4 september 2008
After 3 weeks in Peru with moments with the local structures for which we support micro projects and educational projects, the global results are very positive.
In the area of Lima, we started 5 new collaborations with groups of craftsmen all members of the CIAP (Central Interregional Craftsmen of Peru whose the main goal is to promote the exportation). The micro projects relate to the financing of purchases of raw materials in significant quantity in order to profit from reasonable prices, equipment of artisanal machines to improve the productivity and also technological material dedicated to the training or the presentations of the activity of the local structure. The duration of the loans varies from two to three years and the CIAP give us a guarantee for the loans.
In addition, each group of craftsmen has a good knowledge about the social conditions in its district and has the will to act in a constructive way in particular in the educational field. We had been informed by their intermediary of various possible actions that we had found interesting and reasonable. After having decided to finance them at the beginning of 2008, we could visit the various achievements (construction of a classroom, purchase of furniture, purchase of a refrigerator etc) at the time of this voyage in the various establishments and we could note the enthusiasm of the local people.
In Pira, near Huaraz, in the Cordillera of Andes, with the association “Ally Ruray”, the installation of the workshop of carpentry is finished. The training of young adults for carpentry has started a few months ago. The discussions with the Peruvian minister of education are very positive for the request made by the local structure to be authorised to deliver a diploma of qualification recognized by the state in a near future. The level of production as well knows a very satisfactory starting thanks to the different orders in the local and regional market with customers such as schools, municipalities, private companies or individuals. At a meeting organized at the time of our visit by the persons in charge of the structure “Ally Ruray”, one of the main important points related to the success of the next stage of the project envisaged at the time of the second quarters 2009 whose objective is to extend the marketing of the production to the town of Huaraz.
In Huancavelica, there was the starting of one year an educational project for which the BNP Paribas Foundation provided invaluable financial support to us. We thus equipped one with the buildings of the Peruvian structure “Pukullawa” of tables and chairs in order to allow the children and teenagers to profit from an extra teaching ensured by remunerated Peruvian professors. One of the other strong moments related to the project of circuit of alternative tourism for which Franck works as a trainee. One of the big steps of this circuit is to propose to the tourists the discovery of the area of Huancavelica little visited to date but which has true value to the level of its history, its culture and beauty of its mountains giving the possibility of sharing moments with the local population. The structure “Pukullawa” will play an important role in the proposal for several activities. Some teenagers will profit initially from a formation of guide ensured by professionals of the area and will be able, once qualified, to ensure themselves the accompaniment of tourists for excursions. A meeting was organized with the persons in charge of the Area of Huancavelica, the structure “Pukullawa” and a manager of Pachamama (Peruvian tourism agency in charge of the marketing of the circuit) whose objective was to present via Franck the preparation of the activities of the circuit. All the people were impressed by the exceptional work of Franck and the interest and the motivation involved within the local actors of the project. The preparation of the circuit should be finished at the end of this year knowing that it remains to organize one of its components which is located close to La Merced, a city located at the doors of Amazonia.
In addition, a meeting was proposed to the mothers in order to make an evaluation of the results of “Pukullawa” with the educational, cultural and social activities organised for their children for 2 years and the idea to set up in September a monthly financial participation of their own in order to ensure an additional source of revenue for the local structure “Pukullawa” and thus to give it more chance to be perennial in the future. The exercise was very delicate but after a few hours of discussions, they accepted the idea while even suggesting to convince the rest of the mothers from the importance of this contribution! Then, today, there is a kind of euphoria with Huancavelica and the association “Pukullawa” has real assets to develop and build a better future.
In La Merced, we talked with the agronomist Peruvian organization, the SEPAR, with which we have financed for one year in material groups of producer of Sacha Inchi (almond having a very strong concentration in omega 3 and used traditionally for its nutritional and cosmetic benefits). The results are encouraging as a whole and we could visit the work of collaboration undertaken with a local agronomist establishment of which the main objective is to improve this type of culture in this area. We also met in this occasion the persons in charge of the project of exploitation of the forest in order to specify some important components before starting collaboration from here a few months.
During all these moments, we had the occasion to speak about future projects with people whom we already know and with new contacts. We will not fail to keep you informed of those which we will retain.
At this moment, we finish the update of Solidaile web site particularly in the chapter “Our projects”, the idea being to make it clearer, and the setting on line of the last photographs which we brought back from Peru!
Waiting to see you on the next the newsletter, the Solidaile team thanks you for your invaluable supports and the interest which you carry to the whole of its projects.
Philippe Nadiras
