Schoolchildren throughout the country had to stay at home while Peru suffered the highest Covid death rate per head of population worldwide, with 3.6 million cases and more than 213,000 deaths among a population of just 33 million.

But, for the 97 kids and five teachers in San Rafael, the pandemic brought more challenges to an already complex situation.

Warwickshire-based charity Practical Action, in partnership with Peru’s ministry of education and local authorities, is helping to improve rural education in the country.

“We can use nature’s resources, but we must do it responsibly. We want a clean river, with clean water. Right now, we don’t have water. This is the region’s capital city, and we don’t have water.

“The river is no longer what it used to be. It’s contaminated and children get ill. We have to import water from several miles away.”