We're DESEA Peru, and this is our story.
We're a non-profit organization based in the city of Lamay, serving isolated communities in Peru's Sacred Valley.
Sandy Hart and Sandra McGirr turned a year-long visit in 2008 to volunteer in water and health programs in the Sacred Valley, into what is now DESEA Peru and a long-term commitment to assist with the health of remote Andean communities. Combining their skills in hydrology, healthcare, and project development Sandy and Sandra established DESEA Peru with Edy Gonzales Torres (Peru), Eroca Hunter (Canada), and Carlos Martinez and Ester Lopez (Spain). In 2007, Eroca had organized the delivery of a biosand filter course by the Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology (CAWST) in the Sacred Valley where she met course participant Edy Gonzales. Following this course, Edy began constructing and installing water filters in a nearby community with the help of the community’s leader Gregorio Mendoza Flores, who had also participated in the CAWST course.
During the first year of operation, Sandy, Edy, and Gregorio’s focus was on the construction and installation of CAWST-style concrete biosand filters in homes and schools. At the same time, Sandra was offering bi-weekly health clinics in local communities while volunteering with Kausay Wasi Clinic in nearby Qoya. Although the water filters were providing potable water and the health clinics were providing care for many residents, the under-five child mortality rate remained high. In the first year, three under-five children died from preventable illnesses in the three project communities. It was apparent that, in order to improve health outcomes, there was a need for a trained individual to be present in each community in order to monitor health conditions and to provide basic health services.
In 2009, DESEA Peru expanded its model to include a training program for local women to become, what we would come to call “qhalis” (community health workers). Although this is a well-established approach, the challenge we faced was that almost all local women only spoke Quechua and were unable to read or write. With almost all community health worker programs worldwide requiring some literacy, there were few resources available for illiterate learners. As a solution, Sandra created a series of training modules to enable a trainer to teach local women as health workers, irrespective of their literacy. The training is based on oral and visual communication, with theatre, art, and hands-on practice in the company of nurse trainers. Record-keeping methods rely on pictographic charts and vital signs are monitored using simple digital equipment.
In 2010, after two years transporting unwieldy, 95-kg concrete filters to isolated Andean homes above 4,000 m in elevation, Sandy developed a lighter-weight version of the biosand filter using 315-mm diameter PVC pipe. This filter body weighed only 10 kg, making it much easier to transport to distant mountain communities.
In 2014, Judy Chávez Ipenza, a Peruvian lawyer, joined our team and assumed the role of administrator. In addition to her legal expertise, Judy has years of teaching and administrative experience and is currently working towards a Master’s degree in Social Program Management with an interest in women’s and indigenous rights. Her passion for the project and the people, along with the fresh ideas that she brought to DESEA, made her a natural candidate for the Project Coordinator role. In 2016, Judy’s husband and engineer, David Villagarcia Ramirez joined our team as well and assumed the role of Water Project Coordinator. David’s principal degree is in electrical engineering, and since joining DESEA, he’s received additional training in water management and is currently working towards an industrial engineering degree. Judy and David took on the principal management of DESEA Peru in 2017, while Sandra stayed on as President and Community Health Coordinator, and Sandy as a Director.
This Is Our Constitution
Our constitution is made up of our mission, our vision, and our guiding values. Together, they make us who we are and help govern our everyday actions and behaviors, making sure we stay focused on our goal of supporting isolated indigenous communities in the Peruvian Andes.
Our Mission
Partnering with vulnerable Andean communities to achieve well-being through water, health, education and economic opportunities.
Our Vision
To be a model for the development of healthy, sustainable communities using a participatory approach.
Respect
Valuing and acceptance of individuals and cultures.
Integrity
Maintaining honest and ethical practices in all aspects of our work.
Innovation
Looking for new solutions to long-standing problems.
Cooperation
Working together democratically for a common goal.
Humanism
Serving others for a more humane society in which all human beings have the right to give meaning and direction to their own lives.
Environmentalism
Respecting and honoring mother earth in the work we do for future generations.
Professional Excellence
We’re committed to ongoing education and professional training, ensuring that the communities in which we are working receive the highest level of service.
Fellowship
We work alongside communities for their right to water, health, education, and economic opportunities.
Adaptability
An ability to be flexible in all aspects of our work.
Equity
Practicing fairness and impartiality in all our interactions.
The DESEA Peru Timeline
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