Peruap
(Peru Apurimac Project)
Supporting community projects in PeruBulletin No 13 London 4 July 2009
In Apurimac and Callao, January 2009
Apurimac , a rural Quechua speaking region of Peru, has a high levelof extreme poverty (65.9%). Only 42% of homes have access to running water and only 54% of homes have electricity.We visited Apurimac again inJanuary. We also paid a brief visit to Abancay, the capital of Apurimac, andAndahuaylas. The roads are for the main part not tarmac-ed. Andahuaylas is asmall commercial city due to its Sunday market and to the people from peasantcommunities in the area who visit Andahuaylas to trade their animals andproduce.Like other parts of Apurimac, the mountain roads to Chiara are stony, dirt roadsand are very difficult to travel on, especially in bad weather. This was the rainyseason when the area suffers landslides and flooding and can be very dangerous. Despite demandsfor improved roads, Chiara is still waiting to see any improvements. After 6 hours travelling on theseuneven roads badly affected in parts by flooding which detained us, we finally arrived in Chiara. Wewere met by the villagers, including the Women’s Club and representatives of the community as wellas a group of villagers who perform the dance with acrobatics known as “Negrillos”, typical of theregion. Our visit included seeing the Women’s Centre which was built by the Project, and visiting thefoundations of the future Village Hall. This was our fifth visit and each time we have seen someimprovement in the conditions of the people in the village, and this time we learned about a Statenutrition and education programme which the village is included in.Nevertheless, Chiara, like Huillcayhua and other villages in the area still suffer problems withchildhood malnutrition, which affects nearly 70% of the children according to the doctor we spoke to atthe little “Medical Centre” in Chiara. He mentioned a project he had in mind to diagnose and treat themajority of the children in the village who are unfortunately infested with parasites, which affects their nutritional status and their educational ability. We hope to help with this in thefuture if he can get us more information.Peruap made some donations: a type of basic oven withchimney, to replace the pile of logs used for cooking whichdamages the lungs and eyes of the women and the smallchildren with them, was bought for the Women’s Centre. Adonation of toys for children proved very popular. Buildingmaterials to help construct the village hall was provided. Finally the projectgave a sink and glass for the windows, both for the Women’s Centre.On returning to Lima, we gave a presentation with photos of the work the project has done in Chiarafor people who originated from the village and who now live in Callao. In Pedro Ruiz Gallo, an arealike many in Callao with high levels of unemployment amongst young people the project organised aworkshop whereby talks about drug addiction and teenage pregnancy/contraception were given bydoctors working in these fields.The total of the donations given, including another donation of toys given to children living in a shantytown in Callao, came to approximately (due to exchange rates) of £479.10 (2,395.50 new soles inPeruvian currency). Our thanks to the people of Chiara for their hospitality, to the Women’s Clubthere for looking after us and to the leaders of the village, to the doctors who gave their time to givethe talks in Callao, to “Grupo Amistad” (our group of helpers in Callao), and to the Association of Chiarinos in Callao. Please note that all travelling expenses, lodging and food, and personal expensescome from our own pockets and not from Peruap funds
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