Community Mapping Trip

JANUARY 15 - 18 THIS YEAR, a mission team coming from the town of Marietta - GEORGIA - USA and composed by three people: Dr. Virginia Galvin, Mr. Brian McNair and Mr. forrest Cate, came down to Chimbote to fulfill some activities related to Asset-Based Community Development in this town. It means their purpose was to explore community development partners and identify ways they can connect with us, people of Chimbote. Presently one of their main goals is how they can partner together with people of Chimbote to understand what assets are in place. So, on this context it was necessary for them to participate in meetings with some leaders of local institutions.

It was planned for them to arrive in Chimbote on Thursday January 14th but since their flight to Perú was delayed by mechanical problems the mission team arrived safely in Chimbote from Lima on Friday January 15 around 7:00pm so their work started the next day.

On Saturday January 16th early in the morning. I had the privilege to be with them all the time and to become part of the team while here in Chimbote assinting them, one way or another, in their activities. So, on Saturday morning we met with the leaders of Chimbote Rotary Club and the ones of Chimbote Chamber of Commerce. One word: Water. This will no doubt be a project that will bring groups from a wide spectrum of interest and purposes to gather around water quality and quantity issues. Much love to Mr. Chuck Spivey for his vision and leadership on this initiative.

It was also talked on others topics such as agricultural and fisheries production and its possibilities for future. Green affordable housing was another importat issue. After those meetings with local leaders we the team went to a rural area called Guadalupito located about 30 min away from Chimbote north by car and next to Santa river which is the most important river of Ancash department and caters several provinces of this department including Del Santa province within which Chimbote town is located. In Guadalupito it was taken some soil samples out of its agricultural fields to determine, in laboratories of University of Georgia - USA, what other types of crops may grow here.

On Sunday January 17th we went on a cool trip to a little town called MORO (a district belonging to Del Santa province) located in the mountains about 45 min away from Chimbote south where we visited a couple of vineyards. Here there are some Inca ruins and a nice little downtown square. On the way to Moro we stopped off in a district called NEPEÑA (another district belonging to Del Santa province) to take some soil samples out of its agricultural field as well. I will share with you activities of Monday January 18th in my next post

Click on the image below to see more PICTURES.