Introduction
I mentioned at the start that
"What I found filled me with a mixture of happiness and of great sorrow ", and
"On the down side, there still remained an under-current of social segregation and sometimes open racism against the disadvantaged".
If you have read "What did I like?" and "What didn't I like?", I hope you will be able to appreciate why I said the above.
I have found it difficult to relate the "negatives". Suprisingly, I feel that part of me is Peruvian, and one shouldn't criticise one's own country. However, if one feels that improvements should be made, then I believe that all "constructive critiscims" are not only valid, but should be made!
One must also remember that my experiences are just a "snap shot" over three months. Thus my views should not be interpreted as fact! They are my personal views. Nevertheless, where possible, I have backed up my views/findings with references to internationally recognised web sites; such as the World Bank.
I believe that my father, an Englishman who lived in Lima for most of his life, would have never spoken to me again had he been alive today and read my comments. On one of his visits to London during the the so called "cold war" with the USSR he told me that "we" (the West) should invade Moscow and install democracy; the Russian people would be very grateful to "us". Uhm, can't say I shared that view!
I see parallels with resolving some of the problems in Peru today. Non-Peruvians cannot install change; it is for the Peruvians to do this themselves. (I would also add that they are doing so!)
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Introduction (contd)
However, what the International Community can do is "grease the wheels" by providing conditional advice/direction and support.
This is exactly what the USA, the UK's Department for International Development, the IMF and the World Bank are doing, with some degree of success.
Nevertheless, I am left very perplexed as to why there hasn't been much more effort made by governments towards social integration.
I believe that this starts with the education of the disadvantaged.
Education
I mentioned earlier that I was suprised to find that many of "the disadvantaged" sent their children to private primary/secondary schools.
Well, I am not the only one to be suprised.
Whilst doing some research I came across this article "Government Failure in Peru", dated August 20, 2007 by Ian Vásquez, director of the Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity at the Cato Institute. (see link, below).
"Somewhat surprised, I then asked if many other parents there send their children to private schools.
She estimated that at least half do so.
As it turns out, Peru's shanty towns are full of such private, for-profit schools. .. at a cost of about $12 per month"
I hope that everyone will agree that the education of its citizens is important for the future of any country.
However, I would suggest that it is not just "important", it is also the social duty of all democracies.
Peru spends only 2.5% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on state education. (see "Links" on left).
Given the healthy economy and the need, this is appalling.
This compares with: Sweden: 7.1% (2005) UK: 5.6% (2005) USA:5.3% (2005) Canada: 5.2% (2002) Spain: 4.2% (2005).
Government Failure in Peru
Education (contd)
I also said that the reason for my fact finding trip to Peru "was to see if there was anything that I could do to make a difference. I was not optimistic of finding something that would make a real difference, and less so in finding something that would have a serious impact on a significant number of the population ".
There are times when one stumbles on certain opportunities that one just feels are right.
My venture into the Internet was an example. I had the first fully searchable web site of Holiday Rentals on the Net; there are now many. I was laughed at in 1996 when I suggested at a presentation to European Travel Insurance companies in Amsterdam that "the Internet was coming". (I can underdstand their retiscence - it was painfully slow!)
I feel the same now about a network of Community Learning/Cultural Centres for the disadvantaged in Peru.
I would have expected to have been laughed at had I suggested this some 40 years ago, or even 5 years ago; there were much more pressing priorities.
Today it's a different story. Peru has a healthy economy and "the people" are ready for it. In fact they want to be well educated; it is just not happening for the many disadvantaged.
It is widely recognised that education is not only academic but also involves the personal development of the individual.
I believe that the Personal development of the disadvantaged is even more important in Peru as state education is so poor.
The Headmistress of a state primary school told me: "We are barely able to provide academic courses. We certainly do not have the resources to provide the much needed Personal Development for our students. ". (Albeit that they are part of the National Curriculum).
My Idea
So, how did I arrive at the idea of a Community Learning/Cultural Centre?
Well, firstly I think you have to understand my reactions to "What I didn't like".
I was seriously suprised by the the segregation that existed.
Furthermore, as I have already recounted, I personally saw "whites" being racist against the indigenous race.
I found this completely un-acceptable.
How to change it? Well it is changing - slowly . I would suggest that in the last 40 years the percentage of people in "midlle income classes" have grown significantly and the Peruvian "Gringos" like me (White and blonde haired) have significantly reduced in numbers. This is certainly very good. However, there hasn't been much change "down at the bottom".
I try to imagine my life had I been born in one of these Shanty Towns. Would I have had the same opportunities?
Obviously not! So, what is it that makes the difference?
Well, it has to be education. (The same in any country).
I also believe that the speed of change will accelerate. It is inevitable given the "Flat World" we have today. Countries who wish to grow are very much inter-dependant.
The Provinces and Lima: different, but in my view, no different to my experiences in other countries I have visited.
The people in the Provinces are usually much more welcoming - as they are in the Province of Peru.
In Lima, and I would suspect other big cities of Peru, the situation is very different.
The New Towns around Lima are exactly that, "New Towns". Despite being Districts of Lima, they are separate. They have their own society and customs. One does not see many people from these New Towns in Miraflores at the week-end!
I got the distinct impression that the wealthier parts of Lima were almost "captive" to the new towns.
There are deep rooted "general" views held by both "sides" which leads to misinterpretation and eventually distrust of each other.
For example: My maid steals - so all indigenous maids steal!
This is certainly not a healthy situation.
My Idea (contd)
What are the key USPs (as they say)?
Low cost Central centre rather than sep teaching in schools - similar to kids going to a swimming bath)
My approach to problem solving is to "come up with the idea" and then look for information to support it.
This is a v ambitious project. It really should be something that the Peruvian Dept for Education should be responsible for .
However, as has been seen - despite the Performing Arts being part of the NC, the resources (teachers & stage/auditoriums) are not there.
What is my strategy?
Links
The USA have recently agreed a Free Trade agreement with Peru as have the European Community and, un-surprisingly, China.
UK's Department for International Development
the IMF / World Bank / USAID http://www.usaid.gov/pe/
http://www.peru.gob.pe/
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pe.html
GDP etc
Projects
Economic
31 January, 2010
"Private Investment in Peru to Total $45 Billion between 2009 and 2011"
http://www.livinginperu.com/news-11336-economy-private-investment-peru-total-45-billion-between-2009-2011
Exports
3FEB2010 "Exports from Peru in 2010: It's more than fishmeal and silver"
http://www.livinginperu.com/business-1174-import-export-exports-from-peru-2010-its-more-than-fishmeal-silver
AID
EU donates 60.8 million euros to fight chronic child malnutrition in Peru
http://www.livinginperu.com/news-11421-world-eu-donates-60-8-million-euros-fight-chronic-child-malnutrition-peru
The following are some direct quotes by internationally recognized institutions:
IMF etc, World Bank, UK
Inter-American Development Bank and Perus Operational Strategy (2007-2011)
http://www.iadb.org/countries/strategy.cfm?id_country=PE&lang=en
Leisure
Lima's first public water sports academy http://www.livinginperu.com/blogs/features/1167
Economy
11 February, 2010 Peru becomes third biggest receptor of mining exploration investments
http://www.livinginperu.com/news/11432
BLOGS
KnK Explore http://www.unpavedsouthamerica.com/
The USA lady in Lima
x
Environment
Peruvian Times:
February 17, 2010 Study: Peru Amazon entering into second energy boom
http://www.peruviantimes.com/study-peru-amazon-entering-into-second-energy-boom/174971?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PeruvianTimes+%28Peruvian+Times%29
9 November 2009
A second hydrocarbon boom threatens the Peruvian Amazon: trends, projections, and policy implications
"We show that an unprecedented 48.6% of the Peruvian Amazon has been recently covered by oil and gas concessions, up from just 7.1% in 2003."
http://www.iop.org/EJ/article/1748-9326/5/1/014012/erl10_1_014012.html
http://www.panda.org/wwf_news/news/?uNewsID=187841
Peru backs massive Amazon protected area. USD 280,000 for surveillance activities .
Please use the "Contact Form" on the right to contact me.
Especially if you are interested in supporting this project; to build the first of eleven State of the Art Community Learning/Cultural Centres across Peru specifically for the disadvantaged.
The first is to be located in a disadvantaged district of Lima - Villa María de Triunfo.
Help us to achieve social change
through the
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Conclusions
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