Why was it important for your Year 10 and 11 students to travel to Peru with Globalteer?
There are limited opportunities for this age group to volunteer on this kind of scheme abroad – usually they have to wait until they are in the Sixth Form, so we were very excited about the opportunity to challenge our girls in this way.
Why did you choose a trip with a significant element of volunteering, rather than a straightforward cultural or sightseeing trip?
It is a core part of the ethos of our school to develop the whole person and not just the academic. Our students are often very well-travelled and used to overseas trips with parents to exotic places. To visit somewhere less developed, where they would encounter challenges of language and culture and be exposed to the realities of poverty, was an experience we thought they would truly benefit from. They also had the opportunity to visit truly historic sites such as Machu Picchu, so it was the perfect blend.
What value do you think your students brought to Picaflor House?
They approached the tasks with enthusiasm and with a fresh ‘non-adult’ perspective – many have younger siblings and so could engage with the whole age range of children. Their sense of fun overcame any issues with language, and they and the children formed strong bonds. Their willingness to demonstrate a dance, sing a song or do a sack race made the children less self-conscious about having a go themselves.
The Piper’s Corner group at Picaflor House and on a trip to an Inca site.
How did your students’ activities fit in with the long-term aims of Picaflor House?
The students supported all the activities in English, Maths and Art as well as sport – they brought their own specialist knowledge to these areas and also helped the children build confidence, particularly with their language skills. They have also established a bond with the project that the school can hopefully develop, and proved that this age group can meet the challenge of volunteering.
What impact has the trip had on your students, and what are the long-term benefits?
The trip opened our students’ eyes to the issues of development in a way that a textbook never could. They saw the poverty, the opportunities that tourism provides, and the potential cultural damage it can do. The children made a lasting impression on them, as did the staff at Picaflor House. Many have come back with the intention of pursuing other volunteering opportunities in the Sixth Form and beyond. I think it took them out of their comfort zone and, in the long term, made them better world citizens.
“The trip opened our students’ eyes to the issues of development in a way that a textbook never could.”
- → Read one of the students’ own volunteering stories
- → Find out more about school and group volunteering