Mayra and her family live is a semi-rural communty in the south of Peru, which sufferes from with a number of poverty-related problems:

• limited health-care services,
• people not knowing how to prevent illness,
• clean water is also not always available,
• malnutrition,
• high illiteracy rate amongst adults as well as children.

As many of the adults also cannot read or write, leaving them with few opportunities to learn new skills. This, in turn, limits their chances in finding alternative work as opposed to farming, and being able to support them families. And area of concern is because most community members are farmers, due to their limited resources and outdated farming practices, they are also inadvertently damaging their local environment.

Through the regular monthly donations the Temple of the Dark Moon is providing World Vision:

• local health-care centres are being equipped with necessary medicines,
• water systems are being repaired and sanitation improved,
• the local people are being trained to educate other community members in order to prevent disease,
• children are learning practical skills such as planting and caring for vegetable gardens. Vocational guidance and leadership courses will soon be available for secondary students.
• Assistance is given to farmers to care for livestock and improve crops,
• Care for the local environment and protecting it for future generations is an important goal.

Mayra - 2003