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

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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).