Warm clothes delivered to communities struggling with unprecedented winter temperatures!
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Earlier this year, POTH invested in a project to bring potable water into the homes of ten families in the community of Ccahuan. The homes in this region do not have plumbing, and so residents regularly walk an hour each way to get fresh water from a local spring. The goal of this project was to install water systems so that the residents in this community could receive water right in their homes. This system can help alleviate chronic diarrhea and illness due to water borne bacteria and parasites by providing filtered water to residents. It also aims to improve the quality of life with the reduction of time spent obtaining water daily.
This first installation in ten homes in Ccahuan was a pilot project, and we are happy to report that it was successful! In May of this year we received a report from Washi sharing the wonderful news that ten clean water systems had been effectively installed.
Here is a recent note from Washi sharing this update:
Last Wednesday I travel to the community to see how the systems are working an my good news to you is that all of them are working perfect, and the engineer has made some little changes to get the families more of the clean water, they were all so happy. Thank you again for all of your hard work on this to all members. The families are basically crying because this is an amazing project for them to have clean water on their homes, why to wait so long for all our dreams to become true, especially our children, families and everyone in the Andes who really needs us in this important project. You all that we are changing the lifes of many families in the Andes.
Love and gratitude from Peru.
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Thanks to your wonderful support, Path of the Heart brought holiday cheer to over 5,000 children this past holiday season 2021. Washi created an arsenal of 15 volunteers who helped assemble, cook and deliver sweet breads, hot chocolate, small toys and popcorn to the beautiful children and their families in 50 sectors and communities of the Sacred Valley in Cusco. The smiles on their faces say it all!
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The first harvest of our sustainable farming project is in! In accordance with our goal, we completed the process all the way through to the distribution of potatoes to the families who contributed their work.
On our own, at the beginning of April 2020, we cleaned and removed stones, bushes of thorns, and other naturally occurring impediments. We removed farmland with local tools that Alicia Kozuch collaborated with purchasing. According to our plan, native families helped us with the planting and harvesting process.
Seeds that Marci Silbert and her kind organization, the Shapiro Foundation, provided to us were transported from the city of Cusco to the fields by truck. We also transported various animal manures on this big truck.
The total number of families who participated in the process was 35. Upon harvest, each family received 3 sacks of potatoes, of about 60 kg each.
The remainder of the potatoes that will be harvested in approximately two to three weeks will be sold on the open market and the profits will be used to purchase new seeds for the next crops.
We received appreciation from every family that we have impacted in this great project and I am extending that appreciation to you all for your support and for helping us to help others with these important funds in these difficult times. We wish you are all safe and happy. Please enjoy the photos of our results!
Ollantaytambo, Peru - January 16, 2021.
Washington Gibaja Tapia
Peru - Path of The Heart Board Member.
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Peru currently suffers the first highest per capita rate of death by COVID-19 in the world. The recent extension of the government-mandated quarantine means that the people in these communities will not be able to work to earn money to support their families until after the quarantine is over. In addition, tourism, which supports most working families, will probably not return to this area until sometime in 2021.
The communities close to Ollantaytambo have been severely impacted. The families in these communities have no access to cash to buy food. They have not received government or any other assistance. Food is scarce. In order to help combat hunger, a sustainable farming project has been started by Washington Gibaja on his family land. Over a one month period, local laborers have cleared 6 acres of the land, and made it tillable for crops. Approximately 40 families have donated their time to plant seed potatoes on the land, and then will return three times: twice to cultivate the dirt around the plantings, and one more time to harvest the crops. In return for their work, each family will receive two 100 pound sacks of potatoes. The two sacks will provide food for each family for approximately 6 months. The remainder of the potatoes will be sold on the open market, and the profits will be used to purchase new seeds for the next crops. Secondary crops will be fava beans, quinoa, kiwicha, corn, and other super foods. Again, families will donate their time to plant, to cultivate and to harvest the crops. Families will be compensated with food from the harvested crops. Excess crops will be sold on the open market, once again utilizing the profits for more seeds and supplies for the next crops. Path of the Heart has helped this sustainable project with a one-time financial investment, which will feed many families for years to come.
Path of the Heart would like to thank the Shapiro Foundation for a grant which has helped make this project possible. Their funding has provided for 2 weeks of professional laborers to help prepare the land for farming, and the purchase of the initial seed potatoes and manure for the intial crop planting.
Removing the rocks
Tilling the soil
Enriching the soil with manure
Planting potatoes
Planting potatoes
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