Peru's geography is varied, from the Andes mountain chain to the rainforest to the coastal desert. Over half of the population lives in poverty and the rate of unemployment is extremely high. Over the last decade, political and economic stability was maintained at great social cost. Peru suffered an institutional crisis in the early 1990s,which ultimately lead to an unhealthy centralization of power in the executive office. Moving into the new millennium, Peruvian society desperately needs to revitalize and distribute power and resources more equitably throughout the nation.
Activities promote social and economic justice through development and emergency relief.
The goal of the program is to transform existing economic, political and social structures and promote the common good and dignity of every person in Peru. Within the framework of Catholic social teaching , all projects strive to promote principles such as human dignity and solidarity . Agriculture programs enable more people to access resources by improving knowledge and practices through improving the quality of life for individual communities. Projects in Microfinance help local organizations develop their capacities to provide credit, savings, training, and marketing assistance to small entrepreneurs. Civil Society and Human Rights work supports conflict resolution through establishing local conciliation centers and peace education.