ActionAid's work I went south to see ActionAid's work in Tarata. Here it is mainly rural and most people in the area earn their living by farming. 91% of the rural population are poor. As I looked around the area I could see terraces with a multicoloured patchwork of crops. People grow potatoes, maize, beans, alfalfa, vetch ( a bit like sweet peas), garlic, oregano, prickly pears and peaches. They also grow a few flowers to sell abroad. Some families raise cattle, sheep, goats, llamas, rabbits and guinea pigs (as food, not pets!). ActionAid have set up community credit banks which are run for and by local people. Farmers can get loans from the banks to spend on seed, fertiliser or pesticides. They pay the loans back with interest the next year using the profit from their crops. This means more farmers can benefit each year, and the community becomes self-sufficient. Loans are also available for medicine and school costs. ActionAid also provides advice and training for farmers to help them grow more food, improve soil fertility and protect the land from erosion. Health has been improved by educating children about hygiene, improving water quality, providing medicines on credit and immunisation programmes. New classrooms have been built and teachers are trained to teach more relevant subjects in a more interesting way.