Peru — Earthquake Relief

In August of 2007, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake shook southern Peru, leveling entire towns, killing hundreds, injuring thousands and leaving over 80,000 people homeless.

In 2008, The Project Fund worked in conjunction with the organization Artesanos Don Bosco to directly fund the construction of homes in Chincha, one of the hardest hit areas south of Lima. We also went to Peru to assist in the construction of these homes.

We arrived to witness a remarkable group of dedicated individuals tirelessly working to reach their immediate goal of building 100 earthquake-proof, concrete homes.

Creative Solutions:

• Each week, a new group of volunteers arrives to undertake the hard work of building these homes. They come from villages all over Peru. One donor pays for the charter buses that provide the transportation. The buses arrive with the manpower and food that is donated from the village to help feed the volunteers each week.

• Another donor purchased and donated nearby land which provides the soil needed to mix the cement for construction.

• Locals provide volunteers to cook in a large outdoor kitchen which feeds up to a 100 volunteers a week, three meals a day.

More Help is Needed:

Building these homes is a smart, long-term solution in an area that continues to experience tremors two years after the major earthquake. These solid concrete homes are built to sustain future quakes.

However, two years after the devastation, tens of thousands of residents still do not have running water or electricity. Basic medical and schooling facilities are often many miles away.

Many individuals attempt to rebuild their homes with the rubble from the quake, only to have it topple down on them again during tremors.

Government delivery of water fills barrels in homes for drinking and bathing. But often the trucks don't show, and there is a black market that has developed for water.

Many organizations, foreign governments and NGOs sent aid at the onset of the problem. But it was a small band-aid for a large wound. Also, corruption is prevalent and often aid doesn't reach its target.

2009 Infrastructure Enhancement

While we will continue to assist in the building of these homes, The Project Fund is currently evaluating the obstacles that keep basic services from reaching so many. In October of 2009, we will meet with local residents, community leaders and other organizations assisting in the region and tackle some basic immediate needs to help alleviate the suffering of these people.

Please continue to donate to this project. We welcome volunteers to come to Peru. We also welcome ideas, solutions and useful urban planning technology. Contact us!

Donate to the Peru Earthquake Project.

Photo Gallery

the project fund  1619 13th Street, NW Washington DC 20009

202-841-9249     ralph@theprojectfund.org