ALTO CAYMA (AREQUIPA)

Alto Cayma is a mountainous region in the outskirts of Arequipa, at an altitude of more than 7,600 feet above sea level, about 10 miles from the city center.

Alto Cayma is home to about 32,000 people, mainly Quechua migrants from various Andes Mountain villages who moved down from their remote villages to try to make a better life for them and their children.

These migrants live in 27 different "settlements" and lack many basic necessities like water, electricity, sewer and plumbing, education, health services, paved roads, transportation, schools, and jobs.

IN ALTO CAYMA'S VILLAGES, THERE IS A LACK OF PAVED ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION. THESE 'SETTLEMENTS" DO NOT EVEN APPEAR IN THE COUNTRY'S POPULATION CENSUS.

ENTIRE BLOCKS OF HOMES ARE BUILT, IN MOST CASES, WITH DISCARDED MATERIALS AND TRASH.

QUECHUA MIGRANTS LIVING IN THESE 1-ROOM HOMES MUST ENDURE SEVERE CLIMATE CONDITIONS WITHOUT RUNNING WATER, PLUMBING OR ELECTRICITY.

MOST OF THESE HOMES HAVE MUD FLOORS AND LACK INSULATION.

THE SITUATION OF CHILDREN LIVING IN EXTREME POVERTY IS STARTLING, WITH RATES REACHING 27% FOR CHILDREN AGES 0 TO 5 YEARS AND 24% OF CHILDREN AGES 6 AND 11 YEARS.

(UNICEF: SITUATION OF CHILDREN IN PERU/EXECUTIVE SUMMARY), 2009.

MOST OF THE FAMILIES WHO LIVE IN ALTO CAYMA LIVE IN EXTREME POVERTY -DEFINED AS THOSE LIVING ON LESS THAN 183 SOLES ($56) PER MONTH.

THERE IS AN EXTREME SHORTAGE OF CLEAN WATER IN ALTO CAYMA. THE COST OF POTABLE WATER IS AS MUCH AS $3 PER CUBIC METER (APPROXIMATELY 260 GALLONS).

IN THIS REGION, WHERE MOST PEOPLE LIVE IN EXTREME POVERTY, THE COST OF WATER HAS SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS. FAMILIES ARE FORCED TO MAKE DIFFICULT TRADE-OFFS BETWEEN CLEAN WATER, FOOD, SCHOOL, OR MEDICINES.