Thousands were left homeless after the 2007 earthquake crumbled Pisco to a pile of rubbish and rocks. Stranded and in search of a place to squat, many families formed a large community on the outskirts of Pisco. Now called Molino, this organized shanty town is built of plastic tarps, woven sugar cane rods, and corrugated tin. Most of these Peruvians are squatting illegally.
Instead of aiding these families, the government chose to spend its money to build a giant concrete wall blocking the view of Molino from the highway. Wouldn't want bad publicity now would we?
Dirt roads, lined with crude electric cables balanced on top of bamboo rods, run through Molino. The government has decided - for a reason unknown even to most Peruvians - that these roads should be widened. This means that people currently in the way of the construction need to completely relocate their homes to plots 1o feet away. We will be spending this week helping single mothers and elderly individuals pick up their crumbling homes and plop them down again just off of the bulldozers' path. 4 years after the earthquake, residents are not only still attempting to rebuild their homes but also their lives . . .
Yet another reason never to take life and what you have for granted...even my worst days cant touch this.... :( eye opening, and painful...
ReplyDeletethank you.