Summary
Highlights
In Peru, 80-year-old Jaime exemplifies resilience, cutting and selling a ton of wood three times a week to supplement his small pension. He operates an old, 35-year-old van, navigating difficult roads alone, a testament to his determination in a country where one must 'get up early to get by'.
Peru is a land of extreme contrasts, featuring the towering Andes and the vast Amazon rainforest. The rainforest, covering 60% of the country, is notorious for its extremely poor roads, making the transportation of goods a constantly dangerous endeavor, whether by land or water. Despite the peril, Peruvians maintain a philosophical approach, living by the motto: 'never give up'.
Ignacio, a trader in the Ene River valley, buys cacao and coffee but finds his greatest success with bananas. He transports his goods using a 60-year-old American military truck, praising its reliability. By night, he transforms into an evangelical pastor, spreading the Word of God and highlighting the struggles his community faces, relating their trials to biblical teachings.
Ignacio and his driver embark on a perilous 30-kilometer journey on mountain tracks to collect bananas. The road conditions are so severe that they constantly face obstacles, requiring them to clear paths and fill holes with logs. Despite Ignacio's strong faith, the journey is a test of endurance and ingenuity, highlighting the extreme difficulty of transporting goods in the region.
Ignacio's resilience is rooted in his traumatic past. He recounts witnessing massacres during Peru's internal conflict (1980-2000) and being abducted by the Shining Path guerrillas at age six, forced to become a child soldier. This painful history drives his determination and empathy, especially for orphans, shaping his mission to help others.
The Ashaninka people in Ignacio's isolated region face new threats from heavily armed drug traffickers who grow coca on their land. Lacking government support, the community's self-defense committee, with limited weapons, patrols to protect their crops. The abandonment by the state is also evident in the neglected health center, where sick children often lack medical care.
Angel, also indigenous, leads an association to help the Ashaninka tribe escape poverty and resist coca cultivation. He advocates for market-driven solutions, encouraging farmers to sell their produce directly to improve their quality of life. His work involves traveling treacherous roads, facing landslides and advocating for better infrastructure to connect indigenous communities to markets.
Poor-quality roads cripple the Peruvian economy, with heavy-weight vehicle drivers like Gerardo facing daily dangers. He recounts being stranded for three days without food, protecting his cargo from theft. Sonya and her husband, who drive their own lorry, endure four-day journeys for minimal distances, illustrating the immense personal and financial sacrifices made by drivers in this challenging environment.
In the Amazon, waterways replace roads, and boats connect villages. Pablo, an Ashaninka leader, travels by boat to advocate for road access for his village, highlighting the high cost and dangers of river transport due to whirlpools and submerged debris. In Atalaya, motor tricycles are the primary mode of transport, providing a crucial but low-paying livelihood for many, including farmers accessing markets.
Ignacio's team continues their slow progress toward the banana plantations, tirelessly clearing paths. He mentors Eder, a young man who escaped a difficult childhood and found guidance through Ignacio. After finally reaching the plantations and harvesting bananas, their old truck overheats, a result of damage sustained during a river crossing. Despite the setback, Ignacio remains philosophical, seeing it as part of life's lessons.
Banana plantations face a new threat: grubs that destroy the plants. Farmers lack the funds for insecticides, making them vulnerable. Some Ashaninka consider growing coca due to higher profits. Angel (the indigenous person from 'An Angel Offering Alternatives to Coca Cultivation') tirelessly visits villages, promoting cacao and coffee as legitimate, profitable alternatives to coca, demonstrating successful plantations and encouraging community cooperatives.
The return journey is even more grueling for Ignacio and his team. After a 20-hour round trip for 60 kilometers, they earn a modest profit of €3,240 for 18 tons of bananas. Ignacio emphasizes that the real value lies in supporting farmers fairly and providing for his family, despite the immense challenges of infrastructure. He and other Peruvians hold onto the saying: 'he who moves forward little by little goes far,' hoping for better roads and a more comfortable future.