2020 Accomplishments
Projects in Response to COVID-19
37
PPE kits were donated to the local health posts and government authorities in Pucará.
27
Radio programs of Salud y Economía al Día broadcasted on 2 locals radios to provide communities with information on health and financial education during the pandemic.
84
Radios donated to students living in 7 remote communities to improve access to virtual classes in the rural sector.
237
People tested for hypertension and diabetes- two common pre-exisiting conditions that cause complications with COVID-19.
16
Communities trained on COVID-19 prevention measures to ensure that community members have the reliable information they need to protect themselves.
10
Primary school teachers in the district of Pucará trained on methods for effective virtual learning during 3 workshops in coordination with Peruvians for Education.
The Scholarship Program
47
Scholarships provided to students from rural communities to pursue higher education.
In 2013, scholarships recipients formed a group that they call Mosoq Riqchary, meaning “New Dawn” in Quechua. They meet throughout the year and use their studies to work on projects that address some of the challenges their home communities face. Due to COVID-19, the students held all of their meetings virtually in 2020 and their projects were focused on:
- Financial education via local radio programs
- COVID-19 prevention
- Improving virtual learning in the rural sector
Virtual education for primary and secondary classes was a major challenge for many rural communities on the Peruvian altiplano in 2020. Most students were only able to access their classes by radio, so the majority of scholarship recipients focused their work on tutoring the young students in their community to help them better understand the class material and complete required assignments.
The Economic Development Program
$83,092
Invested by communities in projects they designed to improve their income generating activities and family economy.
The following tables include information on the projects communities implemented in 2020. Tourism and artisan associations were the groups whose activities were most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and many associations therefore chose to wait until 2021 to implement their projects.
Cattle Herding Community Projects
| Project | # of Direct Beneficiaries (Households) |
| Construction of feeding troughs | 8 |
| Oat seed purchase | 200 |
| Construction of animal sheds | 16 |
| Alfalfa seed purchase | 10 |
| Purchase of calves | 4 |
| Construction of community cheese plant | 35 |
| Construction of haylofts | 11 |
| Purchase of a motocarga (a motorcycle with hauling capacity) | 1 |
| Motorized plant cutter to harvest oats | 2 |
| Purchase of cement blocks for construcrtion | 9 |
| Construction of improved bathrooms | 2 |
| Purchase of metal gate | 1 |
| Total | 299 |
Alpaca Herding Community Projects
| Project | # of Direct Beneficiaries (Households) |
| Medication for animals | 8 |
| Construction of animal sheds | 6 |
| Purchase of alpacas for breeding | 8 |
| Total | 22 |
Artisan Projects
| Project | # of Direct Beneficiaries (Households) |
| Purchase of paraffin | 15 |
| Total | 15 |
The Group Savings Program
$56,643
Saved and invested by the 13 savings groups and community banks of The Group Savings Program.
Accessing loans with fair interest rates can be very difficult for rural communities in Peru. The Group Savings Program facilitates the creation of small savings groups and community banks to provide members with a place within their community to save their money and take out loans. All of the money saved and invested by these groups comes from the members themselves. The groups are able to provide members with low interest rate loans and all interest paid on the loans directly benefit the groups’ savings. The program also provides the groups with financial education on topics such as how to save and create a family budget, as well as topics related to managing the finances of a small business. In 2020, savings group members reported using their savings and loans to purchase business inventory, cover children’s educational expenses, cover medical expenses, and purchase small farm animals. Women play a major role in these organizations and often assume leadership positions, including offices of President and Treasurer.
Join us in making a difference!