Learn more about Peru
Love looks through spectacles that make copper look like gold, poverty like riches, and tears like pearls."
— Peruvian Proverb
About the Country of Peru:
Peru is twice the size of Texas, slightly smaller than Alaska.
79% of the population lives in coastal areas which includes Lima, the capital.
The country has an active volcano, Ubinas, that last erupted in 2009.
Spanish is the official language.
Population Demographics: 45% are Native American; 37% mixed Native American + Caucasian; 15% Caucasian; also African, Japanese and Chinese.
Religion: 84% Catholic; 13% Evangelical; 3% other
Peru is home to one of the 7 Modern Wonders of the World: Machu Picchu
Peru’s Water Facts:
Out of its population of 32 million people, 16 million people (48% of the population) lack access to a reliable, safely managed source of water, and 15 million people (47%) lack access to safely managed household sanitation facilities. (Source)
Only 56% of rural communities have basic sanitation facilities. (Source – Select Country then Peru)
12% of children under the age of 5 experience chronic diarrhea due to waterborne diseases. (Source – Waterborne Diseases Section)
Peruvian Economy:
The majority of the Monte Castillo population works within the agricultural business.
Some children ages six to 14 work along with parents to help support the family. Most children attend school up to age 14.
Poverty rate in rural areas is 55%.
Socio-economically, Peru has a dependency rate of 53.2%. A dependency rate is defined as part of the population that does not work and relies on others for their goods and services they consume.
Healthcare in Peru:
There are issues of major infectious diseases including food or waterborne diseases such as bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, dengue fever, malaria, Oroya fever and Zika virus.
These diseases affect the most vulnerable: Children and older adults.
There is only 1.12 physicians per 1,000 population in Peru. Only 1.6 hospital beds per 1,000 population in Peru.
Healthcare in Peru is severely lacking, with between 10 and 20% of Peruvians being completely excluded from access to the healthcare system. (Source)
Piura Region of Peru
Completed Projects | 1 System Operating
MONTE CASTILLO PUEBLO
“This project is very important. It changes lives in the community by reducing the cases of diarrhea and decreasing the cost of our water!” - Alcira Santos (Monte Castillo Project Champion)
Current Projects | 2 Underway + 5 In Pipeline
RURAL PUEBLOS
VAVV has partnered with the Piura Regional Government of Peru to establish connections, build relationships, & serve Seven (7) communities over the next few years. We are underway with Planning and Engineering for Two (2) of these Seven (7).