As you all know, a powerful earthquake of magnitude 8.0 shook southern Peru on 15 August 2007, causing loss of life, structural damage, and the urgent need for humanitarian intervention (see USGS website). I wrote to ECYI Members in Peru and heard from Carlos Ponce de Leon, the Coordinator of our ECYG, Asociacion Peruana de Escultismo, and Mabel Toribio, Director of Peace Child International Peru, to learn more about the situtation and how others might help.

Carlos sent me the pictures you see here and wrote to me about mobilizing his youth group to take action. Read his inspirational letter in Spanish or English.

Mabel described a particular project, coordinated by Un Techo Para Mi Pais Peru, which is building small wooden houses (18 m2)for those families who lost their homes during the earthquake. For each home they require 800 USD and volunteer construction help. The first group of 300 volunteers is already building the first 100 houses. Mabel hopes to join the next group of volunteers, pending adequate project funding. Should you wish to make a donation, it can be sent via Western Union to "Un Techo Para Mi Pais En Peru" or via their website, above.