DWS Associate Programs
DIACONIA, Peru
In the community, everybody works together. This woman is preparing potatoes as part of their meal in Palca. |
The political, social and economic atmosphere of Peru continues to be unstable, thus worsening daily life for the poor and marginalized. The long process of decentralizing national government social institutions to local and regional governments greatly impedes service delivery, and continuous strikes disrupt schooling and highway transport. Economic structural adjustment programs that emphasize foreign debt repayment over social services, and new trade agreements, promote inequalities, unemployment, social polarization and a widening gap between urban and rural communities.
LWF/DWS has assisted the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Peru (an LWF recognized congregation) to respond to critical needs since 1971, beginning with earthquake relief and now focusing on rural development with marginalized and excluded groups in three geographical departments of Peru. The church development department established with DWS assistance became DIACONIA, a recognized church-related NGO, in 1997 and made the transition to a DWS associate program in 2002. The program has adopted an increasingly developmental approach specializing in the implementation of rural development programs in some of the poorest Andean regions.
Sustainable Rural Development
This project works closely with peasant communities to improve their living conditions and ensure sustainable development, with the following emphases:
- training and encouragement for citizen participation (especially women) and strengthening of civil society
- construction and rehabilitation of irrigation canals and reservoirs, and training in irrigation and water management
- income generation by promoting sustainable agriculture, livestock production, marketing and formation of small companies
- installation and improvement of drinking water systems, stoves and latrines
- education focused on nutrition and health, and the integrated care of infants and young children
- protection of environmental and natural resources through management of watersheds and micro-basins
Training in Food Production and Nutrition
Children from the school in Laria, Palca, Huancavelica are happy with their bio-garden products. |
This project has been the greatest achievement of DIACONIA's influence on public policies, with many aspects of the project's diversified curriculum for rural schools included in the official curriculum of the Ministry of Education. Completed in 2004, the project aimed to improve children's nutrition and the quality of teaching in rural schools. Activities included training teachers, installing school bio-gardens and farms and nutrition education.
For more information please contact:
Program Officer Ms Elsa Moreno.
Local representative
Ms Leena Hokkanen, Executive Director.
