Montura supports the activities of Operazione Mato Grosso in Peru. The education and social project was founded in Val Formazza in 1967 by Salesian priest Ugo de Censi, and through the building of the 'Claudio e Bruno' mountain refuge, it has led in time to the establishment of an international bond of solidarity between Italy and South America.

Operazione Mato Grosso (OMG) is active on several fronts, in particular in the Andes, where it has built up a network of guest houses and founded a local organisation of mountain guides.

OMG guest houses are genuine mountain refuges, and can be found both in Italy and in Peru, staffed by Operazione Mato Grosso volunteers. Besides being run by volunteers, many of these refuges were also built by the young people who, by undertaking tasks that are often exhausting and menial, have rediscovered the values of a simpler, truer life, something perhaps that we are all seeking when we head into the mountains.

The volunteers who ascend each year to work in the guest houses do so without payment, to help the poor. Not with words, but concretely: all the money earned goes to sustain the Operazione Mato Grosso missions in Peru, Ecuador, Brazil and Bolivia

Nestled at 3,500 meters above sea level in the Andes of southern Peru, the village of Vilcabamba sits in a breathtaking landscape shaped by countless valleys that gradually descend into the Amazon rainforest. Streams and waterfalls cascade down the mountain slopes, creating a dramatic and ever‑changing natural setting. The climate follows a simple rhythm: two main seasons of about six months each, with the rainy season from November to April and the dry season from May to September.

Vilcabamba is part of the district of the same name in the Cusco region. The city of Cusco lies about eight hours away, including three hours on unpaved roads. Poverty remains a defining feature of the local social fabric. Life here is simple and deeply connected to manual farm work, closely tied to the natural cycle of the seasons. Agriculture and livestock farming are the main economic activities, mostly at a subsistence level. At these high altitudes, potatoes are the primary crop, while at lower elevations corn, fava beans, and lupins begin to grow.

Local culture is strongly rooted in centuries‑old traditions, shaped by both Inca and Spanish influences. The year is punctuated by patron saint festivals, moments when the entire community comes together to celebrate. In recent decades, however, many young people have left the valleys after finishing school, moving to the cities in search of work and a life different from the one their parents knew — a life often perceived as too demanding. Sadly, many of them end up living in even harsher conditions of poverty on the outskirts of urban centers.
The parish of Vilcabamba began its mission in 1993 with the permanent presence of a group of volunteers from Operazione Mato Grosso. One of them, Father Lino Faccin, later became the parish priest. Across the villages scattered between 3,500 and 1,800 meters above sea level, several schools, boarding homes, and vocational training centers were established. These centers focus on practical skills: woodworking and metal carpentry for boys, and mosaic art for girls.

In Pucyura, the most developed village in the valley, two cooperatives provide employment opportunities: Familia de Artesanos Don Bosco for carpenters, and Familia de Artesanas Maria Auxiliadora for women mosaic artists.
Montura’s support aims to help ensure access to education, professional training, and a sustainable future for the young people of Vilcabamba, with particular attention to families facing the greatest need. This commitment also seeks to counter the gradual depopulation of mountain valleys and to keep these vibrant local communities alive.