) is a Peruvian non-profit operating an After-School and Youth Plan program for vulnerable children across 8 regions of Peru, funded by individual donations, corporate sponsorship, grants, and Products with Purpose merchandise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB), College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)

Keywords

• Educational nonprofit services
• After school programs
• Socio emotional learning
• Corporate social responsibility
• Child sponsorship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Isidro, Lima

HQ country

Peru

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monthly or one-time donations from individuals, starting from S/30 per month or $1 per day. Donors receive tax-deductible donation certificates.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Companies sponsor Kantaya children as part of their corporate social responsibility programs. Includes company donations, scholarships for employee family members, and corporate volunteering programs.
3. Product Sales: Sale of Products with Purpose including tote bags, notebooks, mugs, bracelets, water bottles, and tumblers. A percentage of sales supports education of vulnerable children.
4. Donor-Advised Funds (DAF): Accepts donations through Donor-Advised Funds, allowing donors to contribute assets, receive immediate tax deduction, and recommend grants to Kantaya over time.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Asociación Kantaya runs after-school educational programs (Casitas Kantaya) and a Youth Plan delivering intellectual and socio-emotional learning to vulnerable children from kindergarten through high school across 8 regions of Peru. It funds these programs through individual monthly donations, corporate sponsorship and CSR programs, Donor-Advised Funds, and a Products with Purpose merchandise line where a portion of each sale supports the educational mission.

Product overview

Kantaya is a non-profit organization offering a dual product portfolio: (1) core educational programs including the After School Program for kindergarten to 6th grade children, the Youth Plan for high school students, and the Sponsorship Program for individual and corporate sponsors; and (2) a merchandise product line called Products with Purpose, which includes branded items across multiple sub-brands (Kantaya Products, Mariella Camborda, INTI WAYTA, WeCool, MeniPulseras) such as notebooks, tote bags, ceramic mugs, bracelets, water bottles, mousepads, and decorative sculptures. A percentage of all merchandise sales supports Kantaya's educational programs for vulnerable children in Peru. The organization also operates corporate engagement programs including Companies that Empower, Corporate Volunteering, Run and Educate, and the Ambassador Program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kantaya Products: Product line of branded merchandise including notebooks, tote bags, mugs, and other items sold to raise funds for the organization's educational programs.
• Mariella Camborda
• Inti Wayta
• WeCool
• MeniPulseras

Products and services

• After School Program (Casitas Kantaya) Free after-school educational program for kindergarten through 6th grade children in vulnerable situations, providing intellectual and socio-emotional learning at the Casitas Kantaya physical centers across 8 regions of Peru.
• Youth Plan High school program providing socio-emotional and technological support through workshops with professional experts in psychology and coaching, helping youth access higher education (100% of recent cohort finished high school).
• Podera Course (Companies that Empower) Proprietary employment-empowerment course created by Kantaya for spouses and family members of corporate employees, delivered as part of the Companies that Empower initiative, with 86% of graduates finding jobs and 86% of female students feeling empowered.
• Sponsorship Program (Child Sponsorship) Child sponsorship program allowing individuals to support a Kantaya child's education from $1/day, providing intellectual and socio-emotional learning programs and personal connection to beneficiaries.
• Companies that Empower (Corporate Sponsorship) Corporate sponsorship initiative where companies sponsor Kantaya children as part of their CSR programs, with named partners including Tawa, Arval Perú, and Apoyo Consultoría.
• Corporate Volunteering Program enabling company employees to create experiential activities with Kantaya children, fostering corporate social engagement and team-building.
• Run and Educate Event-based fundraising initiative where race participants invite donations for Kantaya children's education.
• Ambassador Program Volunteer program where ambassadors promote the Sponsorship Program by gathering friends, connecting with companies, and sharing their experience with Kantaya.
• 20th Anniversary Product Collection Special edition merchandise including tote bags (S/40), notebooks (S/25), and ceramic mugs (S/30) designed by Peruvian artists including Inti Wayta, Folkanica, Ayleen Mayte, and Cynthia Valdivia to celebrate 20 years of Kantaya.
• WeCool Water Bottles and Tumblers Stainless steel insulated drinkware with TempTech technology keeping liquids cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours, available in 600ml water bottles (S/89) and 254ml tumblers (S/76).
• Bracelets and Accessories Collection (Mariella Camborda, MeniPulseras) Handmade bracelets and accessories including natural stone bracelets with silver charms (S/45-60), Turkish Eye bracelets (S/45), Celtic Knot bracelets (S/60), Rings of Dreams (S/100), and Stars with Purpose sculptures (S/95-125) from the Mariella Camborda and MeniPulseras brands.
• Individual Volunteering Volunteer opportunities including art workshops (crafts, dance), administrative activities (photography, translation, social media), and educational activities with Kantaya children.

Quantifiable outcome

• 74% of children understand what they read (Entrance and exit exam, 2019)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Luzio FamilycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Luzio Family is identified as a key partner of Kantaya, serving as a supporter and advocate for the organization's mission to transform lives through education.
• Luzio FamilycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuzio Family serves as a partner representing Kantaya Inc in the USA, helping extend Kantaya's reach internationally.
• TawacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTawa partners with Kantaya for child sponsorship as part of their CSR program. HR Manager Ursula Altet states: 'Sponsoring Kantaya children is our way of contributing to education in Peru.'
• Arval PerúcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerArval Perú engages with Kantaya through child sponsorship. HR Manager Mercedes Salinas notes: 'Kantaya has a very noble purpose which is to generate an impact on children's education.'
• Apoyo ConsultoríacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerApoyo Consultoría supports Kantaya through sponsorship. Talent Analyst Marcelo Espinosa states: 'Kantaya to me is proof that a child can define his or her future if he or she wishes to do so.'
• CumminsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCummins is listed as a partner supporting Kantaya's Youth Plan program, providing workshops and professional expertise in psychology and coaching.
• Playing HouseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlaying House partners with Kantaya for the Youth Plan program, contributing to socio-emotional and technological support for high school students.
• The ExceleratorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Excelerator is a partner supporting Kantaya's Youth Plan program through workshops and professional development activities.
• LindeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLinde partners with Kantaya providing corporate volunteering opportunities and supporting the Youth Plan program through employee engagement.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• World Vision Peru: World Vision Peru delivers child sponsorship, education, and youth empowerment programs across Peru's underserved regions. Direct overlap with Kantaya's child sponsorship model and educational mission, though operating globally and at significantly larger scale.
• Fundación Telefónica Movistar Perú: Fundación Telefónica runs education-focused programs in Peru including digital skills and youth employability initiatives. Comparable focus on educational uplift for vulnerable Peruvian youth, with corporate funding model similar to Kantaya's Companies that Empower initiative.
• Save the Children Peru: Save the Children Peru implements literacy, numeracy, and SEL programs for vulnerable children across multiple regions of Peru. Overlaps with Kantaya's intellectual and socio-emotional learning approach at much greater scale and with deeper institutional funding.
• Plan International Peru: Plan International Peru advances children's rights and gender equality through education, protection, and youth empowerment programs. Comparable child-centered educational mission with overlapping corporate partnership and individual sponsorship channels.
• UNICEF Peru: UNICEF Peru operates large-scale education and child welfare programs across the country, including learning recovery and SEL initiatives for vulnerable children. Far larger and broader in scope than Kantaya, but addresses the same educational gaps in Peru that Kantaya targets.

Direct peers

• Educo: Educo (formerly Intermón Oxfam) is an international NGO with active operations in Peru focused on education and child wellbeing for vulnerable populations, including after-school support and youth programs. Directly comparable to Kantaya's mission and beneficiary profile in Peru.
• Glasswing International: Glasswing International runs education and workforce development programs for vulnerable youth across Central America, including after-school and SEL-style interventions. Closely comparable methodology and beneficiary focus to Kantaya, though regionally concentrated in Central America rather than Peru.
• Asociación Kallpa: Kallpa is a Peruvian NGO focused on the holistic development of children and adolescents in vulnerable situations, including education and life-skills programs. Operates in similar Peruvian geographies to Kantaya and addresses comparable beneficiary segments.
• Aldeas Infantiles SOS Peru: Aldeas Infantiles SOS Peru supports vulnerable children through education, socio-emotional development, and family-strengthening programs. Closely aligned with Kantaya's child-centered educational and SEL approach, though operating at a larger scale nationally.
• ENseña Peru: ENseña Peru (part of Teach For All network) recruits and trains leaders to expand educational opportunity for children in low-income communities across Peru. Comparable mission of improving educational outcomes for vulnerable Peruvian youth, though focused on leadership pipelines rather than after-school programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kantayaperu

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kantaya