ORGANISATION PRESENTATION

The Centre for Equity Promotion Maria Elena Moyano was originally established in 1988 as the
Peruvian Netherlands Association “ Mano a Mano Avancemos” (Let´s Progress Hand in Hand).
Initiated by a group of visionary university students and young professionals from the Netherlands
and Trujillo in Peru, the Centre was self funded for the first three years via campaigns jointly
conducted with Dutch youth groups to eradicate the causes of extreme poverty in Peru.

decided to continue evolving under a name that reflects our mission´s principal focus of social, economic and
gender equity.

In Peru María Elena Moyano represents what it is to be a courageous social leader. From her marginalised
community in the 1990s she fought for justice and peace in times of government repression and terrorist
violence. Her activism against the economic, political and social suffering of marginalised citizens ultimately
cost her her life as she became a target for and later assassinated by insurgent guerrilla groups.

In honouring a national icon the Association transformed into the Centre for Equity Promotion María Elena
Moyana. The Centre is a nonprofit organisation found in the Public Register of Associations in the Department
of La Libertad, Registered with the National Supervisory Agency for NGOs in Peru APCI (Peruvian
International Cooperation Agency) and, has been approved by the Economy and Finance Ministry as a fund
receiving entity.