In February, March, and April of 2010, B3′s volunteers built new or repaired facilities in communities throughout Peru, a nation with a poverty level of approximately 40%.

Jump to Project: Hygiene Facilities in Bernales / Aqueduct in Coayllo / Youth Facilities in Cruz Blanca / Hygiene Facilities in San Antonio / Wawawasi in San Bartolo

Hygiene Facilities in Bernales: Bernales is a farming (mostly cotton and corn) town in the Pisco Valley about 250 KM south of Lima in the province of Ica. An earthquake in 2007 combined with recently decreased crop prices, Bernales as a community has begun to suffer from poverty. The town is in a state of reconstruction with many families living in straw (Esterra) houses. The main risk that Bernales faces is the fact that it has become an urban zone; while located in a rural area, the majority of the population lives in a small area of land in close proximity to each other. This close proximity combined with improper hygiene practices and inadequate sanitation result in infection, disease, and short life expectancy.

Builders Beyond Borders partnered with US Peace Corps Water and Sanitation Volunteer Karen Meyer to improve not only sanitation in Bernales, but their overall health as well. The numbers are staggering – 70% of people living in Peru lack proper/adequate sanitation. According to the World Health Organization, improper sanitation is the second leading cause of death of children under the age of 5 (94% of these are preventable with proper sanitation). B3 worked with families and the community to improve their current living conditions by building flush-pour style latrines/bathrooms, composting style latrines and hand washing stations for needy families in Bernales.

There is some good news about this community; the local municipality of Humay has installed Desague (sewer lines) – the first step in improving the health and sanitary conditions in Bernales. 65% of the families are able to connect directly to this line but only 39% have bathrooms. The latrines that B3 and the people of Bernales built together were designed to connect to the Desague which will ensure sustainability for many years to come. For those unable to connect directly to the sewer lines, B3 constrcuted composting style facilities. B3 poured cement floors, built the “house” or the room that will be used as the bathroom itself, installed the roof, and dug trenches for pipes.

The main objective of this project is to ensure that people in the community can begin to practice healthy and hygienic habits improving the health and well-being of the families living there. All families involved needed to be enrolled in the Viviendas Saludables (healthy homes) project in the community that addresses organization of their homes, quality of water with sufficient clean drinking water, Hygienic practices, controlling vectors of disease, proper hand washing, etc. Community Inspectors will ensure that all households are meeting all criteria before being considered for one of the new latrines. In addition to being an active part of this program, every family needs to provide labor and a small financial contribution.
There is real need here. While this may not be the most glamorous project that Builders Beyond Borders has been involved with, it is, without a doubt, one of the most impactful. This project has the potential to eliminate (and/or greatly reduce) unnecessary deaths and illnesses that are so prevalent throughout Peru. These latrines/bathrooms, along with proper education will make a tremendous difference in the quality of life for these families.

We worked side by side with community members of Bernales and the Peace Corps to make this plan a reality. Builders Beyond Borders made a difference at a very basic level – providing sanitation and the beginning of a healthier lifestyle.

Aqueduct in Coayllo: Coayllo is a small desert town about one hour south of Lima near the larger city of Asia (in the province of Lima). Coayllo is known throughout southern Peru for its uncommon crop – Nisperos (which are small light orange fruit that taste like a combination peach and pear). About 120 families live in this community that was severely damaged during an earthquake in 2007. While some have been able to rebuild, others have not been so fortunate and are living in either straw homes or in the remains of their former house. In addition to Coayllo desperately trying to rebuild, an older aqueduct/pipeline no longer provides sufficient water to this community in the desert. One of the most immediate goals is to provide adequate water once again to Coayllo.

Builders Beyond Borders partnered with US Peace Corps Water and Sanitation Volunteer, Mark Vingua, to build a new aqueduct/pipeline that will once again bring sufficient water to Coayllo. The completed pipeline measured about 2 KM in length and will carry water from the existing reservoir to about 70+ homes. We used 2” PVC tubes and buried the pipe about 1 – 1½ meters to better protect it.

This aqueduct will make a tremendous difference in the lives of the families living in Coayllo. Homes receiving this water are members of JASS (the local water committee); in addition to a small financial commitment each month (for maintenance and repairs), every homeowner participated in the removed word construction of the new pipeline. Mark was committed to getting water to his community once again, and have it be sustainable for many years to come.

We worked directly with the families that will benefit most. In addition, we had the opportunity to work with the Peace Corps and its volunteers. The local mayor and the head of the water committee made sure that the entire town helped us in any way they could. Coayllo is excited about having water again and were very pleased that Builders Beyond Borders called Coayllo their home for the seven days they were on site. They made us honorary Peruvians before returning to the States!
There was a real need there. This was hard but very rewarding work. We were a part of a community that understands the simple fact; working together we can make a difference. There is still some re-building to be done from the earthquake, but we gave them not only water again but friendships and memories that will last forever.

Youth Facilities in Cruz Blanca: Cruz Blanca is a campamiento located on the Pacific coast just North of Lima (50KM) in a community known as Ancon. The goal of this organization is to provide orphans and “street kids” from Lima (and other nearby shanty-towns) a respite from their hardships and educate the area. Due to extreme poverty, alcoholic and/or neglectful parents, or abandonment, many students are unaware that there are other ways to live and more to hope for. Instead of selling candy or singing for money on the streets, 800 children can come to Cruz Blanca’s summer program (January – April), where they can be carefree and develop their self esteem. In addition to this summer camp, Cruz Blanca also offers workshops for parents on weekends throughout the year.

Although this program is administrated through the Catholic Church (over 90% of Peruvians are Catholic), the program is non-denominational and children from any faith are welcome. Cruz Blanca (white cross) was founded over 50 years ago by Monsignor Ricardo Duran. First serving only 50 niños de la calle, Cruz Blanca now works with 800 students each summer. 200 children stay for 15 days at a time. The children are guided by volunteer counselors (2 for every 20) – all of whom stay within the compound, which sits right on the Pacific shore. On a side note, many of these children are so unaccustomed to nature that sometimes, when they hear the sounds of the waves at night, they claim it’s the sound of ghosts whispering throughout the complex.

The program starts with simple skills like basic hygiene and nutrition, but through love and compassion the counselors help the children realize their own value and instill in them a sense of pride and self-esteem. The life skills they teach are simple, but Erica and Luz (the two Fraternas who run the program) say these skills are necessary to live well. Along with the program, they want the kids to just be kids; the compound includes a playground, a space to perform plays, and a sheltered swimming area on the beach. The students at the camp escape their constant fight for survival, their struggle to find food, shelter and love. Cruz Blanca offers them protection, a refuge, and a vision of hope, allowing the kids to drop their guard and dream.

The main focus of our project was to build a new infirmary. The original facility was too small to house sick children, a limitation that put other children at risk. We also built new bathrooms and reconstructed a communal space where the children congregate at night for campfires and performances.

B3 had the opportunity to stay at Cruz Blanca. There was plenty of opportunity for interaction with these incredible children. As role models for the campers, B3 shared not only their energy and kindness, but also were able to help the children realize the value of their own lives and the importance of compassion.

Hygiene Facilities in San Antonio: San Antonio is one of the biggest rural communities in the district of Santiago (in the province of Ica – about 350 KM south of Lima just off the Pan American Highway). There are nearly 200 households in the community and it is continuing to grow. Many of the families here are involved in farming of some kind; cotton, asparagus, potatoes, etc. It is a very organized community with many committees that work together towards common goals. One of the major and most immediate goals is that of improving health and sanitation in San Antonio.

Builders Beyond Borders partnered with US Peace Corps Water and Sanitation Volunteer, Frieda von Qualen, to work towards improving not only sanitation in San Antonio, but overall health as well. The numbers are staggering – 70% of people living in Peru lack proper/adequate sanitation. According to the World Health Organization, improper sanitation is the second leading cause of death of children under the age of 5 (94% of these are preventable with proper sanitation). B3 will work with families and the community to improve their current living conditions by building flush-pour style latrines and hand washing stations for needy families in San Antonio.

The latrines that B3 and the people of San Antonio built together were designed to connect to sewer lines that are planned for the community late next year, which will ensure sustainability for many years to come. We poured cement floors, built the “house” or the room that will be used as the bathroom itself, installed the roof, and dug trenches for pipes. The six-foot deep “latrine” holes were finished before B3 arrived. Our goal was to build 50; we finished nearly 40 of them. The main objective of this project was to ensure that people in the community could begin to practice healthy and hygienic habits, improving the health and well-being of the families living there. All families involved needed to be enrolled in the Viviendas Saludables (healthy homes) project in the community that addresses organization of their homes, quality of water with sufficient clean drinking water, Hygienic practices, controlling vectors of disease, proper hand washing, etc. Community Inspectors ensured that all households were meeting all criteria before construction began on their new latrines. In addition to being an active part of this program, every family provided labor and a small financial contribution.

There is real need here. While this may not be the most glamorous project that Builders Beyond Borders has been involved with, it is, without a doubt, the most impactful. This project has the potential to eliminate (and/or greatly reduce) unnecessary deaths and illnesses that are so prevalent throughout Peru. These latrines/bathrooms, along with proper education will make a tremendous difference in the quality of life for these families.

Many of the homes here are made of plywood and straw that has been woven together. Many have no roofs; there is little running water. One of the first steps towards a healthier and longer life is proper education about hygiene and of course, sanitation.

We worked side by side with community members of San Antonio and the Peace Corps to make this plan a reality. Builders Beyond Borders made a difference at a very basic level – providing sanitation and the beginning of a healthier lifestyle.

Wawawasi in San Bartolo: San Bartolo is a small town 50 Km south of Lima along the coast in the province of Lima; it is considered to be a desert close to the ocean.

Builders Beyond Borders partnered with Creamos (a private NGO that concentrates on social work) to build a much-needed Wawawasi (Quechua for “house of the children”) in this small community. This is a center where mothers can safely leave their children while they find work; the mothers will take turns working in the Wawawasi so that other mothers will also have the opportunity to work. Currently, children in this community are left unattended or with a slightly older sibling.

The plan for this building was modest and included several rooms for daycare, bathrooms, and a small kitchen, which will provide at least one nutritious meal daily for the children of this community. 48 children (from newborn to 3 years of age) and their families will benefit from this project. The building is designed in such a way that additional rooms can be added as the program grows. In addition, B3 helped construct a wall around the Wawawasi to ensure safety of the children.

Wawawasies are part of a national program that ensures regulations are met. The Ministry of Health oversees these programs and monitors the impact on the children and families in terms of health and nutrition. Having the Ministry of Health and Creamos involved insured that the project will be sustainable far into the future.

In addition, Creamos remove comma has begun an economic development program in San Bartolo for women with handicraft classes to encourage women to start small businesses as a way to become more self-sufficient. Two additional crafts workshops began last month. Marketing seminars and classes on running their own business are planned to begin shortly.

There is real need here. Many of the homes are made of plywood and straw that has been woven together. Most have no roofs; there is no running water. Children have no green areas where they can play. This Wawawasi is one of the first steps needed to help these families begin to improve their quality of life.
The Mayor of San Bartolo (and his staff) supports Creamos in their projects. The entire community was excited when the 80 B3 students and adults came to build and be a part of San Bartolo for a week. Creamos is a relatively new organization but its presence is evident throughout San Bartolo. They finance, organize and run their own programs focusing on the needs of the people in order to improve their quality of life and to work towards a common goal – San Bartolo becoming a more prosperous town. Creamos encourages 10 principles for developing the country and its citizens; Order, Responsibility, Honesty, Being on Time, Will for Savings and Investment, Hard Work, Love for One’s Work, Respect Law and Order, Respect for Others Rights, Keeping their city clean.

Safe and nurturing childcare will provide stability in the lives of these young women and their families for many years to come. We will be working side by side with community members of San Bartolo and Creamos to make this plan a reality. Builders Beyond Borders will be making a difference at a very basic level – providing a safe space where mothers can leave their children in a supervised program.