Development and Peace – Caritas Canada (DPCC), an international development organization, organized a Solidarity Trip to Peru from July 14-25, 2025. The goal was to promote a better understanding of DPCC’s development work on the ground. Ernesto was selected as one of the delegates to participate in this immersion experience.

During the trip, delegates had the opportunity to learn from Development and Peace partners and their work supporting those living in poverty in Peru. They met with the Bartolome de las Casas Institute (IBC) to learn about training community leaders, observe the work of the Episcopal Commission for Social Action (CEAS) in collecting data on the effects of mining, and traveled to Iquitos in the Amazon to learn about the Centro Amazónico de Antropología y Aplicación Práctica (CAAAP) and their role in defending Amazonian peoples against extractivism.

The experience also aimed to foster a greater appreciation for international solidarity between Peru and Canada

The Journey

The Hidden Cost of Mining

My trip to Peru revealed how deeply mining shapes both land and lives. While it drives exports and growth, the scars it leaves—polluted rivers, damaged health, and fractured communities—run deeper than any economic gain. True progress must heal what extraction has broken.

The Strength of Peru Lives in Its People

Behind every smile and tradition lies a story of resilience. Peru’s indigenous communities carry wisdom, creativity, and courage that the nation’s future depends on. Yet poverty, inequality, and corruption still silence too many voices. Real change begins when Peru invests not just in its resources—but in its people.

Development & Peace Partnerships and Alliances in Peru