Peru

Peru is the third largest South American country. Quechua and Aymara natives of highland origin make up 46% of the population, while nearly half of the population are mestizos – descendants of natives and Spaniards who intermarried during Spanish rule. Most Peruvians speak Spanish, while Quechua and Aymara are common in rural areas.

In the recent past Peru has alternated between dictatorship and democracy. Disparities in wealth and power are significant, with a small elite of Spanish decent controlling most of the political power and wealth, leaving the majority of the population powerless and in poverty, many of which are indigenous people.  Peru’s has one of the fastest developing economies in South America; however this is not reflected in the social service sector, which remains inadequate for many and unemployment remains very high.

A constant threat to all Peruvians is the El Niño weather phenomenon, which gives rise to devastating floods and storms, causing damage to homes, infrastructure and crops. As a result, many people who lose their homes, particularly those in rural areas, are forced to live in inadequate shelters with poor sanitation. The conditions cause increases in instances of diarrhoea, malaria and dengue fever most commonly occurring in children.

Some of the reasons why Plan works in Peru

• A quarter of children under five suffer from stunted growth due to poor nutrition
• A third of children do not attend secondary school
• Nearly 40% of the population do not have access to adequate sanitation facilities
• A third of the rural population do not have access to adequate drinking water