What is happening on the ground in Pisco, Peru now?
Since last November, Burners without Borders has been  reconstructing schools and homes in the most devastated areas of Pisco and Chincha, Peru. We are now focused on raising funds for the "Adopt a Cornerstone" project, the brainchild of Sam Bloch (photo left). Read below.     

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BWB PRESENTS
100 Days/100 Volunteers Report

Read all about what we have been able to accomplish with the generous donations from the larger community.

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VOLUNTEERING

You can help by coming down and volunteering. This is an extremely rewarding experience you will never forget.

READ THE BWB-VOLUNTEER PERU FAQ HERE for Everything You Need to Know about Volunteering in Pisco.

Check out our photos at:
http://flickr.com/groups/bwb-peru/

Our Peru Blog is up! Just Click on "Blog" in the navigation bar to read about the lives of the volunteers and to keep up to date with our progress.

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DONATIONS

Would You Like To Make a Financial Contribution? We've made it easy for you.

100% of Your Donation Will be sent to our reconstruction efforts in Pisco, Peru. 

You may make a Direct Donation to the BWB PayPal Account: If you are responding to a specific cause,  drop a line to donate@burnerswithoutborders.org
and we'll make sure it gets there.

If you would like to make a tax deductibe donation, you can go to our fiscal sponsors at  http://www.blackrockarts.org and make your donation online. Please mark BWB in the notes field.

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ADOPT A CORNERSTONE PROJECT

What's the story?

Imagine camping in a tent with your entire family, almost smack dab on the equator, in the middle of the desert since August 15 of last year. Open sewers surround you, complete with mosquitoes and flies, and all this time you have not had the ability to take a shower or use a proper toilet. Imagine not knowing when your situation would improve as you watch your neighbors for miles around you struggle through the same predicament.

BWB volunteers witness the daily challenges the families in Pisco must face to cook, bathe or access water. And while the government continues to provide some temporary housing, a solution to the sanitation problem is not included. This is dangerous, because the doctors here tell us that more people will die in the next year from the lack of proper sanitation than died in the earthquake.

Photo Right-Temporary house made of bamboo and plastic typical for a family of 5 or more. Access to proper sanitation is not available.

So what is BWB doing  about it?

BWB has come up with a solution that addresses the short-term as well as the long-term needs of the residents -Adopt a Cornerstone Project. This project is so innovative it has the attention of the U.N. and Peru's Director of Sanitation; they are looking at how they may be able use this design as a part of their reconstruction plan.

What is it?

Sam Bloch assessed the gaping need for a solution to the sanitation issue early on and began working on a plan that includes a shower, toilet and kitchen with a wash basin. (See finished project below)

No matter what the family's housing situation may be, they will have access to clean, safe sanitation. In addition, the rebar reinforced cement structure acts as a solid cornerstone from which the family can build their permanent home.

What can you do to help?

You can help us bring the gift of clean sanitation and the ability for  families who are not eligible to receive reconstruction aid from the federal government, to begin to rebuild their lives-permanently.

You can download the .pdf file here -Adopt a Cornerstone Project and learn more. Please consider making a donation and getting your community behind adopting a cornerstone. It is the gift that keeps on giving for many years to come.

How much do they cost?

The materials for a cornerstone for one family is $1,000. We have the volunteer capacity to build one cornerstone per day.

 We're in a race to the finish as BWB will be leaving Pisco in June, and we want to be able to leave behind as many as these permanent cornerstones as possible. The number of donations we receive will determine how many  we can build.

We warmly thank those who have forwarded BWB's needs to their personal e-mail lists and taken it upon yourselves to hold fundraisers in our name. These gestures have made a huge difference in the scope of what we have been able to accomplish so far.

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CURRENT NEEDS

If you are interested in bringing down supplies with you, please email us and we will let you know our priority of needs.

*Full-time Translator/Assistant to help support these amazing projects. This leadership role is a great way to connect to the locals here and assess needs for new projects
*Volunteers who aren't afraid to work hard and get dirty-Speaking Spanish is a plus
*Volunteer with experience in Small Business
  applications
*Muralist

TOOLS

Our tool list is growing smaller due to the donations from our community. Thank You!

*Digital Video Camera-this will go along way to help 
 us document our projects in order to raise much needed financial resources
*2 or more aluminum contractor clipboards, its a clip board but opens and has storage inside

*Jackhammer-Have you ever tried to bust up a concrete foundation with a sledgehammer?  Jackhammers cost over $2000 in Peru and only $800 in the States.
*Any Ryobi 18 volt cordless tools, especially hammer drills,   We have a bunch of ryobi tools and chargers and the batteries are all interchangeable
*Ryobi 18 volt batteries and chargers
*Laser levels,  good ones, $80 or more
*Coffee-good coffee!

A Little More About Sam Bloch-BWB's Operations Director in Pisco, Peru

Sam is a carpenter who has been building and wiring the Center Cafe for Burning Man for the past two years. He volunteered eight months in Thailand, helping to construct community structures that enabled  people to begin the process of rebuilding  their lives. 

His competence as a leader was immediately seen by the organizers of Tsunami Volunteers in Thailand, and he was offered the responsibility to manage construction projects in the regions most devastated areas. In Thailand, Tsunami Volunteers  was rated the best non-profit in Thailand by the Lonely Planet Guide. 

BWB is now welcoming volunteers ages 21 and over to Pisco. Join Us!

Please help support this project in anyway you can.

Thanks for your support. This community is unstoppable!