CRS Partners in Peru
Catholic Relief Services works with a variety of local partners at the national and diocesan levels in Peru.
Caritas Peru
Caritas Peru was founded in 1955 to support and coordinate the Catholic Church's humanitarian response throughout the country. Although it still plays an important role in humanitarian aid, Caritas Peru has since expanded its work to include a broad range of development activities in health, microfinance, and agriculture production and marketing. CRS has supported the efforts of Caritas since its foundation, focusing in recent years on microfinance programming and agricultural production and marketing.
Caritas has been the principal implementer of CRS Peru's response to the August 2007 earthquake. Aid in the emergency phase of the disaster included food, water, sanitation and temporary housing. In the ensuing reconstruction phase, CRS support has included technical assistance for agriculture production and marketing, housing, land titles, earthquake-resistant construction techniques, and accessing public housing programs.
Bishop's Commission for Social Action
The Bishop's Commission for Social Action was founded in 1965 to support social ministry programs at the diocesan level. CRS has supported the commission for more than 20 years. Our present programming together focuses on peacebuilding, especially in the dioceses affected by mining industries.
CRS also supports the organization's work in the reconstruction response to the August 2007 earthquake, helping local communities to plan and present their needs to government programs, and assisting in the reconstruction of homes and community infrastructure.
Caritas Huancayo
Located in the center highland region of Peru, Caritas Huancayo has a long history of implementing development programming in health, nutrition, employment and community organization. CRS supports Caritas Huancayo in their efforts to promote communication among the stakeholders in the Mantaro watershed, an area facing serious environmental problems caused by mining and smelting operations.
Christian Development Cooperation
After years of volunteer work with street children and youth at risk, Lorena Garcia officially founded Christian Development Cooperation in 2002. The nongovernmental organization is located in Moyobamba, in the Peruvian Amazon region. Since 2003, CRS has supported Christian Development Cooperation's programs to ensure children remain in school and successfully finish high school, preparing them for a career or higher education.
Restinga
This nongovernmental organization has been active in Iquitos, in the Amazon region, since 1996. CRS supports Restinga's efforts to develop the personal and social skills of children and adolescents at risk, primarily through the use of art and theatre. Restinga has also ensured better access for children and youth to health, education and recreational services.
ASDA
Since 2007, CRS has supported ASDA's work in Iquitos with street children and adolescents. ASDA's programs encourage participants to continue in school until they complete high school, and prepare them for life after graduation with opportunities to study or obtain dignified work.
Inti Runakunaq Wasin
Inti Runakunaq Wasin (The House of the People of the Sun) was founded in 1999 in Cuzco to assist children, adolescents, and people with physical or mental handicaps. For the past two years, CRS has supported the organization's work in education, including tutoring, formation in values and self-esteem, and vocational training.
EDUCA
Founded in 1991, EDUCA works with school principals, teachers, parents and students to improve the quality of public education. CRS currently supports an EDUCA initiative aimed at students in the last two years of high school. The program helps teachers and students gear the curriculum to prepare students for life after graduation. This effort provides students with hands-on training in specific skills such as preparing a business plan and starting a small business.
Center for Studies, Promotion and Development
The Center for Studies, Promotion and Development is a nongovernmental organization with 42 years of experience in Peru. Since 2007, CRS has worked with the center to help alpaca farmers in Puno increase their income by breeding more alpacas, improving the quality of the animals' wool and organizing themselves when marketing the wool.
Association of Promotion and Development
The Association of Promotion and Development has 20 years of experience working to improve the conditions and quality of life of the poor in the southern region of Peru. CRS works with the association on the organic production of aromatic herbs and spices for export. This project allows small farmers to diversify production and improve their income.
COPEME
COPEME is a consortium of private organizations working to promote and support microenterprise in Peru. Comprising 62 institutions, the consortium was founded in the 1980s and supports programs in credit, improved production and access to markets. CRS has collaborated with COPEME on a number of initiatives, including a program that measures and improves the social performance of 10 microfinance institutions in Peru.
