Submitted by Adriana Farquharson, International Program Coordinator
Centro Andino de Educación y Promoción José María Arguedas (CADEP JMA) serves the Cusco and Apurímac regions of Peru, committed to strengthening and empowering indigenous Quechua populations. In every area of service to this vulnerable population CADEP exhibits equity, creativity, and justice. They promote women empowerment, preventative health initiatives, community development, and human rights.
On August 10th, 2020, CADEP celebrates its 52nd anniversary of providing services to the most vulnerable. In honor of this achievement, we would like to look back at our journey together.
Being in line with core values, Esperança and CADEP began their partnership in 2014 to help expand the organization’s reach – the five areas of focus being health education and disease prevention, volunteer surgical missions, nutrition and food security, water and sanitation, and safe housing. In 2019 alone:
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- 998 participated in trainings, technical assistance, and workshops surrounding improved agricultural yield
- 824 received surgeries, wellness checks, and participated in support groups
- 1,348 were assisted through supply distribution and improved housing
2019 was a crucial period of growth and expansion for Esperança’s partnership with CADEP – focusing on these three primary areas.
A primary care program launched in the remote Q’eros Nation addressed intestinal parasites and anemia in children. Baseline health assessments were conducted in order to provide oral health and hygiene workshops for children, parents, and teachers. To bolster preventative health initiatives in the area, 19 homes were constructed including a stone foundation, improved stoves, separate living areas, attached greenhouse, and solar-powered water heaters.
The volunteer surgical program offered services free of charge to patients who have been living in pain and seeking care for years. In total, 58 Plastics, Ophthalmology, General, Orthopedic, and Gynecology volunteers have performed surgeries and offered consultations to patients since the first surgical mission in 2016.
Rural farming families participated in programs working to improve agricultural production through soil conservation and education on improving the yield of traditional Andean crops. Part of this program included improved irrigation systems throughout communal agriculture fields. Collaboration with local municipality representatives provided fencing, construction of infiltration ditches, and expertise on planting native species that improve water flow rates.
During the time of COVID-19, the combined efforts of CADEP and Esperança have adapted programming to continue serving the most vulnerable where and how they need it most. This includes:
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- Providing accurate, up to-date information on the pandemic and best hygiene practices via 6 radio programs to reach 20,000 rural families
- Delivering cleaning Kits containing masks, liquid soap, disinfectant (bleach), and five liters of water to 300 rural families
- Distributing vegetable seeds including carrot, spinach, chard, beets, and lettuce to 300 rural families
We are truly grateful for this transformative partnership with CADEP and look forward to providing continued support to those who need us most.
Learn more about our work in Peru here.
