Peru Service Project Background

Peru Service Project Background

Overview

Peru is a democratic republic divided into 25 regions. Its geography varies from the arid plains of the Pacific coast to the peaks of the Andes Mountains and the tropical forests of the Amazon Basin. It is a developing country with a poverty level around 45%. Its main economic activities include agriculture, fishing, mining and manufacturing of products such as textiles. 

The Peruvian population, estimated at 28 million, is multi-ethnic, including Amerindians, Europeans, Africans and Asians. The main spoken language is Spanish, although a significant number of Peruvians speak Quechua or other native languages. This mixture of cultural traditions has resulted in a wide diversity of expressions in fields such as art, cuisine, literature, and music.

We will be staying in Urabamba and Cusco Peru.  These two cities are located in the historical Sacred Valley of the Incas at about an hour's distance from each other. Here we will have the opportunity to work with the children in an orphanage, work on a farm and help others become more self sufficient. We will also have the opportunity to visit the ancient city of Machu Picchu. Often referred to as the "Lost City of the Incas", Machu Picchu is probably the most familiar symbol of the Inca Empire. It was built around the year 1450, but abandoned a hundred years later, at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. 

The climate in these areas in moderate in temperature and should be comfortable, warm and dry, especially in the summer months. However, it will get very cool at night. These areas are said to have the highest ultraviolet levels in the world so bring your sunscreen. 

Service Project

Foremost, the service project our group will be working on will be for the Sunflower Home (Girasol), a small orphanage nestled in the heart of the Sacred Valley of Peru. The goal and purpose of the Sunflower Home is to provide a stable home for street children by offering the encompassing needs for life; physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, self-actualization, etc. Most of these children have been abandoned or have run away due to abuse. Girasol has been created as part of the dream of two caring individuals who desire to take these kids off the streets and provide them with the needs and warmth that every child deserves. The home also teaches self-sufficiency and sustainability, aiding the children in school and in their work-life, thus promoting them to be self-sufficient upon leaving the orphanage and strong, contributing members of society.

We will be working to expand the home in order to allow for greater occupancy so that more children in Peru are given this amazing opportunity. We will be doing construction work to expand the home as well as work on the farm that has recently been developed, where the children may learn life skills and agriculture to be completely self-sufficient, by raising their own animals, fish, fruits and vegetables.

We will also be doing such things as visiting nearby communities where many of these kids come from and teaching them in their communities and schools about such things as hygiene and other health related issues.

If you would like to learn more about the Sunflower Home by the touch of a great story-teller, you may read Richard Paul Evan's book entitled, "The Sunflower".