
PACHACUTEC
-
Newest and poorest sprawling shantytown or “pueblo joven” built on sanddunes in the inhospitable desert
-
In the District of Ventanilla, Callao Province
-
Established in 2000 after 12,000+ families were forcibly relocated to the area for political reasons
-
Home to 150,000 people, with more arriving every day.
-
96% of the population lives in extreme poverty (compared to a 25.1% poverty rate in Callao Province)
-
30%+ of homes have inadequate basic services
-
Average income for a family of 4 is approximately US $150 per month, while the monthly cost of living to meet basic needs is US $200.
At a glance
A closer look
Inadequate homes
-
>50% of the houses are constructed of reed mats, sticks, and cardboard.
Extreme temperatures
-
Reaching above 85°F during the day, and 30°F at night, with dense fog and humidity
Cyclical conditions of poverty
-
Insufficient access to basic services of education, healthcare, housing and employment opportunities
-
No sanitation network or steady source of drinking water.
-
Most families cannot afford the limited amount of electricity available in the area.
-
Children, therefore, are at high risk for developing health problems related to parasites and malnutrition and many are unable to attend school because they are forced to work to support their families.
Public services & infrastructure
-
Water: Supplied by unregulated tanker trucks at prices nearly triple those of Callao, and stored in plastic containers, increasing the likelihood of contamination and disease.
-
Electricity networks: limited to a few areas; most families cannot afford to have electricity in their homes.
-
Sanitation networks: Nonexistant
Infrastructure: does not have sidewalks or paved streets, though there are several main roads that have been paved.
-
Urban planning: Efforts are minimal, and public green spaces are almost nonexistent.
Coprodeli efforts
Since 2000 with the construction of provisional wooden classrooms, Coprodeli’s interventions in Pachacutec have grown to include:
-
4 schools, providing primary & secondary education to ~2,500 students
-
3 outreach centers, offering psychosocial attention to 180+ at-risk children
-
3 health clinics, attending nearly 30,000 patients every year
-
1 microbusiness industrial park supporting 70 local entrepreneurs and creating sustainable employment opportunities in the community
-
A vast network of social assistance programs providing humanitarian aid
to 4,000 people monthly