Huaycán facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Huaycán
Huaycan Cathedral by Roman Catholic Diocese of Chosica
Flag Seal
Huaycán Location in Peru
Country	Peru
Region	Lima Region
Province	Lima Province
District	Ate District
Founded	July 15, 1984
Population
• Total	160 000
Time zone	UTC-5 (PET)

Huaycán is a town located in Lima, Peru. Its official name is Comunidad Urbana Autogestionaria de Huaycán. It is about 16.5 kilometers east of Lima city. Many people from different parts of Peru have moved here. They hope to find better jobs and a better life in Lima.

Huaycán is also known for an important ancient site. More than 160,000 people live here.

History of Huaycán

In 1984, a special project called the Huaycán Special Project began. This project was part of a bigger plan by the local government of Ate Vitarte. The goal was to help families in Lima who didn't have homes and didn't have much money.

Before 1983, groups of families started asking for land in the Huaycán area. These families were mostly workers. They did studies and surveys of the land first.

In September 1983, some families formed a group called the Andrés Avelino Cáceres human settlement. In March 1984, another group called Pro-Huaycán José Carlos Mariátegui was started. It had about 500 members.

Early in 1984, many groups of families asked for land in the Huaycán ravine. The mayor of Lima at the time, Alfonso Barrantes, helped them. He supported the Huaycán Special Project. This project was a way to help families with little money get a home.

On July 13, 1984, a final meeting was held with Mayor Barrantes. Everyone agreed on where each group would settle. They also promised to respect the boundaries of the ancient sites. The first groups to organize got the lower parts of Huaycán. Other groups settled in the higher areas.

On July 15, 1984, these groups moved onto the land in a peaceful way. The most organized groups arrived first. For example, the Andrés A. Cáceres Homeless Residents Association had 3,600 families. Other groups like José Carlos Mariátegui and Las Malvinas de Ñaña also arrived. To work together, they created a "Management Committee." This committee was in charge of guiding the project.

Becoming a District

In January 2017, the Peruvian Congress discussed making Huaycán its own district. This means it would have its own local government, like a separate town. The idea was approved in a first vote. This was the start of the legal process to create the new district. Congresswoman Úrsula Letona proposed the idea.

The new district would cover about 27.40 square kilometers. It would have around 160,000 people. This is about 25% of the total population of the Ate district.

On March 3, 2017, the Congress of Peru passed Law N° 305445. This law officially declared that creating the District of Huaycán was important for the country.

Places to Visit

• Huaycán de Pariachi Archaeological Site: This is an ancient site from before the Spanish arrived. It shows amazing buildings made by ancient Peruvians. You can find its entrance near Los Incas Avenue. In 2000, it was declared a Cultural Heritage of the Nation. This means it is a very important historical place that must be protected.

• San Andrés de Huaycán Cathedral: This large church was built in the 1990s. It is in the center of Huaycán. It is the most important Catholic church in the eastern part of Lima. It is also where the bishop of the Diocese of Chosica has his main office.

• Huaycán Hospital: This hospital started as a small health post in September 1984. Over time, it grew. On July 31, 2003, it officially became a hospital. It provides healthcare for the community.

• Huaycán Industrial Park: This area was created in 1998. It is a place where many businesses and factories are located. They work in different areas like metal, wood, textiles (making clothes), shoes, and crafts. It helps the community grow by creating jobs.

Gallery

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  Huaycán de Pariachi archaeological site

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  A campaign in the schools of Huaycán

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  A monument to former mayor Alfonso Barrantes

See also

In Spanish: Huaycán para niños