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Pisco Sin Fronteras
Pisco, Peru
Pisco Sin Fronteras (PSF) was formed in August 2008 on the first anniversary of the earthquake that devastated the coastal regions of Peru. The town of Pisco was one of the most affected places in the region with up to 80% of homes destroyed and tens of thousands of people left homeless. Even after almost 5 years many people are still living in makeshift homes following the earthquake and PSF is working to help these people improve their quality of living, either by helping them to improve their current homes, constructing new ones or working to develop the community around Pisco.
Pisco Sin Fronteras - Burners Without Borders (No Subtitles) from Greenheart Creative on Vimeo.
We also work on building community projects such as earthquake resistant sandbag construction for community centres, ecological sustainable compost toilets and playgrounds for children all over Pisco. As well as working on community construction projects we also help develop the community through educational initiatives such as; supporting child care centres and holding free English and IT lessons.
We work on two kinds of projects: with people who have materials for the project, but cannot afford the labour, and projects with people who cannot afford materials or labour (Miracle Projects). Miracle Projects are funded solely by money donated through Omprakash.
Thousands of people in and around Pisco are living on bare earth, in houses made out of plastic and scrap wood, where the only toilet facility is a bucket in the corner of their house. PSF is working with donations to improve this situation for these desperate families.
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Current Projects
The Type of Work We Do
PSF provides skilled and unskilled labour to work on construction projects in and around Pisco.
Over the past 3 years we have completed hundreds of individual construction projects such as; toilet and shower blocks, ecological compost toilets, modular houses made from recycled wood with new concrete floors, to earth-bag community centres.
We run successful sports programs for children, 4 times a week, to promote good social behaviour, encourage teamwork, learn respect for peers, encourage inclusiveness for those children that perhaps were left out and the subject of bullying.
We have built community parks and painted murals. Not just to help add colour, but to promote family values, healthy eating and raise awareness of domestic violence and bullying.
We also work in a child care centre and run free English and computer courses. There is always administration and fundraising work to be done.
Our ongoing Biodiesel production project (using used cooking oil from local restaurants) continues to help run the PSF truck, and we are able to help out local fishermen with environmentally friendly fuel. In the near future we hope to be able to sell our surplus, and start educating the local population on the production process.
We encourage volunteers to come up with ideas and spearhead their own projects to help the community. Examples of these are: building parks, laying concrete floors and educational projects in schools.
Recently completed, and ongoing projects include the ‘French Hospital’ funded by La Goutte d’Eau, a French medical students association, which involved the construction of a new wing to the hospital in Tupac Amaru.
This follows on from the 2010/2011 ‘French School’ project to build a dining room, kitchen and toilet block in the Maria Parado de Bellido school in San Clemente. All that remains is the installation of kitchen equipment before the kids come back after their summer break.
The next Goutte d’Eau funded project is in the development phase, slated for June of 2012.
Every day we have about 10 different projects on our projects board, and volunteers are free to sign up with any project they like. Here are some examples of our ongoing projects:
Our current earth-bag community centre (using a new technique of building with rice bags filled with sand) started towards the end of January 2012 in San Andres, and has been planned and financed through the local community leadership of Carmen Arenas. We again are the ‘final mile’, providing just the labour and technical knowhow of earthbag construction.
If you would like to read more information about PSF's work with earthbags, or watch a documentary about the earthbag centre, please visit our website here: http://www.piscosinfronteras.org/earthbag-construction.html. Also follow the progress on Facebook by 'liking' the new PSF page at www.facebook.com/piscosinfronteras
The modular homes project - Almost every week we are building semi-permanent homes for impoverished families living in and around Pisco. We first pour a concrete floor, and then construct a roofed house, using pre-fabricated panels made using donated wood. This makes a massive difference to the lives and health of local families. Volunteers take on the task of raising money for these on a project by project basis, with donations from friends and family through Omprakash.
Ludoteca - Five days a week we send volunteers to help teach and entertain the 30 or so children aged 2-16 that attend this childcare centre. Children go to the Ludoteca outside school hours to play and learn, arts, sports and geography and English. In 2011, in partnership with Global Grins, a volunteer set up a dental hygiene programme, which was a roaring success.
As we move towards our goal of community empowerment, we are in the process of sourcing local funding with the leader of Ludoteca so it can be handed completely over to the community.
Compost toilets – following a successful pilot build for Delia, who received PSF’s first modular house, the scheme is being expanded in partnership with the Municipality of San Andres to provide more toliets in the Caserio of El Bosque. As we reach the end of May, construction on these contracted toilets is well underway and proving to be a massice success. Big teams of volunteers are heading out daily to simultaneously work on a number of sites. From pouring concrete, brick laying, plumbing and wooden framework, this project has something for everyone.
English classes also take place througout the week, ranging from weekday mornings, evenings and Saturday morning with the Inter-cambio program. Throughout the week classes vary between local schools, child care centres and techncial institutions. On the weekends our Inter-cambio program is open to all ages and abilities. Wealso hope to add reciprocal Spanish classes for volunteers with a local education centre, Senati, where some of these English classes take place.
Partner Needs
We are most in need of experienced and long-term volunteers.
This means anyone with a background in construction (especially earthbag construction and compost toilets), carpentry, brick laying, plumbing, electrics etc. Also fundraising, child care, good Spanish speakers, and people who can commit to work with us for several months.
For more information please visit our vacancies page here: http://www.piscosinfronteras.org/management-staff-vacancies.html
Financial Needs
$6 buys a bag of cement.
$9 buys a spade.
$70 buys a wheelbarrow.
$200 provides a family with a concrete floor.
$315 funds the running of a child care centre for one month.
$800 builds a family a modular home.
In Kind Needs
A projector, Ryobi power tools and batteries, children's books in Spanish and materials such as cement and rebar.
http://www.piscosinfronteras.org/wishlist.html
http://www.piscosinfronteras.org/have-a-laptop.html
http://www.piscosinfronteras.org/tools.html
Mission Statement
Our vision is of a Pisco with adequate housing, sanitation and education for all, in which everyone has the opportunity to shape their own future.
PSF works directly with families and communities in the region of Pisco, improving their lives through construction projects, community initiatives and education. From short term disaster relief to sustainable long term solutions, PSF empowers local people and volunteers from all over the world to build a stronger Pisco.
Pisco Sin Fronteras works to improve the living conditions of families and communities in Pisco by building and improving homes, working with schools, building sanitation units and working in community development. Our aim is for all the projects we undertake to play a part in our ability to bring this vision to fruition.
In 2012 we are substantially increasing our work with the local communities on aiding their initiatives, providing the ‘final mile’ input they need to get from plan to build. In this way communities are rewarded for their own desire to change their circumstances rather than waiting for a hand-out, be it from PSF or the local/national government.
Such completed projects include the Jesus De Nazareth earth-bag Community Centre and bathrooms, initiated and led by community leader Carmen. A new eco-play area on Pisco Playa and stunning Pacific Ocean lookout has just been completed and opened, initiated by the local community and Peruvian NGO Espacio Expresión.