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Plan Peru

Cusco

Update on... Santo Tomas 1

This is an update about life in the area of Santo Tomas 1, as seen through the eyes of the children and families who live there. Santo Tomas 1 is made up of various communities and the situation and the activites described are representative of the area as a whole.

Strengthening capacities of local management for development

One way to strengthen community capacities was to expand on community development plans, and this was used as a foundation and tool to elaborate on the district development plan. Now peasant families participate in public space for decision-making. Until two years ago, this was reserved for people with political and economic power.

In Santo Tomas 1, eight community development plans were designed by families. These plans will allow the families to negotiate and manage their projects with the municipalities, whose duty it is to listen to their proposals of projects that will benefit every one, not only the settlers of the urban areas.

Families marching to demand respect for their rights

"We`d never participated in meetings with the authorities before; we were always scared that they`d laugh at us, because most of us do`nt know how toread or write. But one day , our friends from Plan came and motivated us.They told us that we have rights and that weare equal to the people in the city. We have values and strengths, and we must make others listen to our ideas"(Alberto Ccoscco, 45 years old, community leader)

As mentioned, just two years ago rural communities had no part in deciding allocation and management of their economic resources. But now, thanks to the initiative of social organisation, famers can participate in public space with proposals designed in their own communities.

One of the most important achievements of this project was the strengthening of capacities of the families, including the men, women, boys and girls who participated in the design of the development plans. They all expressed their opinions and were listened to.Even teenagers and young people presented their projects to local government authorities, who unfortunately, are still resistant and sceptical of the value of development plans designed by the families in their own communities.