The Center for Latin American Studies is an interdisciplinary organization through which faculty and students from the University of Miami can meet and discuss issues relevant to Latin America and the Caribbean. CLAS aims to foster research collaboration across diverse departments and schools at the University of Miami, and to build bridges from the University to the region.

UM Peru Earthquake Initiative

Over the past two years, the University of Miami has built a close relationship with several communities in Ica, Peru. Tragically, these very same communities that have been struggling since 1998 to rebuild from a series of disastrous mudslides were once again devastated by the August 15th, 2007 7.9 earthquake that struck off the coast of the country. 

In response to the earthquake, four UM students traveled to Peru with two professors from the International Studies Department who have been working in the area. The weeklong trip assessed the damage caused in the areas surrounding Los Molinos, Ica, Peru, and found out from the residents themselves what is needed. The purpose was to build on the University’s previous projects that involved promoting economic development and specifically working with the only school in the town of Casablanca. Now we can identify the real needs of these earthquake-stricken communities and help find available resources for reconstruction and development. Additionally, we propose to be the voice of the people and project their own words to the rest of the world, describing their most important needs in their communities.

The team first devised a multi-faceted survey that looked at the diverse elements of the lives of the residents of Casablanca. It included questions on housing, education levels, water source and usage, sanitation, health and health access, employment, and an animal and land inventory. These areas were assessed both before and after the earthquake in order to fully understand the impact of the disaster as well as to identify long-term problems. 

Fifty-three of approximately sixty households in the area of Casablanca were surveyed, by the UM students and faculty along with three Peruvian counterparts: the primary school teacher of Casablanca, a community worker, and the University of Miami Peruvian Project Manager, Roberto Navarro.

The assessment work done in Peru was financed with funding and assistance from the Rasmussen Foundation and the University of Miami Disaster Research through the Global Public Health Program.

In order to help the towns of Los Molinos, Casablanca, and El Olivo, in the region of Ica recover from the earthquake and initiate long-term development, the Center for Latin American Studies has created a gift account through the university in order to raise funds to help these small communities. All money donated will go towards specific projects in the communities of Ica, Peru, and they will not be used for overhead or personnel costs.

The following projects have been identified by the UM team, with direct input from the residents themselves, as most crucial.  These include: 

Health Post – residents in Casablanca live approximately 12 kilometers from the nearest health post, and 31 kilometers from the nearest hospital. Sixty-two percent of the residents have no access to health services. One of the most requested services is for a health post to be located close enough to serve the people of Casablanca and surrounding areas.

An Afro-Peruvian dance and cultural exchange group—This group yields from the local communities made up of girls and boys has been promoting community involvement and speaking out against discrimination. The girls and boys aged 11-16 practice every day in an effort to promote mental health and to provide a distraction to the destruction and difficult circumstances in which they find themselves. The University of Miami, in cooperation with a local African-Peruvian Nongovernmental organization, initiated this project in July 2007 and provided the material for the dancing outfits and drums. Today the group hopes to secure funds in order to facilitate travel to other towns and regions to promote traditional Afro-Peruvian culture and to educate on the issue of discrimination.

We are now accepting donations for University of Miami projects in Peru. Please send a check or money order made out to “Peru Earthquake Initiative.” You may also contact CLAS for questions concerning donations and ticket purchase.