The current housing situation in Peru is worrisome. Thousands of families are exposed to accidents, evictions, and health problems, since their homes are built in high-risk areas and are made of unstable materials, like woven bamboo, mud bricks, palm tree logs, and cardboard.
Upon seeing and analyzing the needs of the residents of Las Brisas de Puente Piedra Squatter Settlement in the greater Lima metropolitan area, we sought out a practical way to help the families located in this neighborhood of extreme poverty. We decided to focus on a project carried out by Milagros Llanos, the licensed graphic designer in charge of our marketing and advertising department.
This socially-oriented project is called “Throw Away or Build: You Decide.” Its objective is the construction of housing using recyclable glass bottles, and it seeks to awaken the environmental consciousness of the residents of the squatter settlement through recycling, although the most important aim is to raise social consciousness. This fusion of both goals will permit more families to be able to count on the support of both their fellow Peruvians and foreign tourists and, in this way, improve housing conditions.
As a business in the tourism sector, we are very interested for tourists who visit our country to become part of this project in two ways:
- Easy and Service-oriented: For those who do not have much time, you can bring donations of cash, clothing, toys, groceries, and more to give directly to the residents of Las Brisas de Puente Piedra Squatter Settlement.
- Practical and Cooperative: For those who have more time in our country, you can participate in bottle recycling drives, home construction and decoration, etc.
We invite everyone interested in being a part of this new experience to come and contribute their “drop in the bucket” toward making the dream of thousands of Peruvians who live in extreme poverty come true.
“It is more beautiful and more gratifying to give than to receive. We must learn to share and give the best of ourselves to help those who are in need. This makes the best inside of us shine. LOVE AND SOLIDARITY.”
For more information, please write us at reservas@viajescolon.com.pe