Purpose
In 2003, the Flemish Interuniversitary Council placed a budget at the disposal of university and college students in order to help them to do a work placement in the field of development cooperation. In 2007, the complete Domus Mundi team and some students participated in a project in the South: the organization of an ecological ‘building camp’ in Peru. The construction was prepared by two final-year architecture students, who made their master’s theses about it. One year later, nine Flemish volunteers went to Tamburco, Peru, to help with the construction of a little school, by order of the Peruvian NGO Tarpurisunchis and with the support of Katrien and Barbara.
Education in Peru: grinding poverty
When it comes to education, Peru is one of South America’s most poorly performing countries. In Peru, Apurimac is the region with the lowest education level: especially in the rural areas, there is a lack of resources. The school of Tamburco is a clear example of this problematic situation: the school rents a building that in fact is too small for the 77 pupils (only pre-schoolers and the first two forms of the primary school). Therefore, the aim is twofold: the new building should be (1) the property of the school, so that its subsistence does not depend on extra help, and (2) large enough to offer kindergarten, primary and secondary education.
The mission of Domus Mundi
The new building should serve as an example to the region. The plan therefore should take into account a lot of different aspects:
1. The educational aspect: the building should improve the quality of education
2. Organisatorisch: the building should promote creativity by means of lots of free space and light
3. The social aspect: the building should be a meeting place for children from lots of different social classes
4. The ecological aspect: the building should fit into the Andean tradition of respect for the environment
The social-profit organization Domus Mundi was asked for advice to make the project as sustainable as possible. Domus Mundi also offered support during the construction of the school. Therefore, Domus Mundi gathered 11 volunteers who participated during three weeks in the construction of the adobe school. The volunteers stayed in the house of a local farmer, where they were immersed in the Peruvian country life.
Tarpurisunchis
Tarpurisunchis is a Peruvian social-profit organization that wants to improve education in Apurimac, one of the poorest regions of Peru. They work in two fields: the school (an innovative, alternative example for the region) and an extensive regional educational reform programme. This programme consists, among other things, of the adaptation of the curricula, the training of the teachers, the promotion of the participation of the pupils and of the use of Quechua, the local language, the renovation of libraries, and the development of a communication project about social themes.
