Updated: March 2009
Peru
Overview | World Vision's history in Peru | World Vision in Peru today
OverviewThe Republic of Peru sits in west-central South America, border by Colombia and Ecuador to the north, Bolivia and Brazil to the east, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The country is divided geographically into three climate zones. The narrow 1,500-mile coastline region, with a subtropical arid climate, features desert scrub and grasses in the south and central areas and dense forest in the north. The central Andean mountain range boasts peaks of more than 20,000 feet, high plateaus, and deep valleys. East of the Andes, Peru has a wide area of flat terrain covered by the dense tropical Amazon rainforest. Approximately 60 percent of the country is located within this region. Natural resources include copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, hydropower, potassium products, and natural gas.Peru is the fourth most populous country in South America with nearly 28 million people. Amerindian and mestizo (a mix of Amerindian and European) constitute 82 percent of Peruvians. Whites, blacks, Japanese, and Chinese make up most of the remaining 18 percent. Spanish, used in government, the media, commerce, and education, is the first language of the country and is used by more than 80 percent of the population. Several other indigenous languages also are spoken, including Quechua as well as Aymara. The mighty Incas created a vast empire along the west coast of pre-Spanish South America. Their capital city was Cuzco, located in southeastern Peru. The Spanish, led by Francisco Pizarro, defeated the Incas in 1532 and established the country as a Spanish colony. For nearly 300 years, Peru experienced several dozen uprisings by the remaining Incas and many rebellions against Spain’s repressive economic policies. Peru gained its independence in July 1821, but internal conflicts and wars with Spain and Chile spanned the next 100 years. The 20th century saw a long list of presidents tackling economic troubles, corruption, and the growing narcotics trade. A powerful 8.0-magnitude earthquake in August 2007 affected 500,000 people, including more than 500 of whom were killed, and destroyed at least 80 percent of houses and social service infrastructures in many southern cities. |  |
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| The mighty Incas created a vast empire along the west coast of pre-Spanish South America. Their capital city was Cuzco, located in southeastern Peru. The Spanish, led by Francisco Pizarro, defeated the Incas in 1532 and established the country as a Spanish colony. For nearly 300 years, Peru experienced several dozen uprisings by the remaining Incas and many rebellions against Spain’s repressive economic policies. Peru gained its independence in July 1821, but internal conflicts and wars with Spain and Chile spanned the next 100 years. The 20th century saw a long list of presidents tackling economic troubles, corruption, and the growing narcotics trade. A powerful 8.0-magnitude earthquake in August 2007 affected 500,000 people, including more than 500 of whom were killed, and destroyed at least 80 percent of houses and social service infrastructures in many southern cities. Despite an eight percent growth rate in 2007 in the total market value of all goods and services, 53 percent of Peruvians live in poverty and nearly a third of the population lives on less than $2 per day. The unemployment rate is more than seven percent, but underemployment is widespread throughout the country. Poverty reduction strategies by the government have not had sustainable results in recent years due to administrative reorganizations and a reduction in the public spending budget. The World Food Program classifies up to 25 percent of Peru’s population as extremely poor, given their living conditions and limited income (less than $1 per day). These people, who primarily live in the rural and mountain range areas, are considered to be food insecure because of low food availability and an insufficient basic minimum diet. The average daily intake of calories for people in this region is only 88 percent of the minimum daily intake required. The HIV prevalence rate in Peru, while still less than one percent, has grown over the past three years. Today, more than 93,000 Peruvians are living with HIV and AIDS. Food or waterborne diseases common in the country are bacteria infections such as leptospirosis, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever. Other maladies include dengue fever, malaria, Oroya fever, and yellow fever. Health-care services in Peru have improved in the last decade, but access to health care in rural and mountainous areas is still inadequate. Back to top World Vision’s history in PeruWorld Vision’s involvement in Peru began in 1965 with a pastors conference in the town of Huampani. A decade later, the organization implemented the child sponsorship program. During 1979, World Vision provided grant funding to the Evangelical Council of Peru to develop a religious curriculum following the government’s authorization of its inclusion in public schools. Other projects in the 1970s focused on literacy, health and hygiene education, and agricultural development.In 1982, World Vision opened an office in the capital city of Lima. Sponsorship allowed some 2,700 children to benefit from 15 childcare and family assistance projects. In November 1980, disaster relief was provided in south-central Peru to those affected by a 6.2-magnitude earthquake. Relief efforts included the provision of food, plastic sheeting for temporary shelter, blankets, and medicine. In 1983, Peru faced unique weather conditions when some areas were devastated by drought, while other areas suffered from heavy flooding. The drought claimed a significant amount of the barley and potato crop, and flooding destroyed 99 percent of the sorghum crop and all of the soybean crop. Two flood relief projects provided food, housing reconstruction, water pipes, and roofing materials to 1,000 families. By the end of 1989, more than 14,500 children were sponsored through 120 projects. During 1991, severe political instability in Peru led to the temporary closure of the World Vision office following the murder of two staff members and the disappearance of others. World Vision returned in early 1994 when it became safe for the staff and the children being served. People returning to their villages received assistance, and reconciliation efforts were initiated. By the end of 1996, more than 2,600 children were sponsored in five area programs. Seven relief and 15 community development projects were operational. One project provided educational scholarships that offered financial, spiritual, and emotional support to students in need who were being trained in social work. The students also served as interns in poorer communities to gain practical experience. At the end of the decade, more than 16,000 children were involved in sponsorship programs. In the late 1990s, the Ayacucho community development program served approximately 8,400 Quechua Indians in Chaca and surrounding communities of the Ayacucho area. Projects implemented in the 21st century have included the Tele Medicine Project, which provided information and opinion exchange between plastic surgeons in Peru and the U.S., and the Agricultural Reactivation Project, which sought to decrease poverty levels within the Cusco community through agricultural growth. In August 2007, World Vision responded to the earthquake in the Ica, Chincha, and Pisco areas by providing temporary family shelters, clothing, blankets, food, beds, and tools to nearly 15,000 families. Back to top World Vision in Peru todayWorld Vision is committed to partnering with the people of Peru to enhance their lives today and to help enact sustainable solutions for the future of their communities, families, and children. Currently, 61,750 children are registered in the World Vision sponsorship program. Several times this number of children and other family members benefit from World Vision activities. Of these registered children, many have World Vision sponsors in other countries. U.S. donors sponsor more than 19,000 girls and boys. In addition, World Vision operates 28 development programs, 10 of which are supported by U.S. donors. Highlights of these efforts include the following:
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