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The Denan Project extended its medical humanitarian efforts to the Andean highlands of Peru by opening a health center in the remote village of Uratari in 2010. For the first time, free health care was made available to the area’s extremely poor indigenous communities, and an ambulance enabled regular medical outreach to distant villages.
In 2024, TDP achieved its goal of self-sustainability in Uratari, transferring operational responsibility to Red Norte, the local Ministry of Health. TDP then turned its attention to Cusibamba, another impoverished village in the Andean highlands. The Denan Project identified Cusibamba, located in Paruro Province, as its next project site. Cusibamba sits at approximately 11,000 feet in the high Andes and is about a two-hour drive from the city of Cusco, where the nearest doctors and dentists are located.
50 disadvantaged students received financial support to attend Cusibamba Boarding High School (2025).
New Cusibamba Health Center began operations on August 16, 2024.
72,000 patients treated through June 2022.
Maternal mortality reduced to zero, from 1 in 7 prior to program launch.
Uratari Health Center named Outstanding Medical Facility by the Cusco Ministry of Health (2012).
32 micro-loans distributed across four remote villages.
Two preschools fully furnished and equipped with kitchens, running water, and electricity.
High school honors program launched in 2015.
First college scholarship recipient graduated in June 2017.
To address the area’s significant medical needs as quickly as possible, The Denan Project’s Health Center in Uratari initially opened in a temporary facility on August 20, 2010. Through extraordinary determination and all-volunteer construction efforts by residents of Uratari and surrounding villages, the permanent facilities were officially inaugurated on May 16, 2011.
Today, the Health Center includes examination and treatment rooms, ultrasound equipment, a maternity ward, a physician’s office, a fully equipped dental clinic, a laboratory, a pharmacy, an inpatient facility, a kitchen, bathrooms, a medicinal garden, and housing for key personnel. The Center is staffed by a physician, a dentist, a nurse-midwife, a nurse who also serves as the pharmacist, and a cleaner. Security is provided by local villagers. An ambulance supports emergency care as well as regular medical outreach to distant communities.
The staff is fluent in Quechua, the local language spoken by descendants of the ancient Incas. Notably, this Health Center is the only medical facility in Peru where the entire staff speaks Quechua. For many patients, it provided their first-ever access to dental health services.
On August 16, 2024, TDP began operations at its new health center in the village of Cusibamba, located in Paruro Province. TDP also plans to expand medical outreach services to surrounding communities.
In April 2013, we awarded two all-expenses-paid scholarships to top graduates of the newly established high school in Uratari. This marked the first time students from this remote region of the High Andes were given the opportunity to pursue higher education at no cost to themselves or their families.
In 2015, we instituted the Golden Condor Scholar Awards to incentivize high academic achievement among students and their families. Presented at the end of each semester, these awards recognize the top three students in each of the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades at the local high school. Each award consists of a certificate and a $50 stipend—an amount of significant value in this impoverished region.
In 2024, we established a student health club and began providing support to underserved children from Cusibamba and surrounding villages to help remove financial barriers to accessing education.
We provide funding for microloan projects that support sustainable livelihoods. These projects include beekeeping, the raising of cuyes (guinea pigs—an important part of the High Andes diet since the time of the ancient Incas), and other community-initiated projects. The microloan program has achieved a near-100 percent repayment rate.
The Denan Project works in partnership with local communities, schools, government leaders, and nonprofit organizations to advance its programs.
President of the community of Colcha.
Head of the Colcha High School.
The Community of Colcha.
The Community of Urinccoscco.
Head of the Urinccoscco High School.
Mayor of Quiquijana District.
Wilbert Rozas
former Congressman representing Cusco and former Minister of the Environment of Peru.
TEEEM
US-based nonprofit organization.
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