Reducing Poverty & Improving Health: EDUCATECA!
HANDS ON PERU is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health, education, and economic well-being of underserved communities in Huanchaco, Trujillo, Peru. Through an integrated, community-centered approach, the organization provides preventive healthcare, educational programs, and workforce development opportunities for thousands of low-income individuals each year. At the heart of its work is a commitment to empowering people with the tools and resources they need to build healthier, more stable lives, including access to essential medical services through its preventive health clinic and programs that support children’s learning, youth development, and adult skill-building.
The organization’s mission is to create sustainable pathways out of poverty by addressing interconnected needs—health, education, and economic opportunity—within a safe and inclusive environment. By partnering with local leaders, volunteers, and global supporters, HANDS ON PERU fosters long-term impact and resilience, helping individuals and families not only meet immediate needs but also invest in their futures.
Hands on Peru is expanding its existing community center in Huanchaco, Trujillo, Peru, by constructing a second floor dedicated to education and employment programs, while maintaining the first floor as a preventive health clinic. This project will serve over 10,000 low-income individuals, including children, youth, and families who currently have limited access to educational resources, workforce development opportunities, and safe community spaces.
The second floor, known as the “Educateca,” will provide a multifunctional environment designed to foster learning, creativity, and economic empowerment. It will include a computer lab for children to develop digital literacy skills, a play space that supports early childhood development, and a dedicated area for the social enterprise “Chimuk,” where participants can learn knitting and other income-generating skills. Together, these spaces will create opportunities for personal growth, skill-building, and community connection.
While the main construction costs of EDUCATECA are covered thanks to a private family foundation, we are fundraising for community program costs and increased operational costs.
Through this project, HOP aims to create a dynamic, sustainable community hub that addresses immediate needs while investing in the long-term development of the population it serves.
A short 7 minute documentary of our clinic's impact can be found here: https://youtu.be/Dj3JbTevoOg