Summary
Ancestral water conservation techniques in the andean highlands of Lima, in Peru, were put in practice to deal with climate change and the hydrological crisis. At more than 3,000 meters above sea level, the peasant community of San Pedro de Casta implements this knowledge to guarantee the future of its community and of the 10.8 million Lima residents, its territory and their traditions.
The comuneros dedicate themselves, with some private help, to "plant" and "harvest" water to capture and distribute water in the subsoil when the rains come.
This is an ongoing project that questions how people focused on maintaining their relationship with their territory in a climate change context. I learned about this tradition and practice of the community of San Pedro de Casta when I visited them a couple of times in 2021. I talk to people so they get to know me, to see how important is to share their story as an example of a practice that could help to guarantee water in the Lima region. In fact I get to know that other communities near the area are interest in replicate this tradition to have water during all the year. I've always have an interest on andean traditions because of my own heritage. During my professional practice as a Photographer and a journalist I've learned how relevant is to create that link with the continuous changes that we experience as the climate change issue. It's important to me that they understand what I am doing so they share their experiences and I let me be creative being respectful for their traditions, and the moments they let me share with them. I intend to use this grant to pay the expenses to the San Pedro de Casta community and document their life. So their practice are better known, but also understand to give them the power to be their own agents and to share to the development of this country.
