Hatters Explorer Scout Unit Sustainable Agriculture Project in Viacha (Peru)

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1 Hatters Explorer Scout Unit Sustainable Agriculture Project in Viacha (Peru) The Hatters Explorer Scout Unit Southgate District Scout Council Registered Charity no

2 THE HATTERS AND THE PROJECT BACKGROUND Hello. We are the Hatters Explorer Scout Unit from Southgate, North London. We're a committed group of young people, aged 14-18, who as part of the worldwide family of Scouts have promised to do our best and to help other people - both our local community and those not so close to home. In August of us, with 15 Leaders, are travelling to Viacha, a small community in the Peruvian Andes, to build a thermal mass greenhouse - which we have also committed to pay for. We are working alongside local charity 'Living Heart Peru' to enable the community in Viacha to build an insulated, thermal mass greenhouse from mud brick walls, a wooden roof frame and finally a plastic roof. The greenhouse will enable the village to grow a range of vegetables and salads whereas they are currently restricted to only potatoes. Building the greenhouse will not only make a huge difference to the people in this village, but will have a real impact on the lives of the Explorer Scouts committed to this project.

3 In Viacha, a combination of weather, climate and poor soil mean that it is extremely difficult to grow anything other than potatoes. Furthermore, the distance from Viacha to the nearest major town, Cusco, and poor infrastructure means there are very few opportunities for the villagers to work and earn money. The leader team have been planning with Living Heart Peru since early It is a brilliant and ambitious charity; in more accessible villages they have built three successful thermal mass greenhouses. These are typically 100m long with mud and stone walls, a wooden frame and plastic roof. The greenhouse retains temperature and moisture so that a variety of herbs, salads and vegetables can be cultivated all year round. Living Hear Peru are limited in how many of these greenhouses they can build and where they can build them; there is just one full time member of staff. The Hatters have committed to finance and build the greenhouse in Viacha with the help of the charity, some Scouts from Peru and the village. USING THIS GREENHOUSE, FOOD CAN BE GROWN IN ABUNDANCE.

4 The Explorer Scouts will be working alongside, eating and socialising with the people in Viacha which will be an incredible opportunity, but this isn t a holiday, everyone will be working hard, at high altitude. The amazing young people who have volunteered for this project know that they will have to work hard, show great maturity and leadership, while working together as a team, all very important skills for life. They will be supported throughout by a carefully selected team of adult scout leaders. It will be challenging for all, but vastly rewarding. Our plans have come a long way, but one of the largest hurdles is raising the 60,000 we need to buy the materials and tools to build the greenhouse, and provide all the equipment Viacha needs to build a sustainable food supply. Each explorer and leader is also putting in half of the money it will cost per person and we are fundraising the rest. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE THIS PROJECT HAPPEN.

5 We have the energy, passion, dedication and commitment to raise as much as we can to help fund this important project. We have already raised 19,000 (August 2017) and have a whole calendar of activities and events planned to help us keep raising funds: cakes sales, bag packing, quiz nights, sponsored walks, a disco, Christmas tree sales and more. Please consider making a donation to support our work for the community of Viacha. To pledge your support, or to ask any questions, please contact Dan Ingle, our Explorer Scout Leader: hatters.esu@gmail.com For information about Hatters ESU and project updates please visit: You can donate directly via You can find more information on our experienced leader team on the website, too. Just go to