Villa El Salvador (VES) is a urban, largely residential district on the outskirts of Lima, Peru.

It began as a shantytown in the vast, empty sand flats to the south of Lima in 1970 because of the urgent housing needs of immigrant families who had left the sierra of Peru. VES evolved into a huge urban zone, largely self-organizing, for which it won some fame. Largely through the efforts of its inhabitants, the neighborhood was supplied with electricity, water, and sewage. Villa El Salvador served as the home base for the activist María Elena Moyano, who helped organize the Federación Popular de Mujeres de Villa El Salvador (Fepomuves), a federation of women, which grew to encompass activities such as public kitchens, health committees, the Vaso de Leche program (which supplied children with milk), income-generating projects, and committees for basic education.

In 1987, the community received a Prince of Asturias Award in recognition of its achievements.

Villa El Salvador has been formally established as a municipality within the city of Lima.

External link

• Website of the municipality of Villa El Salvador (in Spanish)