Peru's development has been held back by corruption, natural disasters, civil war and political crisis. The country suffers from high levels of underemployment, with limited employment opportunities for young people, which leads many of them to resort to informal work or migration - both internally and internationally.

While the country's human rights record has improved in recent years, various governments' efforts to address the problems of social and economic inequality have been unsuccessful. Peru's indigenous communities - up to half of the country's population - are disproportionately affected by poverty and inequality.

The YMCA has been present in Peru since 1920. Y Care International has been working in Peru since 1993, in partnership with Trujillo YMCA. Our work has focused on addressing the education, health and employment needs of a community of refuse sorters in the shanty town of El Milagro.