Work:
Most families in the area are farmers. Many families own livestock as well. Sometimes the work of farming and animal care are delegated to the children and shared by the mother while the father takes on day jobs in construction. Apillapampa is a very migrant community. Fathers and older sons leave the area for months at a time - sometimes only returning once to plant and once to harvest their crops. They head to Capinota, the nearest town to find work or to the Chapare region of Bolivia where climate and location make crops more productive and work easier to come by.

Food:
Corn, wheat, potato, oca, papaliza (variation of potato), and barley

Livestock:
Goats, sheep, burros, cows, pigs, dogs, chickens, other domestic animals

Typical housing:
Most homes in the area are made of adobe bricks with straw roofs. The bricks are hand made by mixing mud and straw and drying the molded brick in the sun. This type of housing is a large contributor to the spread of Chagas disease. Currently there is a project ongoing which is constructing brick homes with sheet metal roofs. These homes will be used for sleeping in and keeping all clothing in. The old homes will continue to be used during the daytime. The average home of the area has two rooms: one for preparing food and eating in, the other for sleeping.

Water:
Only two of the communities have a water system set up. The other communities have up to a kilometers walk to the nearest water source.

Electricity:
One community has electricity and three others have lines set up for it. Many people can't take advantage of the access because the monthly payments are too high for their income levels.

Sewage:
There are very few latrines available in the communities and no sewage systems.

Churches:
Four of the nine communities have an evangelical church. Each of the nine has a Catholic church. About 50-70 of 700 families (or approximately 10%) in the area are evangelical. Catholicism is the predominant religion. FHI works within the churches helping train and provide assistance. Leaders attend seminars given by FHI field workers. The field workers also help with the organization and implementation of Sunday schools.

Schools:
All the communities of this area have their own school. Some of these only go to the 3rd or 4th grade. Students in the areas travel to the nearest community with a higher grade level once they've completed the highest level of the school in their community. Two communities have courses up to the first two years of high school. However, students who are able to continue have to travel to Capinota to complete their high school. Due to the long distance, these students stay in Capinota while they are attending school rather than traveling back and forth. There is no bus service available. Two days a week a truck takes passengers on its route through the communities in Apillapampa.

A large problem in the schools is overcrowding. In some schools, two grade levels share one classroom. In others, higher grade levels have been closed due to lack of space. Another major problem is lack of materials. The school material program through FHI annually provides the basic necessities for a student at minimal cost to the family, but text books and library access are rare. Only two of the communities have libraries and one of these communities is having to use their library as a classroom cutting off access to the rest of the student population.

Health problems:
Diarrhea, colds, Chagas disease, malnutrition

Biggest hurdles to overcome:
Due to climatic conditions, crops do not produce well.

Erosion is a major problem in the area. These communities are built into the sides or on the tops of mountains where strong winds and a lack of trees lead to continual and rapid errosion. Each year in the small community of Apillapampa 2 to 3 meters of earth erode away. It's estimated that in 75 years, a whopping half of the community will have eroded. One partial solution to the problem would be a forestation project.

Constant migration leaves the community unstable and financially dependent on money sent from absent husbands and fathers.

Health care is not readily available. Hornoma is the only community with a dependable health post. FHI has health promoters, but these can only meet basic needs and instruct in day-to-day sickness prevention.

There is a high level of political involvement in the community. Due to the instability of the political system and the volatile issues in continuous debate, this involvement more often than not has bad effects on the communities.

Best aspects:
Cultural traditions are very well preserved in these areas. Primary languages remain either Quechua or Aymara. Dances, singing, and dress remain much the same as they were hundreds of years ago. Some income in the area comes from art work. Artistry in the area is very advanced. Weavings are particularly beautiful with many months of work going into one piece.

There is a strong sense of togetherness. Few people in the area live apart from a community. The houses are built very close together. Mutual help is what keeps the communities alive and has been the key to their development thus far.

There are a great deal of youth in the area. With their future leadership, the standard of living can continue to improve while customs and culture can be carefully preserved.