PROJECT-SUPPORT PERU

Caramba Association, Küssnacht a.R., Switzerland

Country / Place

Peru, Alto Trujillo

Peru is a country in western South America, bordering Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the southeast, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Peru has three biomes, each with their climatic characteristics: Coast - about 12% of the national territory, the Andes - about 28%, and rainforest and cloud forest - about 60%. The capital Lima is located in the southern area on the coast.

General

The Caramba Association produces high-quality products in Alto Trujillo, a town in Peru's coastal region and one of the poorest areas of the country. The handmade articles are developed and sold in Switzerland. Caramba's highest value is social and ecological sustainability. Their aim is to enable their employees, the mamitas, to find a way out of poverty and into self-sufficiency and independence through their work.

Beneficiaries

At Caramba, the mamitas receive much more than a fair wage for their work, thereby securing an income. For these women, Caramba also means taking on responsibility and gaining self-confidence. Often single parents and affected by a difficult fate, they manage to provide their children with a school education thanks to their work - this fills them with pride and courage.

Project-support

School and the Covid-19 pandemic

Many children were enrolled in public schools in the 2020/21 school year and were taught remotely due to the closed schools. But for the poorest especially, this was a very difficult situation. Often the parents are illiterate and, have not completed primary school, so they cannot help their children with their schoolwork.  

Caramba initiated a tutoring programme for pre-school and primary school students in September 2021. Two teachers and an assistant visited the neighbourhood 1A twice a week and tutored 60 primary school children in the most important subjects. The project was a great success, and the children showed up on time and participated diligently in the lessons. The positive impact on the children and the gratitude of their families motivated Caramba to expand this wonderful project.

The tutoring service takes place in alternative educational spaces. Caramba promotes the processes of knowledge acquisition and supports the children with their homework and questions. Various actions between the children lead to form friendships, which promotes creativity and attention of each of them.