The 80% in Lima and Shanty Towns

While we were walking through Lima, we learned about the 80% of Peruvians. Those are the people who have been forced to move to the city but have no skills and no ability to earn a living. They became squatters and slowly but surely, they built small shanties on the sides of the hills. Soon the houses were built into communities, and the people continue to live on the hills. In order to make money, they form small shops or sell on the streets. Some sell trinkets; some sell foodstuffs; some sell clothing. All are trying to support their families, as none of them receive any sort of government help or support. The government does not offer any sort of social security or retirement, and only 20% of the workers in Peru have jobs with benefits. One of our guides lost her husband to a heart attack several years ago. Before that, they have private health insurance, retirement, and other benefits. Once he lost his job, she had to go on the state health insurance, which is far worse than any medicaid program we have in the US. She works hard but she does not make enough money - even though she is well-educated - to pay for health insurance. Most of the 80% have subsistence farms, where they can feed their families and perhaps sell some of the rest. But when they can sell an apple for 1 sol - 30 cents - they struggle. Sometimes a person may only make 30 soles per day, so they do the best they can, but it isn't easy. The shanty towns are everywhere - sometimes next door to very expensive homes - yet the people seem fairly content with their lives. They are a very hard-working people.