Peru remains one of the poorest and most destitute areas of South America: the country lacks a clear vision of local development, collective organization and management of natural resources and production activities, all of which have detrimental consequences for children.
In the Amazonian Andes 50% of young people from 14-17 work, predominantly in agriculture.
In the region of Loreto the life conditions of small farmers are very uncertain, the rural population is subject to the problem of malnourishment, which affects children most of all, preventing a generational change in the fundamental work for the local subsistence.
In this region New Life for Children works in the rainforest community of Hipolito Unanue and Payorote, on the Amazon river.The projects have positively revolutionized the way of living of the two communities, reducing child mortality rate by 100%, and guaranteeing an avantgarde education up to the end of secondary education to all children.
History of the project
New Life for Children started working in Perù in 2008, with a project at Villa Marìa del Triunfo, in the region of Lima, aimed at the reduction of child labor and the improvement of education for children in the Paraìso Alto community. The project was concluded in 2010.
In 2008 also another project was started in the Amazonian forest, and more precisely in the community of Hipolito Unanue, a project of literacy, food, health support and training of teachers.
In 2015 New Life for Children adopted a second community along the banks of the Amazon river, the native community of Payorote. The intervention of New Life for Children here also concerned education, health, food and training.
Objectives
Improve the school programme education of the two beneficiary communities.
Assure total health coverage for all members of both communities.
Counteract the malnourishment emergency of the underweight and malnourished children.
Train the teachers in more updated pedagogical techniques and tools.
Finance two micro-credit activities – poultry farming and a biological vegetable garden, able to sustainably generate an income for both communities.
Results
Improvement of life conditions and the development of two communities through the improvement of education for the 122 children in Hipolito Unanue and 102 children in Payorote.
Improvement of the state of health of the communities Hipolito Unanue (310 inhabitants) and Payorote (234 inhabitants).
Supply of food assistance to 122 children in Hipolito Unanue and 102 children in Payorote, with particular attention to those undernourished and malnourished.
Increase of the educational intervention efficacy by the 137 teachers and the 123 parents through improving pedagogical knowledge.
Permanent improvement of economic security of the Hipolito Unanue (310 inhabitants) and Payorote (234 inhabitants) communities through the introduction of two microcredit projects.