|
The distribution of school equipment
at the beginning of 2010 was initially slow and problematic due to
lack of funds. As many people know Machu Picchu was closed from
late January until the end of March because of damage to the
railway caused by landslides and flooding. Peru Treks had to
cancel many Inca Trail bookings and although our booking terms and
conditions stated that we didn't have to refund any of the trek
deposits we decided to keep everyone happy and offer a partial
refund of money. We also made a decision to operate an alternative
4 day Lares trek just to keep all of our porters working
throughout this difficult period. Due to small group sizes this
trek was expensive to operate and Peru Treks lost money during the
first quarter of the year but we did ensure that our porters (of
which we have more than 200!) were kept in full time work. Things
returned almost to normal in April (apart from a few problems
caused by the volcanic ash cloud!) and we were able to start our
school equipment distributions in May (see below). Telefonica (the
international communications company) also decided to carry out
school equipment distribution in the same area at the same time so
in order to avoid duplication we cancelled some of our planned
distributions. We decided to increase the number of computer
donations later in the year and finished the year by donating a total of
20 computers.
| Where are the
photos? In previous years we received some criticism from other
tour operators in Peru that we were showing photos of our website of
poor kids from the mountain villages in a bid to win sympathy. Many
companies said that we only received clients because of this. In
order to silence our critics in 2010 we decided not to publish the
photos of the distributions. In hindsight we probably made the wrong
decision. Although the number of clients in 2010 and 2011 have
continued to grow we noted that some of our competitors posted
reports on various discussion boards stating that we were no longer
actually undertaking any further donations and were just claiming to
do so. Obviously we can't please everyone!! Following discussions
with our clients nearly all of them confirmed that they wanted to
see photos of the distributions including approximate costs of the
donations because it helped them to appreciate how Peru Treks was
contributing to social projects. In 2011 we have returned to
publishing all of our photos again. |
23 December 2010 Distribution of Christmas
presents & newborn baby clothes to 170 children staying in the
Children's wards of Hospital Antonio Lorena & Regional
Hospital in Cusco.
05 November 2010 Tiracanchi
Promotional Tour. A 4-day holiday
for 23 children, 2 teachers & 2 parents from the community of
Tiracanchi. The tour includes a Cusco city tour & tour to Puno and
islands in Lake Titicaca. The majority of these children have
never left their village before, never been on a bus or a boat and
never eaten ice-cream!!
19 October 2010 Pinchimuro
donation of 5 new computers
19 October 2010
Ccarhuayo
donation of 5 new computers
19 October 2010 Ocongate
donation of 5 new computers
24 August 2010 Tiracanchi Baja
(College) donation of 5 new computers
27 May 2010 Pacchanta donation of school equipment 136 children
27 May 2010 Pukarumi donation of school equipment 139 children
27 May 2010 Pinchimuro school & college School equipment 255
children
20 May 2010 Andamayo, donation of school equipment 76 children
20 May 2010 Checaspampa, donation of school equipment 42 children
20 May 2010 Yanama School (School), donation of school equipment
141 children
20 May 2010 Yanama School (College), donation of school equipment
59 children
12 May 2010 Pampacancha School
equipment for 77 children
12 May 2010 Chaupimayo 59 children
12 May 2010 Upis 170 children
Total cost of school equipment
donation 2010 approx US$5339
1154 children x US$3.5 = US$4039
10 schools x US$50 = US$500
Transport and distribution costs 4
visits x US$200 = US$800
Total cost of computer donations
2010 approx US$12800
20 computers x US$600 = US$12000
Transport and distribution costs 4
visits x US$200 = US$800
|
