In the aftermath of el Niño flooding from this past March, residents of Nivín, on the north coast of Peru have launched a full-scale recovery effort. Their initiatives and actions have generated support from a host of international nonprofits.

1. REBUILDING IN NIVIN, ANCASH,
PERU: LOCAL ACTION
SUPPORTED BY
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY
by
Culture and Community in Casma, Peru

2. REBUILDING IN NIVIN, ANCASH, PERU:
LOCAL ACTION SUPPORTED BY
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY
by Culture and Community in Casma,
Peru
The initial impacts of the March 2017 el Niño
flooding that devastated this small village on
the north coast Peru is documented in a
separate slideshare presentation.
When we returned to Nivín this past month to
assist in cultural heritage development
projects and flood relief, two things were very
apparent. First, the impacts of the flooding
were much more severe than we could
envision from afar in the United States.
Second, the local residents of Nivín have taken
the lead in their recovery in a way that can
serve as an example to all faced with adversity.
Here is a part of that story.

3. In our 2015 visit to Nivín at the invitation of Professor Gustavo Valencia Tello we quickly came to appreciate the uniqueness of
the Nº 88104 María Parado de Bellido School and Museum. Applied topics such as cultural heritage development and
sustainable agriculture were an integral part of the curriculum. We are unaware of any other public educational institution,
anywhere, that integrates cultural heritage preservation and presentation as a part of the curriculum of all students.

4. Our past newsletters featured resources that report the co-creative projects launched over the past two years in Nivín
through the collaboration led by Gustavo Valencia, Elizabeth Cruzado Carranza, and Robert Connolly. The resources
include photographic reports of the work , report on International Archaeology Day celebration in Nivín, and an Annual
Report for the 2016 co-creative projects.

5. When we returned to Nivín in late May, the flood devastation was apparent but the recovery efforts were even more impressive.
As a rural community, 20 km from the nearest paved road, the residents could not afford to wait for assistance to come to them.
In fact, Professor Valencia reports that the aggressive local recovery response convinced the regional municipality to offer
assistance. Above Professor shows the floodline on the school building that students helped dig out. Click here to see photos of
the community recovery effort.

6. Nearly one meter of flood deposits were removed from the sports area as well. By the time this
project was tackled the local government and non-profit organizations and individuals from nearby
Casma and as far away as Lima helped to provide heavy equipment and other resources to aid in the
task.

7. Many of the agricultural fields (left) and features such as the compost area
(above) that we photographed in 2015 were simply gone as a result of the
flooding. Other total losses include a pond for growing alfalfa and the newly
built pens for raising cuy (guinea pigs) and two classrooms.

8. The grove of mango trees that were so impressive to see in 2015
during our first visit were also severely impacted by the floods . . .

9. The mango trees
survived the flood
despite being
buried in nearly
one meter of silt
and sand. As
shown on the left
the tree trunks
now have been
excavated to the
original ground
level to promote
growth. Professor
Valencia is
optimistic that the
trees will survive
and bear fruit next
season.

10. In making the best of the
situation, flood soils removed
from the sports and school area
were used to extend the
agricultural fields to expand and
replace the lost crops.

11. Consistent with a curriculum that prepares students for life in the Nivín area, the margin of the
expanded agricultural fields i bordered with plants that are tended by individual students.

12. Vegetable gardens immediately adjacent to the school buildings were maintained by the
younger students in the school . . .

13. . . . And were completely destroyed by the floods. Recovery work on this project will be a special
collaboration between the students and volunteers from Fundación Telefónica. Click here to learn more
about the exemplary work of these committed volunteers currently working in Nivín.

14. The concrete irrigation canal for Nivín is destroyed. Although residents
attempted to dig out the canal once, the sand and silt quickly collapsed
back in. A temporary fix is the installation of a large diameter hose in the
canal. Fundación Telefónica volunteers are assisting with this project as
well. Click here for photos of their work.

15. El Niño conditiions are
possible again beginning in
October. Local residents are
already preparing for the
potential flooding that might
result.

16. The residents of Nivín are
resilient and committed to
their community. We are
honored to work with
them on a range of cultural
heritage and other
development issues.
To be kept informed of the
activities of Culture and
Community in Casma
subscribe to our monthly
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For more information or if
you would like to work
with us on one of our
projects either remotely or
real time in Peru contact
us at:
cccasmaperu@gmail.com