Improving the seismic safety in the High Andean of Peru

An earthquake resistance program was initiated in the district of Chocos  in the Lima Province Region of the High Andes of Peru. The community was trained in disaster prevention programs related to earthquakes. The training consisted of theory and practice and it was participative and concerted. The Mayor and Chancellours were trained in all the process. As result of the training the community made a disaster management mapping walking in the community to identify the community problems and get the solutions to become a resilient community.

The community learnt about how to use the seismic and rwsistant construction materials like the reinforced mud brick units, the geo mesh, the concrete beam etc. The masons retrofit the School for the children. It was a demonstrative program that the population took as a model to spread in their homes. After the 2007 year earthquake the community still was in unsafe conditions. After the population was trained in disaster reduction programs they get empowered and now the community looks different. The population started to improve the roofing of their homes and changed the old and bad conditions of the mud brick units for new ones. During the Celebration of the International Day of the Rural Women, The Mayor of the Chocos District, Mr. Macedonio Aburto Gutierrez, launched the Rural Community of Chocos as the first one Resilient Community in the High Andean of Peru due to the Local Government and the community acccomplished with the 10 steps to become a Resilient Community.

The NGO Estrategia together with the grassroots women from Mujeres Unidas para un Pueblo Mejor and the trained grassroots from the community receivd  support from GeoHazards International that together with The Stanford University and The Catholic University alltogether got an important success. The Lima Provinces Region is now spreading the experience including the grassroots women and men trained in Disaster Prevention programs. The Government of Peru congratulated this experience and started the supporting to the rural communities during all the five years government at the National level. The main requirement to get the supporting from the Housing Ministry through the "Techo Propio" program is to be trained in seismic resistant construction programs.