The Commission for Development and Life without Drugs (DEVIDA), with support from USAID, conducted last weekend three Caravans for Development and Inclusion (known as “Caravanas por el Desarrollo”).  These caravans are community events that bring much-needed public services to areas that had suffered under the domination of narcotics traffickers.  USAID and the Government of Peru have been organizing these caravans since 2006.  On this occasion three caravans were held, two of them in the Monzón Valley (Huánuco Region), in the communities of Chipaquillo and Caunarapa.  The Monzon Valley caravan gathered about three thousand residents of surrounding areas.  The third caravan was held in Huipoca (Ucayali Region) on Saturday, December 14, 2013, and on Sunday, December 15, 2013.  At these third caravan nearly three thousand residents of the communities participated.  In Huipoca, DEVIDA, with support from USAID, is installing 800 hectares of cocoa, among other benefits.  In the case of Monzon Valley 41 commitments have been signed with communities to install 1,500 hectares of coffee and cocoa.

During 2013 DEVIDA, with support from USAID, has organized 11 caravans for development.  These events were attended by not less than twenty-seven thousand inhabitants (50% of them women).  At these caravans people were brought together to share in the virtues and benefits of a licit lifestyle.  During a caravan, community members can see a doctor, connect to important Peruvian programs like school nutrition, scholarships, and publicly funded pension programs.  In addition, Peruvians can register for national identification cards, which are needed to enter the formal economy and undertake vital activities, including getting land titles, opening bank accounts, applying for loans, receiving government services, and voting.  For many, the caravans are the first positive interaction they have ever had with public officials.  These caravans helped to create a favorable behavior change towards legitimate economies.