BWB Pisco Reconstruction Project

Burners without Borders completed our  first international deployment in October 2008-The Pisco Reconstruction Project

The Pisco Reconstruction Project began in response to the August 15th 2007 earthquake, which devastated the Pisco, Peru region and left over 80,000 people homeless.  After nine months of hard work and generous financial support from individuals all over the world, BWB’s creativity and successes can be seen throughout Pisco and the surrounding towns. Through partnerships with UN, UNICEF, South American Red Cross and many other groups, BWB has proven to be a major player in the field of international relief work.

The completion of this project not only provided the much-needed assistance to the Peruvians, but also allowed BWB to welcome many new international faces to our community. Over sixty percent of BWB volunteers were new to the Burner community and many of those participated in this year’s Burning Man event. At the close of operations, we welcomed 369 volunteers representing 34 countries, yielding over 56,000 hours of gifted man-hours.  These volunteers, the Burner community, and the international philanthropic community, came together to raise over $90,000, which provided funding for a multitude of projects.

Here’s a quick look at the successes of BWB’s volunteer workforce, keep an eye on the website for our more in depth closeout report:

• Three complete school reconstructions providing   classrooms to over 250 students 
• Over 100 temporary homes consructed
• Thirteen sanitation units providing running water and facilities to over 50 families
• Partnerships with major NGOs and government agencies including the United Nations, UNICEF, CARITAS, FURSUR, and more
• An environmental interpretive center ran by an eco-conscious fishing organization
• Governmental planning meetings focused on redevelopment based on environmental sustainability and ecotourism
• Weekly youth development, education, and English language classes
• Thousands of hours in direct family assistance projects

One of our most exciting accomplishments is the assisted formation and operation of Pisco Sin Fronteras, a Peruvian operated NGO formed from the energy of BWB’s efforts.  The fulfillment of our mission requires us to fill the gaps of traditional infrastructure.  What larger gap is there than sustainable long-term assistance?  With the creation of PSF, BWB’s work continued until we finally closed up operations in December 2012.

Gallery: Pisco, Peru