About Villa El Salvador, Peru

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Basic Information

Founded: May 11, 1971
Population: 400,000 (estimate)
Political Division: 11 sectors

History of the community

Villa El Salvador was born in 1971 as part of the social upheaval that began in the country in the late 1960s.

Peru began to change radically in 1968, when Gen. Juan Velasco took power in a military coup, toppling then-President Fernando Belaunde. Gen. Velasco, who headed a left-wing military junta (1968-75), undertook massive reforms to change the way the country was run. Agrarian reform was started, nearly all major industries were nationalized and the generals made an effort to break the oligarchy's grip on politics and the economy.

In April 1971, a group of nearly 200 poor families living in inner-city Lima slums, emboldened by the military government's promises, decided to "invade" a tract of desert on the outskirts of the city. In less than two days they were joined by 9,000 people.

The government reacted violently to the land grab, sending in troops to evict the invaders. Two young men were killed in the standoff, and many more were injured and detained. In an effort to peacefully solve the conflict, Velasco's government offered the families a massive plot of land in what was known as Tablada de Lurin, some 25 km. further south of Metropolitan Lima. The government also promised to provide basic services such as water, electricity, sewers and access roads. On May 11, 1971, nearly 7,000 families were relocated in the sand dunes of Tablada de Lurin and Villa El Salvador was born.

Since its start, Villa El Salvador has been known as a "self-managed" community. The first residents had to pressure the government for basic services. What sets Villa El Salvador apart from other pueblos jóvenes (literally "young towns") in Lima is its planned growth. The founders of the community drew up plans for expansion in sectors (there are currently 11 sectors) and set aside land for agriculture, industry, schools, clinics and parks. After all these years the original space for a general hospital and the university remain untouched, and residents still have hope that they will someday soon see these two projects come to life.

Villa El Salvador continues to maintain its original plan, which includes 24 homes per block, 16 blocks make up a residential group and 28-30 groups constitute a sector. It was officially incorporated as one of Lima's 43 districts in 1983.

The population exploded once the first settlers began to build their homes. The number of people in the new town rose from 11,000 in 1971 to 109,165 by 1973. The population now stands at around 400,000.

Villa El Salvador became a target for the Shining Path guerrilla group throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. According to founding mayor, Michel Azcueta, the guerrillas saw Villa El Salvador as a stumbling block to their plans to bring Lima's poor into the war against the state. Azcueta narrowly escaped an assassination attempt and a car bomb destroyed much of city hall. In early 1992, the guerrillas assassinated Lt. Mayor Maria Elena Moyano. Moyano was a women's leader, community activist and militant of the United Left coalition. Her death sparked a massive wave of protests against the Shining Path, with many people deciding to openly criticize the guerrillas despite threats of reprisals.

The Shining Path began to unravel nationwide in late 1992 with the arrest of its principal leaders.

Today, the city's original sectors are vibrant commercial and residential areas. Years of organized demands and protests have resulted in near total coverage in terms of electricity, water and paved roads in the more established sectors. The newest sectors, which have sprung up since the early 1990s, have access to electricity and water is delivered by truck several times a week.

Villa El Salvador, despite its over 35 years of existence, is a young community. In the most recent census (1993), 48.2 percent of the population was under the age of 20. People over the age of 50 account for about 10 percent of the population.

Despite the fact that Villa El Salvador is built on desert hills that drop down toward the Pacific Ocean, the proximity to the water keeps humidity high year round.

 

Adopt-a-Grandparent wishes to thank authors Enrique Bossio and the staff of Cross-Cultural Solutions Peru (including Antonio Palomino) for their contribution of this article.