FOCUS
Creating Economic Opportunities
Promoting Health and Fighting Disease

MDGs ADDRESSED
MDG 1: Eradicate extreme hunger and poverty
MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
MDG 8: Create a global partnership for development

OVERVIEW
Over half of Peru's 28 million people lives below the poverty line.  Roughly 6.5 million (25%) are classified as extremely poor, living on an income of less than US$1 per day.  Approximately 45% of Peru’s population is of indigenous Amerindian descent from the Quechua (Inca) and Aymara tribes of South America.  Among these groups, the poverty rate is closer to 70%. 

Though Peru’s economy has been growing in the past few years, there continues to be widespread under-employment throughout the country. This is a problem especially in the rural areas and among the indigenous population.  Peru faces the serious threat of a rising HIV/AIDS epidemic due to low levels of sexual education.  Part of the vulnerable population does not have accurate information or tools to avoid at-risk behaviors.

Our PARTNERS
Episcopal Relief and Development is partnering with the Anglican Diocese of Peru, a growing diocese with 26 churches and a vision for social outreach in the poorer areas of the country.  Episcopal Relief and Development and the diocese are working together with the Ecumenical Church Loan Fund (ECLOF), a micro-finance organization, as well as the Centro Ecumenico Rosa Blanca, faith-based organization that is leading the fight against HIV/AIDS in Peru.

Our CURRENT PROGRAMS
Episcopal Relief and Development is ensuring a healthier future for young people in Peru and creating long-term opportunities for families increase their incomes.

Episcopal Relief and Development is focusing on two areas of Peru, the department of Puno in the southern part of the country, and in Lima, the capital.  In Puno, 78% of the people live in poverty. Close to half are living on less than US$1 per day—which is considered extreme poverty.  Thirty percent of the people suffer from chronic malnutrition. 

Episcopal Relief and Development is working to prevent a potential HIV/AIDS epidemic in Peru through awareness and education aimed at young people living in Lima, the capital. The Peruvian Ministry of Health estimates that close to 60% of adolescents either do not know what HIV/AIDS is or do not know how to prevent it. 

Creating Economic Opportunities
Episcopal Relief and Development is providing opportunities to earn income for indigenous Quechua and Aymara families in urban sections of the departmental capital of Puno and the neighboring city of Juliaca.  Episcopal Relief and Development is partnering with ECLOF on a three-year program to provide access to micro-finance programs and business training. 

• Community credit circles provide loans for individuals, primarily women, to begin small businesses to support and feed their families.
• Workshops on leadership, self-esteem, conflict resolution and simple business principles empower group members to be successful in running a business and earning income.

Promoting Health and Fighting Disease
Episcopal Relief and Development is partnering with the Rosa Blanca Ecumenical Center to promote HIV/AIDS prevention strategies in Lima, where the highest number of at-risk adolescents live.

• Diagnostic surveys throughout the city ensure that projects are reaching those adolescents most at risk.
• A curriculum on HIV/AIDS, reproductive health and STDS provides information and tools for youth to understand HIV/AIDS and how to prevent its transmission.
• A youth theatrical troupe reaches peers with a creative HIV/AIDS prevention message.
• Awareness and prevention workshops in churches, schools, colleges and community settings ensure access to the most vulnerable youth between 15 and 24 years old.
• Community building activities empower young people to spread the word to others about protecting oneself from HIV/AIDS

Our PAST ACHIEVEMENTS
Since Episcopal Relief and Development began working with these two partners in 2006, significant gains have been made:

• 1,100 beneficiaries are participating in credit circles, and 87% are women. A total of 18 new jobs have been created. Almost 40% of beneficiaries report an increase in their earnings, 38% said they have been able to save additional money, and 41% reinvested a portion of their earnings into their business. Over 60% report that the general quality of their lives has improved since joining the program.
• Over 3,600 youth have been reached through the youth HIV/AIDS prevention program. A survey that sampled 361 indicated that 70% understood what HIV/AIDS is and 80% said they were practicing preventive measures.