A Letter from Eva Maciaszek, a volunteer from Vernon, BC, who worked with Father David and his people in Peru.

CIDA's Role in Moro and Pamparomas

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is a non profit Canadian government organization. Its mandate is to reduce poverty and promote human development throughout the world.

In Peru, CIDA has been active since 1988. In working with the executive Secretariat of Technical Cooperation of the Peruvian Ministry of the Presidency ( SECTI ), CIDA has established a fund - Fondo General de Contravalor Peru Canada - to finance development projects and initiatives which aim to alleviate poverty and promote social development of the country.

To learn more about Fondo Peru Canada follow this link. You may need a Spanish dictionary

The Fund is a non-profit entity with administrative and operative autonomy. Since the beginning of its operation in 1989 until July 1998, Fondo Peru Canada has financed 325 projects in all 24 departments of the country, worth in total US $90,000,000 and benefiting 300,000 families.

It is worth mentioning where the Counterpart funds originate from, because through their creation the Canadian government is able to provide foreign aid while supporting the economy at home.

Through Economic Support Programs, Canadian mining, telecommunication and petroleum equipment as well as wheat and canola oil are sold to Peru, effectively maintaining productivity and efficiency of these key sectors in Canada.

Through the sale of the equipment, wheat and oil, counterpart funds are generated which are then used to finance productive and sustainable development projects in Peru. These projects are executed by local non-government organizations, municipalities and related private institutions that have administrative capacity.

An example of such a project is that of Pamparomas. This project has received US$ 293, 851 (including US$ 53, 500 in credit) from the Fund for various development works in this region. The majority of these activities are carried out by Fr. David Johnson and Junta de Desarrollo ( a local church based organization set up to work on projects involving development )

Fr. David is a Canadian missionary priest serving in the rural mountain parishes of Moro and Pamparomas. In conjunction with his pastoral work, Fr. David communicates the message of Jesus Christ by being a friend to the poor and striving to alleviate their suffering by improving their living conditions

Though the economic situation of Peru is improving, marked by increased foreign investment and repayment of foreign debt, the situation of the poor has not improved. The standard of living in the mountain regions where about half of this country�s population lives is low. The unemployment rate is very high - 60% of the people in Peru live at or below the poverty level. There are still villages in the highlands to which there is no road access. Only some of the villages have electricity or running water.

In these areas, women started to be educated only about five years ago. A majority of the highlanders practice sustenance agriculture. Their fields are often on steep slopes and due to lack of technology and technological training, the land is worked by hand. Water shortages are a serious problem for the farmers in the highlands.

A thorough study of the district of Pamparomas and Moro has been carried out by Junta de Desarrollo to determine strategies and projects that would best optimize the natural resources present and contribute to the development of this region. As a result of this study, projects were presented which aim at controlling water, modernizing agriculture and education. Realization of part of these activities is possible through the financial support from Fondo General de Contravalor Peru Canada. Following the devastation caused by El Ni�o, The Fund has generously provided additional funding of US$ 74, 897 to aid the people of the region in recovery from the effects of this natural disaster.

Prior to the occurrence of the phenomenon, El Ni�o, Fondo Peru-Canada had approved funding for various activities within the region of Pamparomas which are to be realized over a period of three years. These projects include reinforcing and enlarging the capacity of an ancient Inca reservoir, Paccarinacocha, construction of a lime plant and an organic fertilizer plant in the town of Moro, promotion of agricultural products which are financially more profitable to the farmer and have greater nutritional value, as well as modernizing agriculture and cattle raising.

Utilization of water reservoirs in the highlands is important because the amount of rainfall is unpredictable as it fluctuates from year to year. Three out of five years the people of the highlands experience water shortages. Approximately every ten years the phenomenon El Ni�o results in abundance of water. A reservoir allows the people to better manage their water in years of dryness and in years of heavy rainfall. It allows to optimize the use of the water. Effective utilization of the reservoir additionally necessitated construction of seven km of road allowing access to the reservoir and construction of a discharge canal. This work has additional cultural value as it recovers the ancient Inca technology.

The lime plant in Moro provides construction material used in the development projects. As well it allows for reduction in costs in building of the irrigation infrastructure in the valley of Loco River in the Pamparomas area. Using lime mixed with cement is less costly than using pure cement. Part of the profits from sale of lime are to be directed to pay off the credit extended by Fondo Peru Canada. The remaining profits will provide income for further projects, ideally making the process of development of this area self sustainable. Additionally the plant provides much needed jobs for the area.

The establishment of an organic fertilizer plant is another activity, financed by Fondo Peru Canada, aimed at development of the Moro-Pamparomas area. It will provide an environmentally friendly way of dealing with refuse from the market in Moro - animal bones and food waste. The organic fertilizer is cheaper than chemical fertilizers and so will be accessible to a larger number of local farmers. Another important aspect of the organic fertilizer is that it doesn't�t destroy the natural make up of the soil, leaving it more resistant to different plagues which are a constant problem for the local farmers who now depend on chemical fertilizers. A byproduct of processing the food waste is a combustible gas which can be used as fuel. This organic fertilizer plant will therefore be of service to people by providing cheaper fertilizer and fuel, along with promoting environmentally sound practices.

Other work financed by Fondo Peru Canada is the introduction and promotion of products for cultivation which will provide the farmer with higher profits and which have higher nutritional value. An example of such a crop is a type of bean- Cajanus cajan. Most farmers cultivate corn and yucca (a potato like vegetable) which have very low market value. Lack of funds and technology are often obstacles to switching to growing a more profitable crop. The nutritional value of a plant is not only important when human consumption is considered, but also in raising healthy and viable livestock. As part of this project, financial and technological assistance will be available to local farmers to improve agricultural and cattle raising practices.

At the end of June 1998 representatives from Fondo Peru Canada visited the Moro-Pamparomas area to inspect the progress of the projects which were approved by the organization in 1997. They were impressed by the effort and determination of people in this region to overcome the causes of the poverty that chain them down. As well, the representatives appreciated Fr. David�s energy and devotion to the improvement of the lives of the people he serves

To learn more about CIDA -the Canadian International Development Agency - please visit their site

Seeing the devastating effect that El Ni�o had on this area - destruction of irrigation canals, washed-out portions of roads and fields - Fondo Peru-Canada promised funding for additional activities which will aid in recovery from this natural disaster. These included rebuilding of a retaining wall of a school and nursing station in the mountain town of Pamparomas, building a reinforcing wall for a water reservoir, donation of medications and donations of tin roofing for those whose homes were destroyed by the mudslides brought about by El Ni�o.

As well, additional activities with a vision for the future and aimed at further development of the area of Moro-Pamparomas were approved at the time of Fondo Peru Canada�s visit. These projects included installment of electricity and sewer system in the school and nursing station in Pamparomas and building of a bridge to Pamparomas. Installment of electricity will enable the school to put into use the sewing machines it has and the nursing station to put into use the different electrical implements that they have.

To the youth of Moro, Fondo Peru-Canada gave a challenge to devise a plan for an agricultural technological school. The technological school will combine education with development of this area. The aim of the school will be to give the student hands-on experience in various industries in agriculture, fish hatcheries, trout farming, small animal industries, carpentry, etc. The students will learn how to set up and run the different industries effectively as well as how to market its products. At the end of the training, the student will be required to present a small project which will be financed by a loan and will enable the student to launch a small industry of their own. In this way the agricultural technical institute will help tremendously the development of this area.

The aid given by Fondo Peru Canada and Fr. David to the poor of Peru are building blocks of development. Help is given in a way that preserves man�s dignity and gives him hope. The poor are not given handouts. Instead they are given financial assistance in a form of loans which allow the people to carry out work that enable them to rise out of poverty. The planning of the projects and the work itself is carried out by the people whom it will benefit. Thus the people work for themselves to better their futures.

Fondo Peru-Canada puts much emphasis on youth and women�s issues in the projects it sponsors. An example of this is the technological school. This institute will provide training and create new job opportunities for the youth of Moro and Pamparomas area. Many of the industries which the school will present will be oriented toward women.



What can you do?



It is important to let the government of Canada know that the aid it sends overseas makes a significant difference in the lives of people in developing countries.



Your letters of support for foreign aid from the Canadian public will encourage the government to continue this form of help.

Write a letter to your Member of Parliament thanking him for the Canadian support for Father David�s work in Peru.

My thanks to Eva and Reg for preparing this article.

May God bless you all

Fr. David Johnson

Moro and Pamparomas, Peru

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