Friends of Chimbote returns to Peru to secure life-giving water

For over two years, there have been no trips by volunteers or staff to our Mission in Chimbote, Peru due to the effects of the pandemic. This has never occurred in our decades of serving and transforming the lives of the poor of Chimbote. While the impact, energy, and advocacy of mission visitors was sorely missed, our Peruvian Mission staff was fully tasked on the periphery of the community, providing humanitarian aid of food, water, and medicine to those in greatest need. The support of our donors through the crises made it possible to have the greatest impact on the lives of the very poor than at any time in our history!

At the end of April, we were able to return to Peru and witness the needs and experience the gratitude and determination of the people of these communities. The 3,000 residents outside Cambio Puente on the outskirts of Chimbote, near the prison, have been our greatest focus. One of the greatest needs and costs for members of the community is water, which they buy from trucks. For the single mothers, elderly, and handicapped who have the fewest resources, water is difficult to afford on an income of $80-100 dollars per month.

While we identify long-term solutions to the lack of income that places them in the most extreme poverty, we assist them with daily survival. The water needs and assistance have been significant. We have purchased and distributed over 1,320,000 liters of water during the pandemic—88 tankers of 15,000 liters of potable water at a cost of $20,000. By reducing their expenses for water, more of their meager income can be spent on food and other essentials. However, much like increasing income, a long-term solution is needed. Water is life and a necessity for health, hygiene, growing food, and raising animals.

Consulting and collaborating with community leaders in Cambio Puente and the waterless barrios, solutions have been identified and are being qualified. While we were in Chimbote, we were able to witness the hard work of the community members of the barrios who have all contributed to their dream of piped water to their homes.

Since the city has virtually no tax base or funds for infrastructure, residents raised over $18,000 to install water main piping and a concrete storage tank to get water to the outskirts of the barrios. The remaining project is to install piping, pumps, and another tank at the top of the hill that can feed pipes to over 300 homes. This second phase of the project is only $35,000 to provide four times more water piped into their homes at a savings of 84% from their current cost from trucks. Piping into each home is only $25 dollars! The entire project could be completed in 75 days.

We are hopeful that we can secure the resources to complete this second phase of the project to increase the dignity, improve the health, reduce the expenses, and fulfill the dreams and hopes of an entire community on the periphery. God bless you and thank you for your prayers and support! We look forward to welcoming you again at our Mission to witness the transformations you make possible.