Projects

Program for a Better Peru works primarily in Arequipa and surrounding villages. Our projects include the following:

We are the founders of the first free children's library in Arequipa. Please visit our library's homepage for more information.

Our "micro loan" project is designed to increase economic opportunities by providing small zero-interest loans to entrepreneurs who need capital to open or expand a small business. Please visit our micro loan page for more information.

We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to complete his or her secondary education. Only with a proper education can people and families elevate themselves from poverty. Unfortunately the children in these villages are disadvantaged from the start and often do not complete high school. They must walk several kilometers to arrive at school, often without shoes or educational supplies. It is also common for young children to labor alongside their parents in the brick kilns, which prevents them from attending school regularly.

From time to time our volunteers will offer free classes in subjects such as computer science, English, mathematics, and art. Our donations to school libraries will allow children to read broadly and supplement their own schoolwork. We will also donate basic school supplies such as notebooks, pens, and crayons. Adults, too, will benefit from our educational efforts, such as reading classes designed to eliminate adult illiteracy.

Access to proper health care is limited in the "pueblos jovenes" where we work. Impoverished individuals in these villages are at a double disadvantage, because their ailments often prevent them from working to lift themselves from poverty. We plan to work in various ways to improve the public health situation. Periodically we will conduct screenings and will attempt to obtain treatment for residents needing urgent care. We will donate basic medical supplies such as aspirin and first aid kits. Because of Arequipa's high altitude and tropical climate, sun-related skin and eye problems are common. Myriad infections are caused by factors such as cuts due to bare feet, poor water quality, and other sanitation issues. We will donate medical supplies and preventative items such as sunglasses, sunblock, and toothpaste. In addition, we hope to bring volunteer doctors, dentists, and eye specialists to these villages to offer health screenings and basic care.

In our visits to these communities, we often see barefoot children playing or walking along the dirt roads. Many residents only possess one or two outfits, and they lack diverse articles of clothing to cope with the climate changes that are common in Arequipa. For example, many villagers have no sweaters to wear during cold winter nights, and they lack hats and sunglasses to protect them from the sun. Our goal is to ensure that everyone in these villages has the proper clothing and shoes to live comfortably. From time to time we also donate basic foodstuffs such as fresh fruit, rice, potatoes, and cooking oil. The goal of our food donations is to improve nutrition and aid the physical development of children in these areas.