The UNACEM Association turns 22 and in all this time has benefited more than 1.9 million people with community infrastructure works. It has built more than 11 kilometers of stairs and 12 kilometers of containment walls, more than 70,000 m² of paths and 182,000 m² of tracks. It has also improved 266 educational institutions, 52 parks and 99 sports slabs; It has rehabilitated 70 communal premises and 20 spaces for common pots. In water infrastructure, it has executed 79 works such as channels, reservoirs and dams. On this work we talk with Irene Arellano, executive director of the Association.
What does the 22 years of the UNACEM association mean for you?
We are a non -profit organization. We were born in 2003, we are part of the UNACEM group and we have a shared purpose that is: United we grow to build a sustainable world. And this purpose is built based on a lot of work of decades. These 22 years mark a turning point where we recognize the legacy and all the development projects we have built. But we also ambition to be allies for the development in the future. Continue building and catalyzing the development where we are.
And in that work to provide development, what have been the most representative projects?
In these 22 years we have promoted projects of all kinds, but in two main lines: community and social infrastructure that we work hand in hand with the community and with local, regional and national governments; and that of welfare promotion. One of the projects that proud is the paving of 21 streets in José Gálvez, in the district of Villa María del Triunfo. Not only do we talk about local infrastructure works, but of works that change lives. This is the case of Mr. Eber, leader of a motorcycle taxi drivers in the area, who could not go to work because the streets in poor condition always spoiled some of his motorcycle taxi, that meant an extra cost. With paving, today more than 500 motorcycleoxists can go to work without problems. In addition, the value of houses has increased and improves access to businesses. We are not talking only about cement but of development.
What is the model they apply to generate this development?
We catalyze the community itself as the protagonist of its development. What does it mean? We have a participatory work model with the community. Articulating efforts and resources from different actors we strengthen capabilities. Through the work of the association, not only projects, stairs, works, communal premises are delivered, but there is a social organization strengthened for the development of its community.
If we talk about beneficiary families, how many are in these more than two decades?
There are 1.9 million people to whom we have reached directly through our more than two thousand works that we have catalyzed with the community and through all the well -being initiatives we have.
And how have they measured the impact?
In the UNACEM association we are obsessed with the idea of transforming lives. For example, our welfare line is work with common pots. We work with 100% common pots in the Pachacámac district, they are more or less 97. We started in pandemic and we realized that they not only require food donation. But also strengthen their abilities such as leadership and how to make each sun give up more at the same time make nutritional meals. Another group wanted to make ventures. Today, 100% of the leaders have improved security practices in food management. And 80% of those who undertook improved their income. For example, Celia, who is the leader of the Ortos de Manchay pot, cooking on dirt floor. Thanks to the Manka Cusi program, he received training, we gave him a module with a concrete floor, basic infrastructure, furniture and access to water. Today Celia not only works with the association, works with NGOs and is capturing more resources and projects in favor of her community.
How is the work linked to local governments and other institutions?
In 2023 we launched the allied concursable fund. Every year we see the infrastructure gaps in the communities and receive many support orders. We decided to create a competitive fund that catalogs economic resources, donation of some materials, but that adds the effort of the community and the contribution of the local authority. This is how from the competitive fund of allies we have promoted more than 20 works. The UNACEM Association contributes 20% or 30% of the total value and the rest is the contribution of the community and the local authority. We work to realize those works that would not otherwise be possible.
How important are these alliances?
We cannot pretend to promote development projects if we do not build trust among the actors and that is something that promotes the contestable fund. The work is born from the need of the community and designed it in a participatory manner. The project, through the competitive fund, is evaluated by an external committee with experts from the academy and civil society. When these social organizations win the contest is articulated with other actors and the work is delivered at the end of the period that is determined.
What message would you give to the community and its leaders?
First thank them because we are developing an example of how to build a country. It is through the trust and articulated work that we build a better Peru, with sustainable development. And the example that we live through the UNACEM Association projects is the example that we want to radiate throughout the country. We need to work articulated, private sector, academy, public sector together with international cooperation.
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