Peru
With two decades of human rights violations and political violence still fresh on the minds of many Peruvians, the new millennium marked a transition from authoritarianism to democracy and ushered in a period of sustained economic growth in Peru.
Despite the economic boom of the past seven years, 40 percent of Peru's population is still classified as poor, with half of these people being classified as extremely poor. Economic growth has perpetuated income concentration, exacerbating the social conflict between those who reap economic gains and those who are excluded from government at the local, provincial, regional or national level. Controversies surrounding mining and labor strife are widespread.
Since 1954, Catholic Relief Services has worked with local secular and Church partners to address these issues and improve the quality of life of poor Peruvians. Last year, CRS invested more than $2 million in programs that focused on peacebuilding, microfinance, emergency preparedness and response, and children and youth at risk. The CRS office in Lima is managed by Walter Blake.
