PERUAP (Peru Apurimac Project) Supporting community projects in Peru
Bulletin No 17 http://peru-ap.blogspot.com/ London 06 Dec 2010
Bulletin No 17 http://peru-ap.blogspot.com/ London 06 Dec 2010
Latest trip to Peru and Christmas greetings
Dear Friends,
In “Nueva Esperanza” shanty town
In July 2010 we visited “Nueva Esperanza” (New Hope), a shanty town in Callao which is the main port of Peru which is situated next to Lima and has the international “Jorge Chavez” airport which serves Peru.
Nueva Esperanza was founded in 1993 by people who came down to the capital of Peru looking for a better life. It is situated next to the river Rimac, which is dry for part of the year, and on the other side of the shanty town is a tributary of the river which when we were there in July, the dry season when the Rimac is dry, was quite fast flowing. The houses are made of panels of wood hammered together and the poorest people live in pieces of sacking. They make their money by recycling, and go out in the afternoons with their carts to pick up whatever discarded object may bring in some money, returning to the shanty town the following morning with their “treasures” in their carts. Whilst we were 
visiting we saw several people pushing their carts over the rickety bridge that separates Nueva Esperanza from the next town of Callao, and two women on separate occasions had their babies in the cart on top of the rubbish that they had accumulated during their travels around Lima/Callao. One woman was pushing her cart helped by her elder daughter who didn’t look more than about ten years old. The bridge has no sides and occasionally a cart – or a child – falls into the flowing tributary of the river which flows underneath the bridge.The head of the village, Señor Bruno, and his fellow villagers, made us very welcome on our first visit, but were rather suspicious. We were told that various groups of people had visited the village in the past, “gringos” (white visitors) and people from the local govern
ment, who had promised them help which had never materialised. So they were not really convinced that we meant to help them, which made it very important that we kept in touch with them after our visit, to arrange a date to meet to buy the materials that they needed and get them taken to the shanty town.
We were told that they were in need of a concrete floor for their “locale”, a wooden building with a stamped earth floor which was wet and stony and certainly not conducive to being sat on. They also wanted a toilet and sink in the locale, and told us that if we could provide the materials that they could do the work. So we met Sr. Bruno and fro
m Project funds bought the materials for the floor, cement and sand, and bricks to construct the wall around the toilet. On another trip Project money bought a toilet and cistern and a sink and stand. We had been told about a family who were the poorest in the town: a woman, her two grown-up daughters, one of whom had a neurological condition, and the 3 year old son of the affected daughter – the 3 year old was far from normal, not speaking and appearing to be hyperactive. They were living in part of a dwelling of another inhabitant of the shanty town, using a huge cardboard box as their walls and ceiling and with orange boxes pushed together as beds.
Their neighbours were concerned enough about this family to ask if we could help them, and it was shocking being taken into their home and seeing the awful conditions in which t
hey were living. There was rubbish from ceiling to floor in part of the dwelling, recycling materials which they had yet to sort out. It was difficult to imagine living there, to think that that was someone’s home. Outside a pregnant dog with mange was wandering about looking for food. From each of the dwellings in the shanty town there were pipes taking waste which emptied either into the River Rimac or into the tributary at the back of the shanty town.
ment, who had promised them help which had never materialised. So they were not really convinced that we meant to help them, which made it very important that we kept in touch with them after our visit, to arrange a date to meet to buy the materials that they needed and get them taken to the shanty town.We were told that they were in need of a concrete floor for their “locale”, a wooden building with a stamped earth floor which was wet and stony and certainly not conducive to being sat on. They also wanted a toilet and sink in the locale, and told us that if we could provide the materials that they could do the work. So we met Sr. Bruno and fro
m Project funds bought the materials for the floor, cement and sand, and bricks to construct the wall around the toilet. On another trip Project money bought a toilet and cistern and a sink and stand. We had been told about a family who were the poorest in the town: a woman, her two grown-up daughters, one of whom had a neurological condition, and the 3 year old son of the affected daughter – the 3 year old was far from normal, not speaking and appearing to be hyperactive. They were living in part of a dwelling of another inhabitant of the shanty town, using a huge cardboard box as their walls and ceiling and with orange boxes pushed together as beds.Their neighbours were concerned enough about this family to ask if we could help them, and it was shocking being taken into their home and seeing the awful conditions in which t
hey were living. There was rubbish from ceiling to floor in part of the dwelling, recycling materials which they had yet to sort out. It was difficult to imagine living there, to think that that was someone’s home. Outside a pregnant dog with mange was wandering about looking for food. From each of the dwellings in the shanty town there were pipes taking waste which emptied either into the River Rimac or into the tributary at the back of the shanty town.The project felt that as the other people of Nueva Esperanza were asking for help for the poor family mentioned above, that it would be appropriate to help them and bought 3 wooden panels and some plastic corrugated roofing to make a little home for them. The wooden panels were duly lashed onto the roof of a taxi, and the driver charged us for the fine that he would have to pay when the police charged him for carrying goods which exceeded the size of the roof of his vehicle, and off he went with one of the group “Amistad” who help us when we are in Peru and who keep an eye on Project work when we are in the UK. Meanwhile we had an interesting journey to the shanty town with a car full of the other goods, bent double under the roll of corrugated roofing which went through the car and out of the front passenger window.
Nueva Esperanza also asked for warm clothing for the children, and the Project was able to provide them with 80 fleece jumpers bought in “Gamarra”, a part of Lima where it is possible to find all types of clothing and where clothing is made for some of the well known names. With our helpers from “Amistad” we gave out the jumpers, one to each child, from a list that Sr. Bruno had drawn up with help from the women of the village.
Although Nueva Esperanza had asked us for help to provide them with a new bridge over to the shanty town, a member of “Amistad” who works with metal, was able to assure us that the bridge was stable and that although it would benefit from having sides on it, the cost would be out of the reach of our Project and that it would be better to approach the Municipality for funds to help with replacing it.
Although Nueva Esperanza had asked us for help to provide them with a new bridge over to the shanty town, a member of “Amistad” who works with metal, was able to assure us that the bridge was stable and that although it would benefit from having sides on it, the cost would be out of the reach of our Project and that it would be better to approach the Municipality for funds to help with replacing it.
In Chiara, Andahuaylas
The Project also visited the village of Chiara in Apurimac where the Project began in 2001. Before visiting we had been in touch with the village by phone (many villagers now have mobile phones, an irony in a village where many of the inhabitants are still semi literate), and with the help of the nurse, Yanet, from the medical centre there, who is married to the village Governor Percy Ochoa, we were able to buy jumpers for each of the children of 6
years old and under, and toys for the children of 7 and 8 years old. Yanet made a list of all the children for us so that we knew the numbers to buy for. We bought the jumpers in Andahuaylas, although we later learned when we bought the jumpers for Nueva Esperanza that it would have been cheaper to buy in Gamarra in Lima and transport them to the village. Yanet and her helper in the village helped us to ensure that each child received a jumper, and the pregnant women received a shawl, and that each child received a toy. The toy planes proved very popular amongst the boys and the little tea-sets proved popular amongst the girls, which we will remember for next time.
The Project also provided 20 books to help with the education of children in the primary and infants school.
Yanet told us about the projects which are providing food supplements for the children and women of child bearing age in the village, trying to overcome the anaemia and lack of protein suffered there. The staff of the medical centre help with classes teaching child develo
pment and preventative medicine to the mothers, and a nutritionist visits regularly. The Midwife told us that she keeps an eye on and teaches the pregnant women of the village, but that the women give birth in Huancaray, about two hours by road from Chiara and where there is a 
hospital and medical facilities for an instrumental delivery or Caesarean section if necessary, and resuscitation facilities for both mother and baby. The women go there about two weeks before they are due to deliver and return to the village by minibus after their delivery. We were travelling to Chiara a few years ago when the minibus picked up a young girl and her baby to take them back to the village.
years old and under, and toys for the children of 7 and 8 years old. Yanet made a list of all the children for us so that we knew the numbers to buy for. We bought the jumpers in Andahuaylas, although we later learned when we bought the jumpers for Nueva Esperanza that it would have been cheaper to buy in Gamarra in Lima and transport them to the village. Yanet and her helper in the village helped us to ensure that each child received a jumper, and the pregnant women received a shawl, and that each child received a toy. The toy planes proved very popular amongst the boys and the little tea-sets proved popular amongst the girls, which we will remember for next time.The Project also provided 20 books to help with the education of children in the primary and infants school.
Yanet told us about the projects which are providing food supplements for the children and women of child bearing age in the village, trying to overcome the anaemia and lack of protein suffered there. The staff of the medical centre help with classes teaching child develo
pment and preventative medicine to the mothers, and a nutritionist visits regularly. The Midwife told us that she keeps an eye on and teaches the pregnant women of the village, but that the women give birth in Huancaray, about two hours by road from Chiara and where there is a 
hospital and medical facilities for an instrumental delivery or Caesarean section if necessary, and resuscitation facilities for both mother and baby. The women go there about two weeks before they are due to deliver and return to the village by minibus after their delivery. We were travelling to Chiara a few years ago when the minibus picked up a young girl and her baby to take them back to the village.
Volunteering appeal
In order to continue with our fundraising events we are looking for volunteers to help us to organise our next fundraising event for Peru Apurimac Project. Anyone interested please let us know.
Christmas greetings
We take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and excellent New Year. We look forward to continue enjoying your support
In order to continue with our fundraising events we are looking for volunteers to help us to organise our next fundraising event for Peru Apurimac Project. Anyone interested please let us know.
Christmas greetings
We take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and excellent New Year. We look forward to continue enjoying your support
Latest news
With the help of our friends of Amistad group in Callao Peru, Peruap will be able to send a donation of £400 to organize a traditional “chocolatada” celebration at Christmas for more than 100 children of El Progreso shanty Town in Callao. We will inform you about the results of this donation which will include toys and paneton, a Peruvian style Christmas cake, for the children.
With the help of our friends of Amistad group in Callao Peru, Peruap will be able to send a donation of £400 to organize a traditional “chocolatada” celebration at Christmas for more than 100 children of El Progreso shanty Town in Callao. We will inform you about the results of this donation which will include toys and paneton, a Peruvian style Christmas cake, for the children.
Donations
Peruap is a voluntary organization and its funds come only from the generous donations of our friends and our fundraising events. We always are grateful for any donation to help us to continue helping poor people in Peru. If you wish to make a donation to Peruap you can send us a cheque or alternatively you can make a deposit to Peruap’s account.
Peruap is a voluntary organization and its funds come only from the generous donations of our friends and our fundraising events. We always are grateful for any donation to help us to continue helping poor people in Peru. If you wish to make a donation to Peruap you can send us a cheque or alternatively you can make a deposit to Peruap’s account.
About us
Peruap is a charity group based in London that started in 2001. We organise fundraising events to help community groups in marginal areas of Peru, mainly in the Andes. We mostly help small projects in health and educational needs in areas where people live in conditions of extreme poverty. Our Project has paid especial attention to children living in shanty towns and poor communities.
Peruap is a charity group based in London that started in 2001. We organise fundraising events to help community groups in marginal areas of Peru, mainly in the Andes. We mostly help small projects in health and educational needs in areas where people live in conditions of extreme poverty. Our Project has paid especial attention to children living in shanty towns and poor communities.
Peruap is a voluntary group so we are always looking for volunteers to help our fundraising events.
Contact us
For further information about our project, please email us to:
peruapu@yahoo.co.uk.
Or call us on Tel 0208 6998731
For further information about our project, please email us to:
peruapu@yahoo.co.uk.
Or call us on Tel 0208 6998731
You are also invited to visit our blog at: http://peru-ap.blogspot.com/
Thank you
Claudio Chipana
Email: claudiochipana@yahoo.com
Judith Grimsdell
Liz Kalinauckas (Treasurer)
Thank you
Claudio Chipana
Email: claudiochipana@yahoo.com
Judith Grimsdell
Liz Kalinauckas (Treasurer)
