peru Volunteer Testimonies:

Earthquake Fundraiser

I just wanted to let you know that the donations trip to Ica was a great success. We coordinated the donations through the hospital in Ica ‘Essalud”. Based on the doctors' recommendations, we put together essential food kits for approximately 350 people. Each kit contained rice, sugar, oil, milk, water, and a pack of spaghetti. We also handed out salted crackers to the children. The food was distributed in an area in Ica called “Los Molinos” where there was a lot of destruction due to the fact that the majority of houses in this area were made from adobe bricks.

Eliza Raymond

Volunteering in Peru

Volunteering in Peru was an amazing experience for me. I was able to meet a lot of wonderful people - both locals and other volunteers.  Volunteering was a great way to experience the country in a way that a tourist would never be able to.  The Family House was very comfortable and it offered me a lot of freedom to do what I wanted to.   

The city of Cusco is a wonderful place, and I recommend travelling there to everyone.  I appreciate all your help in setting up my volunteering program.

Michelle

Pictures of Michelle Trip: http://michellediedrick.myphotoalbum.com

My experience was much more than I hoped for or even expected

As far as the experience in general, I could not decribe in words how great it was. I was lucky enough to work in two differnet orphanages. One of them was all boys and the other was all girls. Since I did not know any Spanish when I first arrived I had to work extremely hard to understand the children. The kids were wonderful in helping me learn Spanish and it did not take long before I could communicate with them. I was also very thankful for IFRE and the Spanish lessons and teachers they provided me with.

My experience was much more than I hoped for or even expected. Everyday was challenging, both metally and phsyically. Getting into the minds of the children and really getting them to relate to me was difficult. I felt as though some of them really wanted to have fun with you and some didn't care because they knew you would be leaving in a short time anyway. When my last days came at the orphanages, I was the one who was unfulfilled because I had developed such and attachment to all of them in different ways. I saw both amazing and sad aspects of the culture and it's people. My trip was an enlightening learning experience. I loved the time I spent in Peru and hope I can go back in the future.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to volunteer abroad!
Casey Richards