A FORMER King Valley resident has been helping rebuild Peru after a powerful earthquake devastated the South American nation in August last year.

Harry Hildebrand has lived in Peru for the past decade and, along with his Peruvian wife Vanessa, has dedicated his life to helping some of the world’s poorest communities.

A former teacher from Wesley College, Mr Hildebrand heads up science at a British-Peruvian school and runs study trips into the Amazon jungle.

But some of his most challenging work came after an earthquake hit the coast of Peru, killing more than 300 people and injuring hundreds more.

Mr Hildebrand was involved firstly in the provision of food and water donations straight after the earthquake, and secondly, providing shelter for families who lost their homes during the disaster.

He helped build more than 50 woven bamboo houses, as well as 21 temporary classrooms so children could go back to school.