Peru Summary 2007

During the last 18 months, The Hope Alliance has sent out 11 expeditions to Peru.  The expeditions have focused on medical training and assessment, vision care and eye disease prevention, clean water projects and micro credit.  Our first micro enterprise project in Vinto was undertaken where the local secondary school students are producing a variety of jams for sale in local markets.  The profits from the project are funding a variety of projects in local schools.

A new library building funded by Hope Alliance donors was completed mid-year 2007.  The library will serve students in seven rural villages near Vinto.  Over 2800 students will benefit from the computers, loaning library and other educational resources provided in partnership with Rotary International District 5420 and The Hope Alliance. An addition to a primary school in Patao was completed replacing a classroom made of bamboo and plastic with dirt floors.

Vision clinics were conducted in twelve river and rural villages.  Over 2000 pair of prescription glasses were provided and an equal number of reading glasses and sunglasses were distributed.  Restoring or improving vision has a major positive impact on the well being of the villagers.  During 2008, Hope Alliance volunteers and the local Rotary Club will follow up with the villagers to determine if they are wearing the sunglasses and hats provided.  It is anticipated the hats and glasses will reduce the rapid progress of the sun-related eye diseases particularly in the river villages.  Two water projects in Santa Martha and Sapo Playa were completed along with repairs to existing projects.

Dental Clinics are conducted as a part of each expedition.  Dr Karina Rojas maintains Hope Alliance dental equipment.  Clinics are conducted by dentists from Peru, North America and Canada providing much needed dental care to over 500 people most of whom will never have the opportunity to visit a dentist.  It has provided a quality experience to the pre-dental students accompanying each trip and training to local dental students from the University of the Amazon Dental School.

Peru 2006 Summary

The HOpe Alliance has constructed two medical clinics in remote areas on the Amazon River near Iquitos.  Soon this year, Hope will be constructing a third clinic.  As an essential part of these clinics, local health workers receive training to treat and diagnose simple medical problems.  More significant issues are dealt with by a doctor in Iquitos with whom we have a contract to treat people from our remote river village clinics.  These clinics are operated in connection with the local Ministry of Health and are given a limited supply of needed medicines and follow up training. 

Each year, in cooperation with local doctors and the Ministry of Health, assessments are conducted in the homes of families in these selected remote villages.  Coupled with these assessments, The Hope Alliance initiates projects providing long term sustainable health. These projects are developed in cooperation with village leaders. Projects include; water wells, school construction, micro-lending and micro-enterprise.  Expedition Participants are asked to visit each household participating in the micro-loans to determine the affect it has had upon each families health and increased opportunities for education. 

In 2007 improvements will be made to current water systems and a new water project will be initiated in a school housing 300 students.  Additionally funds will be provided for the community to develop an agriculture project to improve nutrition and income to the village and a other expanded micro-enterprises proposed by the village leaders.

Each project is driven by local leadership within the community.  The Hope Alliance has agreed to construct a library with books, equipment and a computer training facility with its accompanying power supply to support the facility.   Non-medical teams accompanying the
medical teams will help the villagers with these projects.