Why we are different

Our staff

Peru's Challenge and its staff work extremely hard to reach the objectives of Peru's Challenge.

Each and every one is very dedicated to the children and community members and go beyond the normal tasks to ensure they are being cared for, taught about sustainability and given the tools to create beture futures for themselves.

Our staff also look after our volunteers as if they were family, even if a lot of sign language is used!

Planning process and exit strategies

Before Peru's Challenge starts working within and school and its community, we have lengthy discussions with community members, sometimes up to a year, to ensure that we understand the needs of the community from their point of view and also that the community understands how Peru's Challenge can help. It is not a financial handout but rather an agreement to work together for a set amount of time; no less than three years, to ensure that plans have time to develop; no longer than six years, to ensure the community doesn't start to depend on the support of Peru's Challenge.

Numerous integrated projects

Our local social worker believes that is we are really serious about creating a better future for the kids, we need to work not only in the schools but also within the communities as well. That is why we first work on making the school self-sufficient and then start working within the community. We cover all aspects such as social welfare, increasing general standards of living, working on all of the Millenium Development Goals, creating small businesses within the community and assisting with futher education for adults and teenagers.

Community directly involved

From the initals discussions at community meetings, community members are involved in all aspects of the planning, initiating and evaluating of projects.

Peru's Challenge guides the members and conducts all lobbying with Government departments. After a certain amount of time, community and school representatives then learn this process and take ove the relastionship to continue lobbying,with Peru's Challenge in the background to advise when necessary, until such time we are not needed. It is a great feeling when this happens.

All funds spent on the ground

Peru's Challenge is a small, personal, locally run organisation with its office located in Cusco, Peru. More than half of our staff are local Peruvians.

We choose not to spend money on advertising and promotion to ensure that all funds are spent on site.