TESTIMONIAL

I was very happy do to my volunteer work at a nutritional center for infants. The aim of this project is to provide children who have been classed as malnourished with nutricious meals and an educational environment. This volunteer placement was a really enjoyable experience where volunteers can be very involved in all aspects of the childrens daily routine from supporting/encouraging them during meal times to helping or organising lessons and to playing with them during free play time. The children at the centre ranged in ages from 1-3 years, and the 3 classes were divided into these age groups. As the children are of this age group being at an intermediate level of Spanish meant that I was able to communicate and understand them most of the time.
This center has limited resources. The main portion of their funding is used to provide the children with 3 nutritional meals a day plus snacks. The children benefit from a lot of positive encouragement to eat and meal times involve all members of staff and volunteers supporting the children. Both the teachers and the children are very appreciative of any resources/toys that volunteers bring to the centre. This volunteer placement gives a real insight into the difficulties faced by poorer families in Cusco. The staff and children make this centre a really fun and rewarding place to volunteer.

I had a wonderful experience volunteering at a clicic for mental health in Peru. The best part was the freedom of my job. I began, with beginners Spanish, making art with the lowest functioning patients. As my Spanish improved, I changed my schedule to incorporate some psychology workshops with the higher functioning patients. Observing the workshops at first, I learned about the focus of the group and before I knew it, I was leading the workshop when the nurse was not present. My vocabulary grew with the increased responsibility and my relations with the patients grew as well. After two months I had been through good days and bad but, over all I made a lot of friends (I even went to a Grupo 5 concert with my co-workers), learned a lot about the mental health system in Peru, and used my Spanish in a social services setting. What i will look back on is the strong bond I built with the patients, and the many friends I have at the project. Both are wonderful people to work with.

I spent just over 4 weeks volunteering in an after school project ere in Cusco (Peru). I always wanted to volunteer, and found myself with a 'now or never' option whether to come to Peru, and it is one I will never regret. Coming from a fast paced life both in work and social life, Peru was a welcome change. The first day I arrived at the project I was welcomed with hugs and kisses, from all 40+ kids in the project, all starving for some attention. The thing is, these kids are so happy to receive any affection at all that they immediately take to you. Because I am such a huge soccer fan, I was able to play with them in a local playground for 2 hours a day. It was great for building teamwork, keeping them fit and most importantly having fun. On top of that all, these kids are good. To be honest, my Spanish was much to be desired when I arrived at the project, but I still was able to help and play with the kids. It was great helping the small ones with jigsaws, or the older ones with homework, but sport and fun is my forte, so volleyball, soccer or some other made up game was always on the menu. To be honest it is the first type of work that I actually looked forward to going to and I also felt as if I had made a difference afterwards. You can make a difference one kid at a time here. I enjoyed my stay so much that I decided to stay another three months in Cusco.