Testimonials

Sean Waller

I’m Sean and I’m 22, from England and what an awesome month I’ve had!  I have been keen to do some volunteer work abroad for some years now but haven´t been able to find a programme that has really caught my attention.  That was until my sister-in-law came to Huancayo a few years ago, and when she came back told me how good it was.
I think PeruForYou (PFY) is different to a lot of other organisations. 
They are quite small, and focus their attentions on the development of communities around Huancayo that need help.  The programmes aim to develop not just the practical areas of the communities, but also the mentalities.  The organisation clearly has a close relationship with the comminties it works with.
Another difference which I think makes PFY stand out is the interaction with local people and the real insight you get into their lives.  Unlike a lot of other organisations, PFY, arranges for you to stay with a local Peruvian hostel, instead of a hostel with a group of other volunteers.  I found this experience unbeatable.  Fortunately, in my family there was a 20 year daughter.  This meant I got to meet loads of her friends and extended family, getting to practice my Spanish and getting the chance to do what Peruvians do everyday.  My family made me feel so welcome and apart of the family and so did Paola’s friends.  Sometimes I would arrange to meet them on my own and just hang out in town, play pool or they’d take us for traditional food ( eg. Cows heart!).  Basically, I felt like a local and not a tourist, which makes a massive difference to the experience.  Not being surrounded by tourists has meant I have seen the true Peru, and it’s great.

The organisation carries out a number of projects with a range of communites, depending on their needs.  I got to take part in a few of these.  The main work I did was in a pre-school, working with 4-5 year olds.  The idea of this programme is to teach the children basic English but also to help their overall development through meeting new people from different cultures and helping improve their confidence and individuality.  Most the children I worked with had no problem with confidence.  After a couple of days they would quite happily chat away in Spanish to me or want to play.  They are all so keen to learn and the lessons were great fun.  The children obviously love it when you make a fool out of yourself, by either doing animal impressions or singing really badly.  For ‘Teachers Day’, we even taught them a song, “Hello teacher” in English.  What was great was a week later when we came into the class they started singing it to us.  That was pretty amazing.  As well as the English, we helped with a dental programme in the school, just teaching them how to clean their teeth properly.  On our last day in the school, the in our class was desperate for us to go to their class, they had a surprise for us.  When we got their, they had bought us a present for teaching them. They sang us a song saying thanks then gave us our present.  It was a little bag to keep our camera and money safe.  It was pretty emotional; all the kids were so sweet. 
We got to see them again though, at their ‘fiesta de la patrios’ (independence day party).  This was absolutely brilliant!!  All the different classes put on different dances and mini-plays.  It was a real party atmosphere and it was great seeing the children all in their traditional dress.  It was really nice to be invited to it.

Another project I worked on was with a small primary school, San Agostine, totally setup by PFY, and though donations it receives.  One day a week I’d go to the school and take the children out for a sports development programme.  These children were between 6-8 years old, and like the pre-school, all great fun.  Each time we arrived they were all well excited.  The idea was to teach them about different exercises and warm ups and then get them to play different sports and team games.  They were all really enthusiastic to be there and I think we had as much fun as them.  It is a nice change to teaching in a classroom.
The final school I visited was in a very deprived area, and like St Agostine, is totally setup by PFY.  We only visited a couple of times, taking them fruits and teaching them for short while.  But we did carry out some fundraising to help the school get running water and a bathroom.  As usual the children were all happy and smiling and were excited to learn.  It was a real privilege teaching in all the schools.

As well as the teaching in schools, I taught an adult student in the evenings in the office.  This is one of the main ways the organisation raises money for the projects and so is a really important part of the work.  This was a useful experience, and certainly makes you have to think really hard about the English language!

My time spent in Huancayo involved a lot more than working on the projects.  Every weekend we would go and explore some part of Huancayo and its surroundings.  I went to an animal market, not the nicest thing in the world I’ve seen but very interesting and definitely worth going to.  Its where all the indigenous bring their animals for sale; there were literally thousands.  We went on a bike ride around the Mantaro Valle and saw some incredible views and went to see a football match, Huancayo v Lima.  Was a good atmosphere if not the greatest quality of football!!  Every Sunday there is a market near the town centre, 3km long!!!  It was pretty cool down there, so much amazing stuff to buy.  And I can’t help but mention the wicked night life.  I got to sample a fair bit with Paola and her mates.  I have never danced so much in my life and after a few nights could even do a few salsa moves, honest!  As well as the discotheques, there were fiestas in the city squares every other night I swear.  Such great atmospheres; drinking ‘Pisco Calientes’ and dancing in big circles whilst fireworks are flying all around you!!  All the people were really friendly, wanting to chat away and get you up dancing.  This is how I met a lot of great people.  Overall, Huancayo is a pretty cool place to stay, with plenty of things to do and great people. 

The experience PFY, has given me has been spot on.  The staff in the office have all become friends and the opportunities for things to see and do have been never ending.  Obviously I won’t forget this place and I hope to come back.

Thanks again.