The World’s Longest Urban Barrier

In the southern hills of Lima lies the Wall of Shame, the longest urban barrier in the world—nearly 10 kilometers long. It was built in the late 1990s, physically and symbolically separating the exclusive neighborhood of Casuarinas in La Molina from the informal settlements of Pamplona Alta and other precarious settelements in San Juan de Miraflores

This concrete barrier, topped with wire fencing, has trapped over 18,000 people, effectively making them invisible within their own city. Residents on the Pamplona side endure overcrowding, lack of potable water and electricity, and higher utility costs than affluent homes just beyond the wall. Many adults work as gardeners or nannies in Casuarinas — jobs that once required only a few minutes’ walk down the hill, but now take hours to reach. So isolated are these neighborhoods that some children barely know Lima proper; one boy, Andy, once asked if the other side was a different country.

We propose transforming this scar of social division into a beacon of unity, creativity, and dignity—a groundbreaking model for inclusive urban revitalization. Beginning with a mission to document the space and engage community voices, we will:

• Build a public park along the remaining wall, including swings, green spaces, and play areas.
• Turn the wall into a living canvas—painting large-scale murals reflecting the shared humanity of both communities.
• Install a micro-cinema projecting films onto the wall at night, turning it into a gathering place of reflection and joy.
• Partner with community kitchens (ollas comunes) to provide food tours, sampling Afro-Peruvian and Andean dishes for visitors.
• Host music performances, cultural workshops, and artisan markets, showcasing local talent and traditions.
• Produce a documentary that will capture this transformation in real time—sharing the story with the world as an inspiring example of how communities can reclaim and reinvent divided spaces.

By weaving these elements together, we will create local value chains—linking food, culture, and tourism so that every visitor’s experience directly supports the livelihoods of residents. We aim to make the transformed wall a must-see cultural destination in Lima, generating jobs, sustainable income, and a renewed sense of pride for the community.

We need $55,000 USD to make this vision a reality—infrastructure, materials, cinema equipment, mural supplies, and community-led initiatives.

Your support will help:

• • Employ local residents in park construction and mural painting. 
  • Fund the community micro-cinema. 
  • Strengthen local food initiatives and cultural programming. 
  • Launch the tourism model that will sustain this transformation long-term. 
  • Bring the story to the world through a professionally produced documentary.