REBUILDING IN NIVIN, ANCASH, PERU: LOCAL ACTION

SUPPORTED BY INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY

by Culture and Community in Casma, Peru

REBUILDING IN NIVIN, ANCASH, PERU:

LOCAL ACTION SUPPORTED BY

INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY

by Culture and Community in Casma,

Peru

The initial impacts of the March 2017 el Niño flooding that devastated this small village on the north coast Peru is documented in a separate slideshare presentation.

When we returned to Nivín this past month to assist in cultural heritage development projects and flood relief, two things were very apparent. First, the impacts of the flooding were much more severe than we could envision from afar in the United States. Second, the local residents of Nivín have taken the lead in their recovery in a way that can serve as an example to all faced with adversity.

Here is a part of that story.

In our 2015 visit to Nivín at the invitation of Professor Gustavo Valencia Tello we quickly came to appreciate the uniqueness ofthe Nº 88104 María Parado de Bellido School and Museum. Applied topics such as cultural heritage development and sustainable agriculture were an integral part of the curriculum. We are unaware of any other public educational institution,anywhere, that integrates cultural heritage preservation and presentation as a part of the curriculum of all students.

Our past newsletters featured resources that report the co-creative projects launched over the past two years in Nivín through the collaboration led by Gustavo Valencia, Elizabeth Cruzado Carranza, and Robert Connolly. The resources include photographic reports of the work , report on International Archaeology Day celebration in Nivín, and an Annual Report for the 2016 co-creative projects.

When we returned to Nivín in late May, the flood devastation was apparent but the recovery efforts were even more impressive.As a rural community, 20 km from the nearest paved road, the residents could not afford to wait for assistance to come to them. In fact, Professor Valencia reports that the aggressive local recovery response convinced the regional municipality to offer assistance. Above Professor shows the floodline on the school building that students helped dig out. Click here to see photos of the community recovery effort.

Nearly one meter of flood deposits were removed from the sports area as well. By the time this project was tackled the local government and non-profit organizations and individuals from nearby Casma and as far away as Lima helped to provide heavy equipment and other resources to aid in the task.

Many of the agricultural fields (left) and features such as the compost area (above) that we photographed in 2015 were simply gone as a result of the flooding. Other total losses include a pond for growing alfalfa and the newly built pens for raising cuy (guinea pigs) and two classrooms.

The grove of mango trees that were so impressive to see in 2015 during our first visit were also severely impacted by the floods . . .

The mango trees survived the flood despite being buried in nearly one meter of silt and sand. As shown on the left the tree trunks now have been excavated to the original ground level to promote growth. Professor Valencia is optimistic that the trees will survive and bear fruit next season.

In making the best of the situation, flood soils removed from the sports and school area were used to extend the agricultural fields to expand and replace the lost crops.

Consistent with a curriculum that prepares students for life in the Nivín area, the margin of the expanded agricultural fields i bordered with plants that are tended by individual students.

Vegetable gardens immediately adjacent to the school buildings were maintained by the younger students in the school . . .

. . . And were completely destroyed by the floods. Recovery work on this project will be a special collaboration between the students and volunteers from Fundación Telefónica. Click here to learn more about the exemplary work of these committed volunteers currently working in Nivín.

The concrete irrigation canal for Nivín is destroyed. Although residents attempted to dig out the canal once, the sand and silt quickly collapsed back in. A temporary fix is the installation of a large diameter hose in the canal. Fundación Telefónica volunteers are assisting with this project as well. Click here for photos of their work.

El Niño conditiions are possible again beginning in October. Local residents are already preparing for the potential flooding that might result.

The residents of Nivín are resilient and committed to their community. We are honored to work with them on a range of cultural heritage and other development issues.

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For more information or if you would like to work with us on one of our projects either remotely or real time in Peru contact us at: cccasmaperu@gmail.com