The Quispicanchi Project

OUR VISION
To create a resilient and healthy Quispicanchi where every individual has access to the opportunities and resources necessary to determine their own future free from the impacts of poverty, recognizing this as a fundamental human right.

WHY WE ARE COMPELLED TO ACT
The Quispicanchi Project is the result of years of friendship with the people living in the Quispicanchi Province of Southern Peru. What was started by a cohort of former short and long-term volunteers who had been deeply impacted by their time living in the region, now includes supporters and friends across the United States and elsewhere. 

Collectively, we realize that the power of friendship compels us to take action. 

THE REGION
Our work is concentrated in five pueblos in the western part or the Quispicanchi province. The center of community life in these pueblos are the parishes of the “Ruta del Barroco Andino”, a cultural route of churches dating back to the 16th century. The Quispicanchi Project provides support to parishes in Andahuaylillas, Ccatca, Huaro, Ocongate, and Urcos. In addition to these five pueblos we provide critical support to Sullyumayu, a community of roughly 300 families living in the remote highlands above Huaro.

The needs in rural areas of Peru, like Quispicanchi, are great. 50% of people live in poverty with their monthly earnings equal to 338 soles, roughly $150 per month. Most children in remote and indigenous communities walk between 1 - 2 hours, one way, to get to school - dramatically reducing the instructional time available to them. Quispicanchi and regions like it suffer from high rates of school drop out with 50% of children dropping out by grade 5. Most families face limited access to the most basic needs including access to public running water. 73% of rural households do not have access to public running water.