CUSCO, PERU

The project aims to use solar systems to make electricity accessible to 8 families, allowing the use of electric lights in their homes and the development of small productive activities based on the transformation of alpaca wool.

BENEFICIARIES

Two families selected for the project live in the community of Chillca and are dedicated to alpaca breeding. Due to the lack of electricity in their homes both families could not apply energy to their production activity in order to get a higher income.

Project details

Results

The beneficiary families now are using energy at home and light their places at nights. This allows a family to save around USD 2 – 3 per month. Besides, they do not use polluting energy source any more.

The energy is used to activate the spinning wheels, which allow them to save time and to improve substantially the production of yarn, which also improves the clothing and let the producer sell part of his/her production transformed into craft thread.

This project will also benefit children who can use energy for studying at home when they are back to school in March.

It is worth mentioning that the local authorities have expressed their interest in investing their own resources for similar projects in the future after assessing the outcome and results from this project.

CROCHETING WITH ALPACA WOOL

See a video of a local alpaca farmer in Peru crotchet with wool from her alpaca herd

About CHILLCA COMMUNITY

Approximately 12 families live in the sector of Uyuni, which belongs to the community of Chillca, district of Pitumarca, province of Canchis, at approx. 58 km from the capital of the district. The road is semi-paved and it has a good accessibility.

The main economic activity of most Chillca inhabitants is the breeding alpacas. However, the families have no electricity at home, and they do not know the application of energy to their productive activity. Therefore, the breeders have no possibility to add value to their product – alpaca fibre, and have to sell it raw, obtaining as a result a very low income (the cost of the fiber is around USD 2.5 – 3.5/pound).

ABOUT PRACTICAL ACTION