Peru Facts

Hola!  That’s “hello” in Spanish, the official language in Peru. This beautiful country in South America is home to the Amazon Rainforest and the archaeological wonder Machu Picchu. Learn more facts about Peru here.

A lush green landscape with cows in the foreground and rolling hills in the background.

5 Facts About Peru

Here are five fun facts about Peru: 

Map of Peru

Where Is Peru?

Peru is the third largest country in South America. The country shares borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, Brazil and Bolivia.  

Key Challenges in Peru & Our Response

Peru is an incredible country, featuring lush rainforests and breathtaking mountain peaks. But Peru is also home to millions of children who live in devastating poverty. 

Lack of Education 

In Peru, while public education is free, many families can’t afford the costs required for uniforms, books, school supplies and transportation. This leaves many children unable to access the critical education they need to develop and grow. 

Unfortunately, without an education, children can’t obtain the skills they need to generate incomes as adults, perpetuating the cycle of poverty. 

Our Response: Providing Education & Vocational Training 

Compassion partners with local churches in impoverished communities to provide education to every child we serve. We provide tuition support, uniforms, supplies and tutoring. 

As children grow, we offer vocational training, helping children pursue their dreams. Through education, children grow into self-sufficient adults who can provide for their families and journey out of poverty. 

Dangerously Remote Communities 

Some areas throughout Peru are dangerously remote. For example, children living in communities in the Andes and the Amazon rainforest lack access to basic services like clean water and medical care. 

Our Response: Reaching Children in Underserved Areas 

Through the Compassion program, we partner with local churches to reach children and families in underserved areas. We work to meet their right-now needs, like food and medical care, as well as their long-term needs, like income generation opportunities.

Our Impact in Peru

Over the years, Compassion has seen thousands of children’s lives changed through our child sponsorship program in Peru. 

90,771

children served (and counting)

276

churches served.

38

years serving.
A young girl in a purple dress gets her heart checked by a nurse with a stethoscope.

Children Receive Their First Medical Checkup Through Compassion

In the Peruvian rainforest, medical exams are hard to come by. Checkups are a luxury many parents living in poverty just can't afford. But through Compassion, children in Peru and beyond are receiving critical medical care.  

An African woman and a young African girl sit next to eat other holding eggs and moringa leaves.

Healthy Nutrition Helps Peruvian Children Grow

Luciana from Peru has a favorite dish: fish with plantains. And through the local church, she has access to what her family needs to enjoy healthy meals like this one each day. See other favorite dishes from around the world. 

Fight Child Poverty: Give Right-Now Care & Eternal Hope

Nutritious food. Medical care. Protection from harm. Hope. These are just some of the critical, right-now needs of children living in poverty. Help us fight child poverty by meeting these needs and sharing the lasting hope of the gospel. 

Sponsor a Child

By sponsoring a child, you empower a local church to share the gospel by meeting the needs of a child’s body, mind and spirit. Through sponsorship, you’ll help deliver medical care, hygiene training, education, malnutrition monitoring and so much more to a child in need. 

Pray

Jeremiah 33:3 says that if we call on God, he will answer us. When we lift up children living in poverty, God hears us, and we can trust he’s working on their behalf. Join us in praying daily for children living in poverty by becoming a prayer partner.

Donate

Children living in poverty face many challenges, from a lack of medical care to dangerous living conditions. You can provide immediate support by donating to fulfill a right-now need.