Peru Trip Reports
Sixteen of us ventured to the mountains of Peru for the twenty-ninth trip from UMass Lowell as part of the Village Empowerment Program. We split into four to five groups to travel to different parts of our “service area.” Below is a summary of what we did from January 4 to January 18. Much work was done before the trip, however, in the form of service-learning projects in several courses not only in engineering but also, for example, biology and physics. We strive to meet basic needs of people in remote villages and to grow professionally and personally. 
Sixteen of us ventured to Peru for the twenty-eighth trip from UMass Lowell as part of the Village Empowerment Program. We split into four to five groups to travel to different parts of our “service area.” Much work was done before the trip, however, in the form of service-learning projects in several courses not only in engineering but also, for example, history and an interdisciplinary course called Village Empowerment: Overcoming Global Poverty. We strive to meet basic needs of people in remote villages and to grow professionally and personally. 
Thirteen of us ventured to Peru for the twenty-seventh trip from UMass Lowell as part of the Village Empowerment Program and joined three UNI (Universidad Nacional de Ingenieros) students in Lima. We split into groups to travel to different parts of our “service area.” Below is a summary of what we did for two weeks in January 2011. Much work was done before the trip, however, in the form of service-learning projects in several courses. We strive to meet basic needs of people in remote villages and to grow professionally and personally. 
We made our twenty-seventh trip to Peru from U Mass Lowell, for two weeks in June 2010. We installed our first air sparging system at a fish farm in Malvas, still building the solar maternity house in Huanchay, installed our 4th drip irrigation system, more photovoltaic’s systems for far away elementary schools, water purification systems in Raypa, wind and bike pump water, more radios, etc., and also work together with two students from Lawrence High School. 
This was our twenty-sixth trip to Peru from U Mass Lowell for two weeks in January 2010 to serve the people in remote villages in the mountains and in the process to learn and develop professionally and personally. Fifteen (and a “half”) of us worked together. January 2009
We made our twenty-fourth trip to Peru from U Mass Lowell for two weeks, January 5-20, 2009 to serve the people in remote villages in the mountains and in the process to learn and develop professionally and personally. What follows is an informal report on what we did and discovered as part of the Village Empowerment project. 
Sixteen of us worked together the first two weeks in June. A first for the project was the participation of two faculty members from U Mass Lowell with two students each from their respective non-engineering academic programs: Deirdra Murphy of physical therapy and Nicole Champagne of health education. Another first was that three of the team stayed all summer. 
Twelve students and volunteers along with faculty members Diana Archibald and Chad Montrie spent two weeks in our Peruvian villages. A simpler biodigester and a solar drip irrigation system were installed. Diana kept a wonderful journal. 
We made our twenty-first trip to Peru from U Mass Lowell for two weeks, June 5-21, 2007 to serve the people in remote villages in the mountains and in the process to learn and develop professionally and personally. Sixteen of us split into four groups, traveling the Huarmey and Casma valleys and installing/upgrading radio and water supply and purification systems, bringing the total number of villages served to 42. We also provided physical therapy services and finished up a biodigester system. 
A record seventeen volunteers traveled to Peru to work in the mountains this summer. In Quillapampa, Kely Martinez' water purification system design became a reality. The team began the construction of a biodigester to transform crop and animal waste into cooking gas and fertilizer. They installed a radio system in the Huarmey police station and a solar-powered radio system in the clinic in Gramita. This trip initiated testing for possible internet access installation in the future. They also continued bacterial testing on local water systems. 
Professor Duffy and eleven volunteers worked together in this eighteenth trip from UMass Lowell to Peru. The team installed radios in medical clinics in Huanchuy and Huallmi. A group of us spent almost a week in Muchipamapa installing a photovoltaic pumping system that will provide water for this community. We installed a water tank for the school in Raypa and the head of the pump in Huayash was replaced. We performed preventative maintenance on many systems and continued to test water for bacteria. 
The team (9 volunteers) installed radios in medical clinics in Pampaconcha and Quillo. Most of the team spent almost a week in Utcu installing a photovoltaic pumping system that pumps water from a spring below the town to a 1100 liter tank above the town. They continued to collect information on patients at the volunteer physical therapy clinic in Huarmey and distributed donated equipment and materials. They repaired a prosthetic leg and fitted another one in Huarmey. They performed preventative maintenance on many village water systems and continued to test them for bacteria. 
Professor Duffy and a group of six students traveled to Peru for a trip heavily tilted towards repairs and maintenance. They installed radios in Victoria and Huanchay-Huaraz and repaired a number of radio systems that had broken down since previous trips. They provided a radio for the ambulance of a volunteer fire department rescue unit in Huarmey. They reinstalled the solar sterilizer in Huamba, improving it with an anodized coating and an adapted pressure cooker. The team repaired radio systems at some very remote locations including Huayan and Pumapucllan. June 2004
Professor Duffy and eight others traveled to Peru. We installed a solar pump system in Quillapampa using a floating pump. We delivered oxygen masks to the clinics. These masks were designed by students at Umass Lowell and can save up to 80% of Oxygen. We delivered a prosthetic leg design by ME students in their capstone project. Finally, we installed a solar sterilizer for medical equipment. 
Professor Duffy and seven others including UMass Lowell students and staff traveled to Peru to complete the solar water pump, distribution, and filtration system for Huayash. They installed transceiver radios and antennas in Port Huarmey and Chacchan. They installed a complete solar radio and light system in the clinic at Fortaleza and repaired the solar radio system in Colcabamba. As a result, the clinics in Pumapucllanan, Chochabamba, Fotaleza, and Pariacoto can network with one another. The group installed a fluorescent light and nebulizer in the clinic in Huamba. 
A group of ten volunteers, including UMass Lowell students and alumni, led by Prof. John Duffy traveled to Peru to work on a solar water pump and distribution system and a sand filtration system for Huayash, a village of about 100 people. They erected and installed transceiver radios and antennas in Culebras and Pariacoto, and a solar radio and light system in the clinic at Pumapucllanan. The group installed several systems with photovoltaic panels and batteries in the schools of Lower Huamba, Quian, Erajirca, and Pilco. In Cochapeti they installed new light fixtures in the 400-year-old church. 
Professor Duffy traveled once more to Peru with 9 students. Solar radio and light systems were installed in Cochabomba and Chipre medical clinics as well as in the Cochapeti town hall and church. A Quian pressurization subsystem was installed for UV water purification. Quian water supply system was designed to draw water from a spring 1.5 km away from town. Laptop computers were installed in a Casma hospital (4), a Huarmey hospital (4), a Molino posta, a San Miguel school, Quian school, and a Malvas clinic thanks to Partners Health Care who donated them. 
Professor Duffy travelled again with nine students to oversee the design and installation of a solar-powered drinking water purification system in Quian. A radio network in a hospital in Casma and a medical post in Colcabamba was installed. A vaccine refrigerator solar system in the Huamba medical post was put into place. Twelve laptop computers installed so there are now PCs in two hospitals, ten medical posts, and four schools A PV system and laptop was moved from the old school in Cochapeti to the new school A new PV system for a laptop and light was installed in the school in San Miguel. 
Professor Duffy traveled to Peru with nine students. They needed to adjust the radio frequencies to reduce interference. They replaced the vaccine refrigerator in San Miguel since the propane one was not working. The clinic crew installed panels that were donated by Evergreen Solar. The hydro group went about implementing plans for a new hydro facility. Since the location changed, the wire was not of sufficient length to reach the village. In Malvas, the systems were checked and new software was installed in the schools. In Cochapeti, the turbine generator unit was replaced. 
Professor Duffy traveled with another seven students to Peru. The goals of this trip included installing a microhydro station in Cochapeti, installing vaccine refrigerators in Raypa and Cochapeti, and installing several other PV units in Cochapeti and Raypa. Another goal was to investigate the potential for aquaculture in Malvas and to measure the bacteria content in the waters of six towns. The existing installations were checked and recalibrated as necessary. 
Seven students, with Professor Duffy and Father Charles Stanley, meet up with a group in Peru. During the trip Professor Duffy gave a presentation on solar and alternative energy to the students and faculty of the UNI. The group went to Huarmey to install a packet radio email system to communicate with the data logging stations in Malvas and Cochapeti. This will send the logged data back to UMass Lowell. At Huamba, the group installed a larger antenna to improve communication and checked on the medical installation. June 2000
Professor Duffy and others traveled to Peru. We installed a hydro in Malvas. Professor Duffy did a Workshops for the medical technicians and staff of the hospital in Huarmey. January 2000
Professor Duffy and eight students and alumni return to the region, in order to upgrade the equipment in Malvas (including putting in a repeater radio to form the hub of a network and installing a PV-powered filter system for the small swimming pool), put a 5 watt radio in Huamba, lighting in Molino, a radio in Huayan, a radio in Quian, a refrigerator and solar cooker in Cochapeti, and a radio and lighting in San Miguel. In order to do this, panels and batteries are installed in Molino, Quian, Cochapeti, and San Miguel. June 1999
Professor Duffy and Father Paul return to Peru with five students. A passive solar water purifier is constructed from locally available materials, including llama and sheep wool for insulation, and is installed in the community of Huayan. Further panels are installed at the Malvas clinic, to meet growing energy needs. A charging station is installed at the school in Malvas, as a test program for generating some funds for the school and inspiring local economic activity. A large workshop is held in Malvas - 16 people get certificates in solar power studies. A vaccine refrigerator is put in Quian, with more panels and batteries. Lights are put in Raypa. 
Five students and Professor Duffy return to Peru. A training session in solar power is held in Malvas. Much time is spent training technicians to service the Malvas system. Consultations are held with various AID agencies about long term funding for the project. A passive solar water heater - a pot at the focus of a 5-foot parabolic dish - is installed at the clinic in Malvas, to boil water for the sterilization of instruments and to obtain pure water. The site in Huamba is updated, and training is done with the local technicians. Lights are put in Cochapeti, Huayan, and Quian. June 1998
Five students, with Professor Duffy, go to Peru to begin the solar installations. A radio is installed in the hospital in Huarmey, with a directional antenna. Solar panels are installed on the roof of the clinic in the mountain community of Malvas. Batteries and a charge controller are wired into the circuit. A thermo-coupled vaccine refrigerator is installed in Malvas, running off of the photo-voltaic charged batteries. An antenna is raised on a thirty foot pole in Malvas, and communication is established with Huarmey. Portable lanterns, examination lights, and an overhead light are put in the Malvas clinic. A small system - one PV, one battery, and a couple of lights, are put in a village called Huamba. January 1998
Father Paul returns to Huarmey to continue the contact, and begin meeting with hospital officials about the proposed project: solar electrification in mountain communities where there is no electricity - for vaccine refrigeration, lights, and radio communication. We assist with disaster relief at the beginning of the El Niño phenomenon by purchasing tin roofing to protect emergency shelters in eight different communities. June 1997
Father Paul and a group of five undergraduates, with the assistance of the Society of Saint James, travel in the Andes in the region of Huarmey, visiting people’s homes, mothers’ clubs, schools, clinics, churches - in an attempt to make a first contact between the University and the people, and to try to begin to understand their reality. |