VOLUNTARY ACTIVITIES

EL CARMEN - ICA (December 30th, 2009)

El Carmen is located to the South of the capital city of Lima. The bus drive to El Carmen, takes approximately 4 hrs, along 200 Km of the Panamerican highway. El Carmen has 8574 inhabitants, with an average population growth of 1.1% over a territory of 799.90 Km2, located at 155 m (meters above the sea level).

El Carmen is popular within the country as a place where the Afro-Peruvian race is predominant in all cultural manifestations. It was created as a district, in August 28 of 1916. The main economic activity is agriculture. El Carmen is the centre of the folkloric tradition of the province, Chincha. It is also a romantic and cheerful community, which inhabit a wide and rich valley.

The area is known as the origin of the Afro-Peruvian race, being the first inhabitants, immigrants from Angola and Mandingoes. Locals are very religious and their patron is the “Virgin of El Carmen”.

The idea of the voluntary activity consists in assist the Afro Peruvian Cultural Center San Daniel Comboni (CCA) in the implementation of holiday activities for children of El Carmen district, by providing art equipment for creative workshops, educational materials and books for the library or making some cultural exchange by playing music & sports with the children.

PISCO – ICA (December 30th, 2009)

Pisco is located in the Ica Region of Peru, the capital of the Pisco Province. The city is around 9 metres above sea level. Originally the villa of Pisco was founded in 1640, close to the indigenous emplacement of the same name. Pisco is a Quechua word that means "bird." Pisco originally prospered because of its nearby vineyards and is the namesake of the Peruvian grape liquor, pisco.

The area is normally visited because of the concentration of marine animals and birds at the Paracas National Reservation, or the Peruvian Galapagos. At the reserve there are many birds, including pelicans, penguins, cormorants, Peruvian boobies, and Inca terns. There are also sea lions, turtles, dolphins, and whales.

The city was very near the epicenter of the 8.0-magnitude earthquake which struck south central Peru on Wednesday August 15, 2007. Media officials reported that 80% of the city was destroyed, including the central San Clemente Cathedral of Pisco.

The voluntary activity consists in assisting the NGO “Espacio Expresion” in their cultural activities for the youth in Pisco by donating 10 “cajones peruanos” (Peruvian music instrument) and the tuition for classes to learn how to play this instrument in order to reinforce their identity through music.

CHALHUANCA - AREQUIPA (January 2nd, 2010)

The community of Chalhuanca is located at the district of Yanque, province of Caylloma, in Arequipa (altitude 4383 m). A bus drive fromArequipa city to Chalhuanca takes approximately 2.5 hrs.

Chalhuanca has a population of 500 to 600 inhabitants. The main economic activity is cattle grazing: 95% of the population is dedicated to the nursing of animals (alpaca, llama & sheep) for the production of meet or wool. Most of the children (70%) help their parents in these activities, and from different places, children must walk to school after finishing work.

Even the community is close to the tourist circuit of the Colca Canyon, few people come to visit. The community is somehow, isolated and forgotten by people from Arequipa and the regional authorities. A large proportion of the population lives in condition of poverty and there is a serious nutrition problem that needs attention. In addition, given to the high altitude of the area, a large number of the people, especially elder people and young children suffer from the extreme cold weather.

The group will work in the local school of Chalhuanca: I.E. N° 40399 "Juan Velasco Alvarado”, which is a primary and secondary school. The idea of the voluntary activity (which is going to be optional for the participants) consists in providing warm clothes for cold seasons.




AMANTANI ISLANDS - PUNO (January 3rd, 2010)

Amantani islands are located in the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca, and 38 Km to the North East (NE) from the city of Puno. A boat drive from Puno to Amantani islands takes 3 hours.

According to a 1988 census, Amantani has a population of 3,663 Quechua speakers divided among about 800 families. The scenery is dominated by two mountain peaks, Pachatata (Father Earth) and Pachamama (Mother Earth), with ancient Inca and Tiwanaku ruins on top of both.

Main economic activities in Amantani are agriculture and farming. The hillsides are terraced mostly worked by hand and planted with wheat, quinoa, potatoes, and other vegetables. Livestock, including alpacas, also graze the slopes.

There are no hotels at Amantani but local families are currently working in tourism. Families offer meals and overnight lodging to tourists. Houses are commonly powered by electric generators but some families nowadays, especially the ones that provide tourist services, use more ecological devices like solar panels.

The project work will be carried out in two communities of Amantani: Villa Orinojon and Lampayuni, located very close from each other. The idea of the voluntary activity consists in assist this school by making cultural exchange activities between the students and the participants but also providing educational materials for the school and local libraries.