Journal
So far, the UMass Lowell community has made trips twice a year since 1997 to villages around the towns of Huarmey and Casma. The first was an exploratory trip, in the summer of 1997, in order to establish contact between the two communities, and to start the process of understanding. In this trip, as in all the rest, the assistance provided by the Society of Saint James the Apostle, and by the staffs of the parishes in Huarmey, Casma, Pariacoto, and Quillo, has been vital. The second trip, in January of 1998, was to gather more information, to meet with the hospital staff in Huarmey, and to provide some emergency financial assistance to help the relief effort from the devastating El Niño phenomenon. Trips in August of 1998, and January and July of 1999 saw the installation of solar equipment in eight different sites. In January of 2000, a group of nine continued installing components and upgrades to systems, and started laying the groundwork for a radio hub system. We have been back every January and every summer since.
The journals below contain pictures of people, places, and engineering works, as well as the participant comments, acknowledgements of benefactors, newspaper articles about the trips, and thoughts about future projects. Donations of laptop computers and equipment (as well as financial support, of course) are always needed and much appreciated, contact Professor John Duffy.
Please see the chart to find out what equipment has been installed at each site.
Slide show presentation 9-15-06
June, 2006 Journal (click for pdf file)
A record seventeen volunteers traveled to Peru to work in the mountains this summer. In Quillapampa, Kely Martinez' water purification system design (part of a senior-level course at UMass Lowell) became a reality as she and two others from the University built (with the help of school children and community residents) and tested the system. The team began the construction of a biodigester to transform crop and animal waste into cooking gas and fertilizer. They installed a radio system in the Huarmey police station as a backup for emergency transportation there and a solar-powered radio system in the clinic in Gramita. The team moved a radio system to a new location (the previous clinic was in danger of falling down the mountain) in Huallmi and added a photovotaic panel and vaccine refrigerator there. This trip initiated testing for possible internet access installation in the future. They also continued bacterial testing on local water systems.
January, 2006 trip (coming soon)
June, 2005 Journal (click for pdf file)
Professor Duffy and eight others worked together in this seventeenth trip from UMass Lowell to Peru. The team installed radios in medical clinics in Pampaconcha and Quillo. Most of the team spent almost a week in Utcu installing a photovoltaic pumping system that pumps water from a spring below the town to a 1100 liter tank above the town. They continued to collect information on patients at the volunteer physical therapy clinic in Huarmey and distributed donated equipment and materials. They repaired a prosthetic leg and fitted another one in Huarmey. They performed preventative maintenance on many village water systems and continued to test them for bacteria. In Huayash the team installed a new pump head for the water supply system and demonstrated a very effective and low-tech water purification technique (filling soda bottles and placing them on the roof for a day). They continued to replace laptops for schools and clinics with donations. They also distributed soccer balls and uniforms in Cochapeti. In addition to many other projects and tasks, the team installed in Fortaleza a second photovoltaic charging system.
January, 2005 Journal (click for pdf file)
Professor Duffy and six others traveled to Peru for a trip heavily tilted towards repairs and maintenance. They installed radios in Victoria and Huanchay-Huaraz and repaired a number of radio systems that had broken down since previous trips. They provided a radio for the ambulance of a volunteer fire department rescue unit in Huarmey. They reinstalled the solar sterilizer in Huamba, improving it with an anodized coating and an adapted pressure cooker. The team repaired radio systems at some very remote locations including Huayan (elevation 2700m or 8800 feet), and Pumapucllan (elevation 3450m or 11,200 feet). They also distributed more efficient pediatric oxygen masks to several clinics and examined some prosthetic devices developed for a number of villagers in Huarmey. They began to gather more information on people in the area with disabilities. The team also tested previously installed water purification systems in a number of villages and performed preventative maintenance on the microhydro system in San Miguel. They installed a new pump for the Huyash water supply system and began to develop a water supply system for Utcu. This trip provided laptops for a school in Colcap and replaced a number of failed laptops in various clinics. As part of a New England Biolabs Foundation grant the team installed a photovoltaic charging station in Quian to begin a solar lantern venture. The team distributed funds for various ventures including a trout-crayfish farm, a parish in Huarmey, and construction funds for the church in San Miguel.
January, 2004 (click for pdf file)
Professor Duffy and seven others including UMass Lowell students and staff traveled to Peru to complete the solar water pump, distribution, and filtration system for Huayash. They installed transceiver radios and antennas in Port, Huarmey, and Chacchan. They installed a complete solar radio and light system in the clinic at Fortaleza and repaired the solar radio system in Colcabamba. As a result, the clinics in Pumapucllanan, Chochabamba, Fotaleza, and Pariacoto can network with one another. The group installed a fluorescent light and nebulizer (for asthma treatment) in the clinic in Huamba. In San Miguel, they installed an additional solar panel at the school for laptop computers and a new inverter in the village's hydro system. In both San Miguel and Malvas the team continued developing aquaculture systems with local farmers. They continued nutrition and health surveys and distributed donated medicine and supplies and inquired at the hospital in Huarmey about designing and building assistive equipment for people with disabilities. Additionally, the crew performed preventative maintenance and small repairs in a number of schools and installed a new vaccine refrigerator in Quian.
Summer, 2003 (click for pdf file)
Professor Duffy and ten others including UMass Lowell students and alumni traveled to Peru to work on a solar water pump and distribution system and a sand filtration system for Huayash, a village of about 100 people. They erected and installed transceiver radios and antennas in Culebras and Pariacoto, and a solar radio and light system in the clinic at Pumapucllanan. The group installed several systems with photovoltaic panels and batteries in the schools of Lower Huamba, Quian, Erajirca, and Pilco. In Cochapeti they installed new light fixtures in the 400-year-old churchIn Quian they made the final connections between the water purification system and the water supply system that locals had completed since January. They also performed nutrition and healt surveys at two hospitals and twelve postas and performed a great deal of preventative maintenance and small repairs in clinics and schools.
Winter 2002-2003(pdf - 320k)
Professor Duffy traveled once more to Peru with 9 students. Solar radio and light systems were installed in Cochabomba and Chipre medical clinics as well as in the Cochapeti town hall and church. A Quian pressurization subsystem was installed for UV water purification. Quian water supply system was designed to draw water from a spring 1.5 km away from town. Laptop computers were installed in a Casma hospital (4), a Huarmey hospital (4), a Molino posta, a San Miguel school, Quian school, and a Malvas clinic thanks to Partners Health Care who donated them. Community health assessments were taken at 2 hospitals and 7 postas by UML nursing students. Possible sites for an aquaculture systems for Malvas (trout) and San Miguel (crayfish) were investigated Two PV modules were donated to a retreat house for youngsters near Lima. They started moving the hydro system from Cochapeti to Huamba because there was not enough water. The PV modules in Quian posta were removed for the new roof installation and then reinstalled.
Summer 2002(pdf - 436k)
Professor Duffy travelled again with nine students to oversee the design and installation of a solar-powered drinking water purification system in Quian. A radio network in a hospital in Casma and a medical post in Colcabamba was installed. A vaccine refrigerator solar system in the Huamba medical post was put into place. Twelve laptop computers installed so there are now PCs in two hospitals, ten medical posts, and four schools A PV system and laptop was moved from the old school in Cochapeti to the new school A new PV system for a laptop and light was installed in the school in San Miguel The inverter in the San Miguel hydro system was increased to improve nighttime light availability The hydro generator in Malvas was repaired. Headlamps with LED bulbs were given to several of the clinics for close work at night, along with solar battery chargers
Winter 2001-2002(pdf - 351k)
Professor Duffy traveled to Peru with nine students. They needed to adjust the radio frequencies to reduce interference. They replaced the vaccine refrigerator in San Miguel since the propane one was not working. The clinic crew installed panels that were donated by Evergreen Solar. The hydro group went about implementing plans for a new hydro facility. Since the location changed, the wire was not of sufficient length to reach the village. In Malvas, the systems were checked and new software was installed in the schools. In Cochapeti, the turbine generator unit was replaced and some new plumbing was put into place. A new vaccine refrigerator was also installed in Quian and a malfunctioning one in Raypa was replaced with a larger one that had been taken from Cochapeti.
Summer 2001(pdf - 163k)
Professor Duffy traveled with another seven students to Peru. The goals of this trip included installing a microhydro station in Cochapeti, installing vaccine refrigerators in Raypa and Cochapeti, and installing several other PV units in Cochapeti and Raypa. Another goal was to investigate the potential for aquaculture in Malvas and to measure the bacteria content in the waters of six towns. The existing installations were checked and recalibrated as necessary.
Winter 2000-2001(pdf - 169k)
Seven students, with Professor Duffy and Father Charles Stanley, meet up with a group in Peru. During the trip Professor Duffy gave a presentation on solar and alternative energy to the students and faculty of the UNI. The group went to Huarmey to install a packet radio email system to communicate with the data logging stations in Malvas and Cochapeti. This will send the logged data back to UMass Lowell. At Huamba, the group installed a larger antenna to improve communication and checked on the medical installation. A PV and light system was installed in the Church at San Miguel. In Malvas, work was done at the medical installation and the hydro facility. The group installed lights at a church, school dorm, and a school.
A detailed webpage walkthrough of the Peru Trip January '01
Winter 1999-2000
Professor Duffy and eight students and alumni return to the region, in order to upgrade the equipment in Malvas (including putting in a repeater radio to form the hub of a network and installing a PV-powered filter system for the small swimming pool), put a 5 watt radio in Huamba, lighting in Molino, a radio in Huayan, a radio in Quian, a refrigerator and solar cooker in Cochapeti, and a radio and lighting in San Miguel. In order to do this, panels and batteries are installed in Molino, Quian, Cochapeti, and San Miguel.
Summer 1999
Professor Duffy and Father Paul return to Peru with five students. A passive solar water purifier is constructed from locally available materials, including llama and sheep wool for insulation, and is installed in the community of Huayan. Further panels are installed at the Malvas clinic, to meet growing energy needs. A charging station is installed at the school in Malvas, as a test program for generating some funds for the school and inspiring local economic activity. A large workshop is held in Malvas - 16 people get certificates in solar power studies. A vaccine refrigerator is put in Quian, with more panels and batteries. Lights are put in Raypa.
Winter 1998-1999 (Report 1/Report 2) (pdf - 72k/58k)
Five students and Professor Duffy return to Peru. A training session in solar power is held in Malvas. Much time is spent training technicians to service the Malvas system. Consultations are held with various AID agencies about long term funding for the project. A passive solar water heater - a pot at the focus of a 5-foot parabolic dish - is installed at the clinic in Malvas, to boil water for the sterilization of instruments and to obtain pure water. The site in Huamba is updated, and training is done with the local technicians. Lights are put in Cochapeti, Huayan, and Quian, with batteries and solar panels. Further consultations are held with the medical staff in the Huarmey hospital.
Summer 1998
Five students, with Professor Duffy, go to Peru to begin the solar installations. A radio is installed in the hospital in Huarmey, with a directional antenna. Solar panels are installed on the roof of the clinic in the mountain community of Malvas. Batteries and a charge controller are wired into the circuit. A thermo-coupled vaccine refrigerator is installed in Malvas, running off of the photo-voltaic charged batteries. An antenna is raised on a thirty foot pole in Malvas, and communication is established with Huarmey. Portable lanterns, examination lights, and an overhead light are put in the Malvas clinic. A small system - one PV, one battery, and a couple of lights, are put in a village called Huamba.
Winter 1997-1998
Father Paul returns to Huarmey to continue the contact, and begin meeting with hospital officials about the proposed project: solar electrification in mountain communities where there is no electricity - for vaccine refrigeration, lights, and radio communication. We assist with disaster relief at the beginning of the El Niño phenomenon by purchasing tin roofing to protect emergency shelters in eight different communities.
Summer 1997
Father Paul and a group of five undergraduates, with the assistance of the Society of Saint James, travel in the Andes in the region of Huarmey, visiting people’s homes, mothers’ clubs, schools, clinics, churches - in an attempt to make a first contact between the University and the people, and to try to begin to understand their reality.
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