Microfinanzas PRISMA

PRISMA is a Peruvian non-governmental organization that has played a major role in the fight against food insecurity over the past twenty years in the country. It currently has a national staff of over 460, located throughout its Lima-based central office and 40 offices at regional and local levels throughout poorer departments. They work with authorities at both regional and local levels and with families, credit clients and producers at the community level.

PRISMA has significant experience in the areas of research, health and nutrition, microcredit, agricultural development, local government capacity building and environmental health. They are also strong in logistics, especially for pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and education.

PRIMSA works all over Peru, in almost every department, so the communities served varies widely by region. In Lima, there is a strong focus on tuberculosis patients of all ages, children in the shanty town of Juan Pablo II in Los Olivos, and members of the community in San Juan de Miraflores. In each community, the organization targets identifiable groups which would benefit the most from tapping into PRISMA's national network of support. As such, different groups are helped in different parts of the country - varying according to need.

None.

1986

As an established NGO, PRIMSA has partnerships with many other organizations that usually will support a specific project PRIMSA is working on. Some examples of funding partners include the Institute for International Medicine, Department for International Development, London School of Higiene and Tropical Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, KIVA, Freedom from Hunger, and USAID.

How many people at the organization speak English?

There is some English spoken.

The program provides access to credit to organized groups through community banks, called Community Associations Pro Development (ACPD), and Solidarity Group. Its mission is to provide quality financial services to microentrepreneurs in an efficient and timely manner to promote their social and economic development. The target population consists of those poor people who have a productive economic activity and are associated ACPDs or solidarity groups. In December 2007, the microcredit program had 16,172 customers organized into 1,300 groups, of which 74% were women.

PRIMSA has been researching in partnership with researchers from Yale University since 1983 on ways to make microfinancing and microloans more effective and finding ways to better cater to the needs of the community. Volunteers are needed to help carry out this research.

What tasks will you be required to fulfil?

Volunteers may be given surveys they will be asked to administer to members of communities, or conduct interviews, or simply spend time in the community making observations as to what could be improved. Volunteers may work under a direct supervisor or may conduct their own research, as desired. PRIMSA also publishes their research and it may be possible for a volunteer's work to be published if the volunteer is there for long enough.

Monday - Friday

How many hours per day?

9:00 - 5:00

All sorts of low-income community members, although the majority will be adults.

A background in field research is useful, but not essential.

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Initiative, outgoing, strong communication skills, organized, strong research skills.

Lima is a city of 10 million (though some estimates put the population as high as 15) divided into 50 districts, steeped in culture and rife with history. Founded on the original site of Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizzaro's landing, Lima sits directly on the Pacific coast, stretches inland to the foothills of the Andes in the east, and edges the deserts to the south.

The geographic and historical disparity that surrounds this largest city in Peru is mirrored in the people, culture, and nature of Lima. It's not uncommon to see Franciscan priests walking the ocean view promenades, while bankers and businessmen hustle past emailing on their cell phones, as a polio crippled child sits begging for money. Polluted and poverty-laden in parts, lavish and excessive in others, you can see on a daily basis the well entrenched class system that rewards few and handicaps many.

Lima was the original landing site of Fransisco Pizarro, the Spanish conquistador who would later effectively end the rule of the Incas and their last king Tupac Amaru. While Pizarro's deeds here in Peru read like a demon's resume, the inherent scope and bravado of his endeavor makes his story fit for the silver screen. An important port since its inception, Lima has the Spanish footprint firmly imbedded on its architecture and culture.

The temperature never varies much in Lima, usually within 5 degrees of 20 C year-round. During the summer months (December to March) it is sunny and occasionally gets up to 30 C. In the winter (April to November) it is usually 15-20 C and cloudy, although it rarely rains.

Where to begin. Lima holds pretty much every distraction that any traveler could wish for. Surfing in the Pacific, museums and cathedrals (with CATACOMBS!), paragliding, fine restaurants (unreal sushi!), and a great night life are all easily accessible.

Lima is a large South American city and contains all the annoyances and conveniences that come such a status. Upscale shopping centers, gorgeous cathedrals, hopping discotheques, first-rate movie theatres, and even a bowling alley are all within blocks of our office. Though the district where our BaseCamp Center is located, Miraflores, remains largely safe and can be walked comfortably at most hours, crime remains a problem in most of Lima and every traveler should be wary. Security guards and police officers are a common sight and most take special care to make sure tourists go unmolested.

As the entry point for most foreign travelers, every point of interest in Peru is easily accessed via Lima by bus or plane. The beaches of Mancorra and the funky town of Trujillo to the North are a $30 bus ride away. The Nazca Lines and Baellstas Islands are only hours south. Mountain biking in Arequipa and the home of the famous pisco sour is near by. And of course the town of Cusco, set amid the Andes, holds the door to Macchu Picchu, Chococurrou, and many of the rich trekking opportunities that Peru holds. Also Puno and Lake Titicaca (the Islands of the Sun are gorgeous) are a flight away. All of these trips can be done in a weekend, though we recommend taking your time.

You will be taking a combi (bus) which is the most common way of getting around in Lima. Combis vary widely in terms of size and condition, and can fit anywhere between 10 and 40 people (but during rush hour people are squeezed in). Each combi costs between 1-2 soles (30-80 cents) depending on the distance you are travelling. For some placements you will have to switch buses one or more times.