Care & Community Volunteer Stories, Peru

Care in Peru - Peter Browning My name is Peter Browning, I'm 20 years old, and I'm an addict. I'm addicted to Peru. I've been clean for three months now - and it's going OK, but it is difficult - especially at the start. I admit I have a problem, and that's meant to be the first step to getting better, right? I realised that I have what my friends describe as an 'unhealthy obsession' with Peru when seeing someone even remotely South American looking on a bus prompts me to ask the question 'disculpe, pero - ¿usted es peruano?' - thus provoking some odd reactions from people who, in retrospect, more likely come from the Welsh valleys than those of the Andes.

Care in Peru - Leslie Huey For quite a while I knew that upon immediately graduating college in California I wanted to fly away to a completely different place, immerse myself in a new culture, and volunteer. I have been blessed my entire life and wanted to give a little back to a community. More specifically, I wanted to find a programme where I could also stay with a host family (in order to learn the local customs), improve my Spanish, and work with younger children while speaking in Spanish. Projects Abroad's Peru Care programme satisfied all these requirements, and before I knew it, I was on a plane bound for Cusco, Peru.

Care in Peru - Pete Morrow My name is Pete Morrow, but most people just called me "Pedro" by the end of my two months in Peru. I couldn't tell you why I chose Peru over all the other projects offered, but to be honest, I don't think it gets much better than South America. I am originally from Vermont; yes that's east coast USA for all my new found European friends. I did some volunteer work in high school, like most people probably do, but always had an interest in volunteering abroad.

Care in Peru - Hannah Burd Throughout my Gap Year, people asked me "Why Peru?", a question I always found impossible to answer. I had just always had a feeling that I would love it there. Not having taken it at school, I wanted to learn Spanish surrouded by native speakers and I also knew I wanted to see the rainforest and the Andes. Why not Ecuador or Chile? I don't know, but I am so glad that I went with my gut feeling and spent two and a half months in Peru - I quickly learnt that those are good instincts to follow!

Care & Community and Teaching in Peru - Joanna King Every day I returned home to the host family and had all my meals with them. The constancy of acceptance and affection that the family provided, I believe to be the principle reason I was able to get involved to the extent I did. The family and I had such fun together. What I learnt and observed through them was that they had an indescribable natural generosity of heart and spirit - something which will be with me for a long time.There is something about living with locals which allows you to get a distinct perspective and insight into things.