By Bosco Bampembe, Chair of the Montreal diocesan council and participant in the 2026 solidarity trip
There are some trips from which we bring back photographs; others leave us with questions that linger long after we return. The solidarity trip organized by Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada (DPCC) with its partner, the Bartolomé de Las Casas Institute (IBC; see website in Spanish), falls in the latter category.
From July 4 to 17, 2026, eight DPCC members from two francophone regions of Canada (Quebec and New Brunswick) traversed Peru to meet with communities, social organizations, Indigenous leaders and Church representatives committed to promoting social justice and human dignity. The goal was not to discover the Peru of postcards, but rather the Peru of the women and men who, despite the difficulties, work every day to defend their rights, their territory and their future.
In Lima, contrasts are striking and inequalities remain deep. To better understand this reality, we spent our first few days attending a series of lectures on the Peru’s social, economic, and political realities, followed by a visit to a unique public commemorative, educational and research institution called the Place of Memory, Tolerance, and Social Inclusion (LUM; see website in Spanish). These initial activities on the country’s situation and its recent history served as a reminder that a society cannot build its future without drawing on its own resources to address the challenges of the present and without healing the wounds of the past. We immediately realized that our stay would be, above all, a process of mutual listening and learning.
A few days later, we arrived in the city of Iquitos, in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon. Here, the river serves as the main thoroughfare, and the vastness of the forest stands in stark contrast to the hardships faced by the local communities. We met with DPCC’s partner, the Amazonian Center for Anthropology and Practical Application (CAAAP; see website in Spanish), social activists, representatives of the Organization of Indigenous Students of the Peruvian Amazon (OEPIAP) and the Vicariate of Water. This vicariate, created by the Most Rev. Miguel Cadenas, bishop of Iquitos, focusses on the practical and spiritual importance of water bodies; studies water-related problems and environmental health; and builds peoples’ capacity to advocate on water-related issues.
These meetings gave us a better understanding of the challenges related to the protection of territories, access to water, higher education and the recognition of indigenous peoples’ rights, all issues that were addressed in the context of the Synod on the Amazon and the Church’s pastoral ministry in the Amazon. With an optimistic outlook, an Indigenous teacher spoke of the hope for a new kanatari (sunrise, in the Kukama language). The message on his T-shirt captured its full significance: “Defender los ríos y territorios es defender la vida” (Defending rivers and territories means defending life).
These exchanges took on special significance during our visit to the informal 21 de Septiembre settlement. Community leaders and families shared with us their daily struggle to access basic services, drinking water and sanitation—a struggle that affects the lives of many people, especially children. For many of us, this encounter marked a turning point. What we often take for granted as a fundamental back home in Canada, is still out of reach here.
From Iquitos, our journey continued down the Amazon River to the communities of Indiana and Mazán, in the Vicariate of San José del Amazonas. The missionary sisters and pastoral leaders welcomed us with simplicity and shared their commitment to the Indigenous peoples. We joined our hosts in conversation and choral singing. We discovered communities that were facing challenges related to isolation and a lack of resources yet were deeply vibrant thanks to the true collective strength provided by solidarity and pastoral ministry.
Back in Lima, and then in the Andes in San Mateo, another reality became clear: that of mining, which has been going on for decades. Our partner, the Episcopal Center for Social Action (CEAS; see website in Spanish), made a point of briefing us on the past, present and future challenges of this extractive industry. The landscapes of San Mateo bear the marks of this activity, while representatives of social ministry and local organizations remind us that environmental protection is inextricably linked to the health, human rights, and dignity of the people. Our visit to this small town, located at an altitude of 3,200 meters, was a challenging experience for some of us who were affected by altitude sickness as well as the cold.
Before wrapping up our stay in Peru, we spent time immersing ourselves in the San Juan de Lurigancho parish, located in Lima’s most populous neighbourhood, home to nearly one million people. Characterized by high levels of immigration, a predominantly young population and significant economic and security challenges, this parish is also a place of hope—a remarkable model of community engagement. Inspired by the praxis of liberation theology, the social ministry team carries out concrete initiatives such as a parish soup kitchen and a legal aid service to support the most vulnerable people, as well as workshops promoting the integration of women and people struggling with addiction, among other initiatives. In addition, a group of highly committed women leaders, trained by DPCC’s partner the IBC, conducts awareness-raising activities on social and political issues and violence prevention.
This latest immersion provided a better understanding of the work of our partners, notably the IBC, the CEAS, the CAAAP, and Centro Labor (see website in Spanish), whose approach is based on a simple principle: supporting communities and individuals so that they themselves can become agents of change, defend their rights and build their future.
Finally, it is worth highlighting our group’s cohesion and collaboration in managing our time—including prayers, reflections and brief moments of relaxation with games, etc.—which made it possible to fully enjoy this wonderful experience. We left Peru with much more than just the memories of these wonderful encounters. This trip invited us to reexamine our understanding of international solidarity. It reminded us that solidarity is not about providing immediate solutions, but first and foremost about listening, learning and walking alongside those who—often behind the scenes—contribute to building a more just and united society.