ReSurge International’s roots are in Latin America. Their first volunteer medical trips were to Mexico; they have worked in Ecuador, and in Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Peru, they have well-established sustainable, year-round programs to treat the poor. I was privileged to accompany ReSurge International on one of its medical mission to the beautiful country of Peru and want to share with you some of its history and culture, and the work ReSurge International does among its people.

Bordered by Ecuador, Columbia, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile and the Pacific Ocean, Peru’s estimated population of over 30.4 million people makes it the fifth most populous country in South America. It is a beautifully bio-diverse country with habitats ranging from the arid plains of the Pacific coastal region, to the peaks of the Andes Mountains, to the tropical Amazon Basin rainforest.
As diverse as its landscape, is Peru’s ancestral make-up. Peru was home to ancient cultures spanning from the Norte Chico civilization in Caral, one of the oldest in the world, to the Inca Empire, the largest state in Pre-Columbian America. The Spanish Empire conquered the region in the 16th century adding its influence to the Amerindian cultures as have some African, and Asian cultures.
Language is a big factor and potential barrier when working within Peru. While Spanish is the official governmental language, Amerindians who live in the Andean highlands speak Quechua and Aymara.
Peru’s distinct geographical regions are mirrored in a language divide between the coast where Spanish is more predominant over the Amerindian languages, and the more diverse traditional Andean cultures of the mountains and highlands. The indigenous populations east of the Andes speak various languages and dialects. Some of these groups still adhere to traditional indigenous languages.
It is important to note that as late as 2013, there are still at least ten uncontacted Amerindian tribes, mainly located in the Andes highlands and the Amazon River basin.
ReSurge International first began sending surgical team trips to Peru in 1981 and thirty-three years later, Peru is now host to two of ReSurge’s Surgical Outreach Programs, making year-round access to reconstructive surgical care possible for children and adults with disabling burns and clefts. ReSurge is committed to promoting sustainability and self-sufficiency among its Peruvian medical partners. To that end, the visiting Educator Training program was introduced in Peru in 2001. Through surgical team trips, the outreach centers and visiting educator workshops, ReSurge has had a lasting impact and has donated nearly $14 million worth of free medical services to Peru’s poor.
Frida and I are proud that Barco’s Nightingales Foundation is a part of ReSurge International and the wonderful medical outreach provided to the people of Peru on a regular basis
~Michael and Frida Donner
Photos courtesy of Mary Beth Aufmuth