How does a volunteering trip compare to a regular holiday?
Going to Peru to volunteer allowed us to see a different side of the country. We were able to interact with local people and learn more about their daily lives, which was extremely interesting. I also found it easier to connect with local people as we knew more about where they had come from and what their lives were like. Although we were able to do some ‘touristy’ things, volunteering with the children was the most rewarding thing that I have ever done, and it taught me so much more about Peru as a country than just the things tourists see.
How did you and your fellow students contribute to Picaflor House?
We were able to teach the children English, and we also created a more interesting and exciting programme for them by playing with them and joining in with lessons such as art and dance. We created a different lesson plan for each day, which gave the children more variety when they were at Picaflor House – this meant that they were engaged when we were working with them.
Learning together at Picaflor House and on our mobile library visits.
What has volunteering taught you about life outside your normal environment?
Working at Picaflor House taught me how lucky we are, and it also taught me about the difficulties that children face in their day-to-day lives, such as having to stay on the streets or go to work after school, whereas we are able to go home and be safe after school. Picaflor House also taught me how grateful the children are for their education, which made me think about how lucky we are to go to such a wonderful school back in England.
How has your time at Picaflor House influenced your views on volunteering?
After working at Picaflor House, I want to volunteer there again, perhaps for a few months in a gap year. I would like to spend a year volunteering abroad, as I feel I would be able to give something to children who need support. I would love to volunteer in the future because I enjoyed my time at Picaflor House so much.
What is the biggest impact the trip has had on you?
Working at Picaflor House had a huge impact on me when I came home. Leaving the children that we had built a relationship with was one of the hardest things, and it made me want to go back as soon as I had left! I would love to go back and volunteer for longer, and this experience has made me want to have a career in a place such as Picaflor House, possibly working for an organisation like Globalteer.
“Volunteering with the children was the most rewarding thing that I have ever done.”
Is there anything else you would like to say about your trip?
I am so grateful that I got such an amazing opportunity, and it has changed my way of thinking a lot. Volunteering in Peru was such an incredible, rewarding experience! The only thing I would change is the amount of time we were there – I would have loved to volunteer for longer!
- → Read fellow student Mia’s story
- → Read the trip from the teacher’s point of view
- → Find out more about school and group volunteering
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