Experience:
Organisation:
Name: Kirsten
Hometown: Aberdeenshire
Destination: Cajamarca, Peru
Project type: Care Work
Organisation: Project Trust
What were your impressions of your destination?
The orphanage seemed quite run down and the town seemed quite poor. However the views and surrounding landscape were fantastic. Everyone was very welcoming and friendly. Some of the locals were a little too friendly!! It was quite daunting arriving not knowing any spanish cos I didn't understand anyone and knew that I would be teaching the kids classes in a few days time. However it all added to the challange and learning spanish was one of the most rewarding parts of my gap year.
Was the work interesting and challenging?
The work I did was amazing. I lived and worked in an orphanage for a year so got to know the children and staff very well. My day to day work included getting the children ready for school, teaching English and sports, helping one of the children with her physio exercises and supervising at meal times. One of the most amazing experiences of the year was watching a girl who was in a wheelchair when I arrived learn to walk.
What was your accommodation like? Did you feel comfortable and welcome at all times?
The accommodation was basic but it soon felt homely enough which is the important thing. I shared it with another volunteer. It was nice to have somewhere to escape to in the orphanage.
Were you happy with the organisation and the staff that were responsible for you during your stay?
Yes very happy. We had a rep based in the country as well as a rep based back in Scotland. We had some issues with a staff member at our project and both were immediate in replying. We had a week long selection course before being selected for a particular project which meant staff could choose a project that best suited us. We also got a training week and a debriefing course. It's a small charity and you know most of the staff which is nice.
Do you feel that you got value for money on the project?
YES. When I went abroad it was £3950 for the entire year which included everything like flights, insurance and pocket money. The only expenses were any travel you did on holidays and your kit i.e rucksack, boots etc. Many other companies charged similar amounts for only 3 months and it didn't include flights or insurance.
Would you recommend the project to others?
Yes
