Solidaile has been present in Huancavelica since 2006, supporting the local Cooperative of Pukullawa which offers educational programmes and activities for children and adolescents who have come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Cielo Azul agency which supports tourism connected to Pukullawa has been created with two objectives in mind: the first to generate new means with which to develop further Pukullawa’s activities; the second to give impetus to local tourism. We are convinced that when tourism is managed in a responsible and supportive way it can act as a vehicle for economical, social and cultural development for the local population.

The project to support tourism in Huancavelica was launched over a year ago however it is really since January 2010 that we have seen the greatest progress. Today the Cielo Azul agency is firmly in place. An office ideally located in the central square has been made available by the Municipality of Huancavelica in order to welcome visitors in the best possible environment.

Cielo Azul receives a particular type of visitor and works together with two other tourist agencies in Lima to receive groups. It is already able to offer tourists the chance to visit major places of interest in the region and it is working to diversify its activities and expand by introducing new tourist trails.

The agency works together with a number of local entrepreneurs, in the spirit of respect and fairness, in the areas of restoration, transport, lodging, guides and crafts. Its presence has become more widely known thanks to a website (www.turismocielazul.com) and to various forms of advertising (guides, internet sites etc) providing a comprehensive picture for the visitor.

The agency is supported also by a number of local public bodies (The Municipality, The Chamber of Tourism, The Regional Tourism Board, and others). Finally the number of visitors being welcomed and expressing satisfaction is very positive which is very encouraging for the future.

The Cielo Azul agency is still relatively new and has already encountered a number of challenges since its inception. There is still a long way to go in order to ensure the continuity of our activities and to fulfil our two objectives of supporting the cooperative of Pukullawa and the local economy but the first results are both promising and encouraging. Today the Cielo Azul agency enjoys the financial and staff support of Solidaile. The objective is to lead the agency towards a state of autonomy within the next three years.

Until the next Newsletter, the Solidaile team wishes to thank you for your invaluable support and the interest you have shown in our work.

Solidailement!

Diane and Xavier, Solidaile volunteers

In our last newsletter we wrote to you about our Alternative Tourism project.  Once again remarkable progress has been made in this area thanks to the work of the Solidaile trainees on the spot and to the support and involvement of the participants in the Local Cooperatives, Region, Town and Tourist Office.

The first tourists (8 in total) arrived in Huancavelica during the Easter break and had a very successful visit. It will soon be possible to find out more about this new tourist travel opportunity on a website which we will inform you about as soon as it is up and running. The other important step in the project is the approval and marketing of a large tourist trail that will include different cooperatives engaged in alternative tourism and supported by us.

We wish to take this opportunity to extend a big ‘Thank You’ to all our trainees who are devoting (Audrey, Xavier and Diane) and have devoted (Franck and Charis) so much of their time to this enormous project!

On the event side  and for the second year running  a concert will be held at ‘Les Trois Baudets’ on Saturday 15^th May 2010 at 8.30 pm, in aid of Solidaile. Two groups will be performing French songs:

“Barcella”          (www.myspace.com/barcellafrance )

“Face a la Mer” (www.myspace.com/facelamer )

This is a concert not to be missed!                                

The proceeds from the concert will be donated entirely to Solidaile. We strongly advise you to book your tickets online as soon as possible at www.lestroisbaudets.com . We hope to attract a large crowd so please tell anyone you know!

Until the next newsletter, the Solidaile team wishes to thank you for your invaluable support and the interest you have shown in our work

Solidailement

Philippe Nadiras

As part of its main objectives for 2010, Solidaile has decided to keep on four of its long term trainees in order to complete the final stages of the setting up of the alternative tourism trail namely:  logistics, training and marketing.

Audrey is the one who started working on the project back in January and she has already had some excellent results on several fronts. We have, for example, received support from the town of Huancavelica, which has agreed to contribute a significant amount towards the financing of the project – proof that the proposal is solid and that we will now be able to welcome the first tourists in the next few weeks.

Xavier and Diane will arrive in April and will amongst other things resume teaching French and English to the main local participants in the project. Laura will finalise the launching of the project in September and will monitor the building of the ‘gite’ at Caral, a new alternative tourist site that we decided to support in 2009.

Other trainees will be leaving soon in order to ensure the continuation of our work and also to oversee the launch of two new collaborations. The first project concerns the use of forestry resources in the upper region of the Peruvian Amazon and is due to start at the beginning of the dry season in May. The second is linked to the group of artisans, TAWAQ, who are located not far from Lima.

Until the next newsletter, the Solidaile team wishes to thank you for your invaluable support and the interest you have shown in our work.

Solidailement!

Philippe Nadiras

We have had some very encouraging results from our various trainee agronomists. There has been positive feedback from the Sacha Inchi project in La Merced where Vivien and Sylvain have noted the strong motivation and organisation of the local entrepreneurs. It has recently been decided to set up a workshop to convert seed into oil – it should be up and running before long. This will allow the storing of unsold seeds, preventing wastage and maximising income potential. In addition we are pleased to announce the launching of ‘Ainy,’ by Savoirs des Peuples a programme to encourage the growth and care of important and protected species of plants which is at the heart of the Sacha Inchi project.

A thorough study was undertaken on the Yaneshas and their project for the use of forestry resources.  The launch of this has been postponed until 2010. This is both for practical reasons (the need to wait for the dry season) and for technical reasons. It was felt that certain elements of the proposal needed to be strengthened in order to ensure a smooth delivery.

Lucie and Marie have been studying two projects in the guinea pig breeding programme. From the information gathered we have been able to offer support for the first project, located in the Ayacucho region and employing the ‘Retama’ local cooperative. Our decision was based on the quality of the proposal put forward, the investment made by local entrepreneurs and their ability to cooperate with outside authorities. With regards to the second project, located in Pira, we are currently awaiting additional information before deciding whether to go into partnership.

2010 will be an important year in the development of our projects linked to alternative tourism. The Caral project is advancing well. The building of a ‘gite’ began at the beginning of last August and should be finished within the next few months. Carole and Noe, two association staff members, have visited the ‘Ecomundo’ local cooperative towards La Merced and have noted the very real interest being shown towards the line of activities being proposed for the alternative tourism trail. At Huancavelica local entrepreneurs are finalising the last stages before launching the programme.

As far as Solidaile events are concerned we would like to extend a big Thank You to ‘3 Baudets’ for having allowed us to organise a very successful concert last July. Success was due to both the high standard of the groups taking part (Barcella and Les Tit’Nassels) and the number of people that attended – It was full!

 In addition do not miss the next Solidaile dinner on 28^th November. Contact valerie.aquilina@cea.fr to reserve your place as soon as possible.

Amongst our main objectives over the coming weeks, will be discussion with a number of local entrepreneurs in Peru about entering into new partnerships in agricultural and craft projects. We are also considering a number of proposals by students wishing to join our various projects as trainees.

Until the next Newsletter, the Solidaile team wishes to thank you for your invaluable support and the interest you have shown in our work.

Philippe Nadiras

 A report of activity is now available. The interest of this document is to bring a presentation of our various actions which we support accompanied by statistical data and comments as for the results obtained in the various projects (this document is available on request to info@solidaile.org).

 Since the last Newsletter, many departures for Peru are being prepared. Besides Vivien and Sylvain, two other agricultural engineers, Lucie and Marie, decided to work on the projects of breeding in the area of Huaraz and Ayacucho in July for months. Another volunteer should go in the next few days in Huancavelica in order to work on the preparation of the project of the circuit of alternative tourism.

 Several other volunteers are also planned for the summer especially in Huancavelica to provide valuable educational support to children and teenagers alike. They will devote part of their time to teaching French to the young adults who will take charge of the alternative tourism activities at the end of 2009 since the majority of participants will be French.

 Concerning the special event to come, Julie and Anne organized,

 the 1st of July 2009 at 20:30,

 an exceptional concert at the famous place “Les Trois Baudets” (www.lestroisbaudets.com).

 two music groups of French song are planned,

 “Barcella” (www.myspace.com/barcellafrance),

 and “Les Tit’ Nassels” (www.lestitnassels.com).

 The proceeds of the ticket sales will be completely donated to Solidaile. Do not hesitate to buy your ticket on line (www.lestroisbaudets.com)!

 Until the next newsletter, the Solidaile team wishes to thank you for your invaluable support and interest you have shown in our work. We wish you a very Happy Holiday season.

 Solidailement!

Philippe Nadiras

It is already three years since Solidaile was officially founded. To celebrate this occasion we organised a meal in Paris on March 29^th at the Peruvian restaurant ‘El Picaflor’. Around 120 people came and enjoyed an excellent meal in true Peruvian style.

We raised 1,500 euros (including donations) all of which will go towards financing our various projects. The Solidaile team is extremely touched by the support it has received since the start of this venture. This support has enabled Solidaile to pursue its various development and educational projects.

In the last 3 years Solidaile has become involved in 16 Peruvian Local Authorities, financing projects in agriculture, animal husbandry, crafts, carpentry, alternative tourism and also in education and training.

Our last stay in Peru (during the second half of 2008) allowed us to set up a regular monitoring system (by internet and through various Solidaile volunteers and trainees in situ).  We noted very positive results from ongoing projects and the professional and responsible attitude of the local authorities. Close to 1600 people benefit directly from the projects not to mention those who enjoy indirect benefits.

A few days ago, 2 agronomists, Vivien and Sylvain, left for Peru. They will be spending several months there, working on agricultural projects. They will start by monitoring the project linked to the Sacha Inchi culture which started during the summer of 2007. In May they will take part in launching forestry programmes for the Yaneshas in the Amazonian region of Peru. They will then go on to study new ways of supporting agricultural projects (especially with regards to plants) in the La Merced region.

Collaboration with the local authorities in Caral (which includes alternative tourism, educational and social projects) started several weeks ago. Two guinea-pig breeding programmes will continue in Huaraz and the Ayacucho region. We hope to provide further financial support for these projects in the coming months.

In August, Carole and Noe, two association staff members, will be leaving for Peru to monitor the progress of various Solidaile projects. They will also go to Huancavelica as volunteers to help children and teenagers in schools.

In addition we are considering a number of new collaborations for 2009-2010 which will possibly include several countries as well as Peru. Our decision will be based on the quality of the business plans for these proposed projects and our ability to follow them up. As soon as a decision has been taken we will tell you more about this.

With regards to events, we are planning a concert for the beginning of July, the proceeds of which will be donated to Solidaile. Julie and Anne, who are in charge of organising the concert, will shortly be providing information for those of you who wish to attend.

Until the next Newsletter, Solidaile wishes to thank you for your invaluable support and for the interest you have shown in our work. We wish you a very good Spring.

Philippe Nadiras

Solidaile is now half way through its third year and the results are encouraging.

Setting up the alternative tourism trail

Franck, a Solidaile trainee, is close to finalising the setting-up of an alternative tourism trail which will take in such points of interest as Huancavelica (located in the heart of the Andes) and La Merced (located in the upper Amazon). With remarkable professionalism he has succeeded in putting in place unique tourist activities, working closely with the local authorities  who will ultimately manage these trails. He has also managed to instill real enthusiasm in all the participants and in particular the Peruvian agency Pachamama which will be in charge of promoting the trail. The trail will be tried out for the first time at the beginning of December and will open to the public towards the middle of 2009.

Voluntary aid for schools in Huancavelica

Since September, three volunteers, Julia, Sabine and Alexis, have gone to Huancavelica and provided valuable educational support to children and teenagers alike. They have also devoted part of their time to teaching French to the young adults who will take charge of the alternative tourism activities in 2009 since the majority of participants will be French. It is hoped a further four volunteers will join them next year.

Development of Craft skills thanks to a new grant from the Societe Generale Foundation

With the help of Kuyanakuy in Lima and thanks to a grant from the Societe General Foundation ‘ Talents et Partage’, we have obtained sufficient means to start an important crafts training programme for young people whose families are already involved in crafts in some way. The aim is not only to pass on their know-how but also to enable them to increase their production and introduce new tapestry designs.

At least three new projects planned for 2009

Among the projects planned for 2009, one in alternative tourism in the Valley of Supe is of particular significance and of historical interest as it includes the still preserved but little known city of Caral, the oldest city in America. The local team in charge of the project, well known to us for its professionalism,  plans, first of all,  to  improve the sanitation and water supply of the village, with the help of experts,  before proceeding with the building of a centre, in the traditional style. It is planned that part of the new site will be used by children and teenagers for educational activities (school books will be provided) and for the organisation of support classes, to be provided by the volunteers sent by Solidaile.

With regards to agriculture and animal husbandry, at least two trainees, both agronomists (ISARA, Lyon) will set out for Peru in early 2009 for a period of six months to monitor our current projects. They will also work closely with a Peruvian agricultural organisation to develop new ways of providing support. Some of these projects are located in the upper region of the Amazon where the local population wishes to have the means to promote and develop their traditional knowledge and skills.

Events

Last October, Solidaile was given a stand at the fair of Salon Du Bien Etre at Villefranche-sur-Saone. The event organisers agreed to donate part of the proceeds of the ticket sales.

In early 2009 we will be organising a dinner in order to celebrate three years of Solidaile. Later in the year we hope to organise a concert the profits of which will allow us to finance some of our other projects.

Your support is important to us

Now that we are nearing the end of the year we would like to take the opportunity to remind you that Solidaile is authorised to issue tax receipts to anyone making a donation. This means that individuals can claim, in their tax return for 2009, the equivalent to two thirds of the amount donated in 2008. For further information, please consult the link ‘Tax Deduction’ on our website.

Until the next newsletter, the Solidaile team wishes to thank you for your invaluable support and interest you have shown in our work. We wish you a very Happy Holiday season.

Solidaile

In the area of Lima, we started 5 new collaborations with groups of craftsmen all members of the CIAP (Central Interregional Craftsmen of Peru whose the main goal is to promote the exportation). The micro projects relate to the financing of purchases of raw materials in significant quantity in order to profit from reasonable prices, equipment of artisanal machines to improve the productivity and also technological material dedicated to the training or the presentations of the activity of the local structure. The duration of the loans varies from two to three years and the CIAP give us a guarantee for the loans.

In addition, each group of craftsmen has a good knowledge about the social conditions in its district and has the will to act in a constructive way in particular in the educational field. We had been informed by their intermediary of various possible actions that we had found interesting and reasonable. After having decided to finance them at the beginning of 2008, we could visit the various achievements (construction of a classroom, purchase of furniture, purchase of a refrigerator etc) at the time of this voyage in the various establishments and we could note the enthusiasm of the local people.

In Pira, near Huaraz, in the Cordillera of Andes, with the association “Ally Ruray”, the installation of the workshop of carpentry is finished. The training of young adults for carpentry has started a few months ago. The discussions with the Peruvian minister of education are very positive for the request made by the local structure to be authorised to deliver a diploma of qualification recognized by the state in a near future. The level of production as well knows a very satisfactory starting thanks to the different orders in the local and regional market with customers such as schools, municipalities, private companies or individuals. At a meeting organized at the time of our visit by the persons in charge of the structure “Ally Ruray”, one of the main important points related to the success of the next stage of the project envisaged at the time of the second quarters 2009 whose objective is to extend the marketing of the production to the town of Huaraz.

In Huancavelica, there was the starting of one year an educational project for which the BNP Paribas Foundation provided invaluable financial support to us. We thus equipped one with the buildings of the Peruvian structure “Pukullawa” of tables and chairs in order to allow the children and teenagers to profit from an extra teaching ensured by remunerated Peruvian professors. One of the other strong moments related to the project of circuit of alternative tourism for which Franck works as a trainee. One of the big steps of this circuit is to propose to the tourists the discovery of the area of Huancavelica little visited to date but which has true value to the level of its history, its culture and beauty of its mountains giving the possibility of sharing moments with the local population. The structure “Pukullawa” will play an important role in the proposal for several activities. Some teenagers will profit initially from a formation of guide ensured by professionals of the area and will be able, once qualified, to ensure themselves the accompaniment of tourists for excursions. A meeting was organized with the persons in charge of the Area of Huancavelica, the structure “Pukullawa” and a manager of Pachamama (Peruvian tourism agency in charge of the marketing of the circuit) whose objective was to present via Franck the preparation of the activities of the circuit. All the people were impressed by the exceptional work of Franck and the interest and the motivation involved within the local actors of the project. The preparation of the circuit should be finished at the end of this year knowing that it remains to organize one of its components which is located close to La Merced, a city located at the doors of Amazonia.

In addition, a meeting was proposed to the mothers in order to make an evaluation of the results of “Pukullawa” with the educational, cultural and social activities organised for their children for 2 years and the idea to set up in September a monthly financial participation of their own in order to ensure an additional source of revenue for the local structure “Pukullawa” and thus to give it more chance to be perennial in the future. The exercise was very delicate but after a few hours of discussions, they accepted the idea while even suggesting to convince the rest of the mothers from the importance of this contribution! Then, today, there is a kind of euphoria with Huancavelica and the association “Pukullawa” has real assets to develop and build a better future.

In La Merced, we talked with the agronomist Peruvian organization, the SEPAR, with which we have financed for one year in material groups of producer of Sacha Inchi (almond having a very strong concentration in omega 3 and used traditionally for its nutritional and cosmetic benefits). The results are encouraging as a whole and we could visit the work of collaboration undertaken with a local agronomist establishment of which the main objective is to improve this type of culture in this area. We also met in this occasion the persons in charge of the project of exploitation of the forest in order to specify some important components before starting collaboration from here a few months.

During all these moments, we had the occasion to speak about future projects with people whom we already know and with new contacts. We will not fail to keep you informed of those which we will retain.

At this moment, we finish the update of Solidaile web site particularly in the chapter “Our projects”, the idea being to make it clearer, and the setting on line of the last photographs which we brought back from Peru!

Waiting to see you on the next the newsletter, the Solidaile team thanks you for your invaluable supports and the interest which you carry to the whole of its projects.

Philippe Nadiras

There was the annual meeting of the association at the end of March. It was the occasion to present a very positive assessment of the second year of the association in terms of the number and the quality of the projects supported in Peru. The results were also excellent on the level of the collected funds and the confidence which is granted to us by people, partners and other organizations whose supports are very important for us.

In terms of events, we took part in a secondhand market in May which enabled us to collect more than 650 € to finance the projects. At the end of June, we proposed a brunch in a very beautiful Italian restaurant “Peonia Coffee” in Boulogne Billancourt which its owner lent it to us for the occasion. The people present got a very pleasant moment. We could speak about the projects in progress and the actions coming. The benefits of this meal were of 750 €.

Concerning the projects in Peru, we are regularly in contact with Franck who began a mission of more than 6 months in Huancavelica and works on all the activities and logistic aspects of a circuit of alternative tourism implying mainly the Pukullawa local structure. In addition, the first 2 volunteers of Solidaile, Alexis and Julia, are awaited for the end of August always in Huancavelica. They will give courses of extra teaching (English and mathematical) to the children and teenagers of the Pukullawa structure.

I will go myself 3 weeks this summer in Peru in order to visit our projects and to start 7 new collaborations. It will be also the occasion to meet local structures and to talk about possible futures micro projects for 2009. During these moments, we will try to take pictures and to film scenes as much as possible illustrating the best as possible the projects. These videos will be included in the website of the association next September.

Among the good news, we are happy to count a new partner since April, the Globanet company specialized in data processing. There is also one of our request files of funds with a foundation which was accepted for the support of an educational project.

Waiting to see you in the next newsletter, the Solidaile team wishes you very beautiful holidays and thanks you for your supports and the interest which you carry in all actions.

Philippe Nadiras

The period passed since the last newsletter was marked by many events within the association. The meal organized with the pancake shop « Le petit Grumeau » last October was a great success thanks to the number of participants (approximately 110! that we thank very much) as well as a perfect management for the various services by Nicolas, the Master of the place! The event organised in a theatre in November was not the same success partly because of the strikes… At the end of January, the public was numerous with the café concert Abracadabar (www.abracadabar.fr) to see the « Bollocks one trouble » as « Trankilesha » which agreed to play music for Solidaile.

On the level of our requests for grants, we obtained a positive answer with the « Région Ile de France » with the project of carpentry in Pira in the area of Huaraz for an important amount. In addition, the whole of our partners renewed us their trust for 2008 and continue to give us their invaluable support. Within the framework of the conferences which we ensure within the University Lyon 2, a student of the Master « Humanitarian and Solidarity » was retained for a 6 months experience in Peru. He will be invested especially in the field of alternative tourism with the local structure « Pukullawa » (in Huancavelica in the Andes at 3700m of altitude) and will work in close cooperation with the Peruvian agency « Pachamama » (www.pachamama.ciap.org).

At the end of February, Julie and Varma of the association Solidaile travelled 15 days in Peru in order to follow through our projects, to launch new collaborations and to collect information for possible futures supports. Their stay was a big success not only thanks to the availability and with the welcome of the local structures but also by the many projections noted on the level of the projects we support. You will be able to find very soon the very last photographs of their visits on the site of association (www.solidaile.org)!

In new collaborations which we plan to start in 2008, there are first of all 7 groups of craftsmen located in several areas of Peru for which we will finance technical material related to their activities. For 5 of them, a social action of educational nature in favour of the children and teenagers will accompany the micro project. In addition, with the structure « Kuyanakuy » in Lima, we plan to support them on the level of the equipment of a room in order to train young adults with the trades of the textile. Always in the area of Lima, we will most probably take part in the development of a local structure dedicated to the production of cheese of goat which carry a real success near the Peruvian population! Very soon, there will be other propositions which we will retain according to the quality of the files of presentation of projects of the local structures. We will not fail to let you informed!

The next Solidaile departure for Peru is planed at the end of August 2008 particulary to realize the second step of the project of carpentry in Pira. By then, the very first Solidaile volunteers will be already in Huancavelica in order to ensure an extra teaching near the children and teenagers of the structure « Pukullawa ».

We will also continue to address request files of grants to finance the many actions we expect to develop. If you know companies interested by our step, do not hesitate by contacting us and to make share (info@solidaile.org) and if you personally wish to support us by a gift or another action, you are also welcome!

Before sending you the next newsletter, all the Solidaile team thanks you for your support, for the interest which you carry in all actions.

Philippe Nadiras