Alumni Interview with Adriana Chacon

What inspired you to go abroad?

I wanted to do something different from my regular job. Something where I would put myself in a new setting where I would be totally lost and I had to learn new skills. I also wanted to connect with people and live in a different city.

Why did you choose SKIP?

I chose SKIP because after doing a lot of research, I found that this organization took a holistic approach to their mission of empowering children. Their program covers everything including education, micro loans for families, fundraising, activities for the volunteers and staff, teacher training, etc. When I spoke to the people at SKIP they sounded professional and so excited about the program.

What was your favorite part about Peru?

I liked all the places that were nearby to explore like restaurants, beaches, and hikes. I also took some trips during the weekend to cities nearby. Peru is very affordable so I got see and do a lot with a small budget.

What made your experience abroad unique?

Connecting with the children, the staff, and the volunteers was amazing. I feel like towards the end of my trip, I was getting into the rhythm of things and feeling pretty comfortable in my role.

How did local staff support you throughout your program?

The local staff was very supportive and helpful from the beginning. Even before I arrived to Peru. I had questions about the safety of the place where we were staying, and where we were going to work. The staff was very good at explaining everything in details. They even connected me with a female volunteer so that she could tell me herself her opinion of the safety.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?

I wish I would have stayed a bit longer to continue with my role and try more activities with the kids.

Describe a typical day in the life of your program.

In the morning I had planning. This is where I put together the lesson plan for communications for the secondary group. That could take up to a few hours or sometimes a couple days. Sometimes I worked by myself and sometimes with another volunteer at the apartments.

After planning, I went to a restaurant and had lunch. We had a kitchen in the apartment but it was easier for me to buy food. Lunch menu was under $2 in the restaurants nearby.

Then I came back to the apartment and got ready for my shift. I went to the center with the rest of the volunteers, we always took a taxi together. Once I arrived to the center, I would get the materials that I needed for my class. I went to the classroom to put down the chairs.

Then the students arrived. I asked them how their day was and started some dialogues. I think this helped breaking the ice. After that, I told them what was the topic of the day. We started working. Sometimes, if we finished the lesson early, I would talk to them about school.

After class was over, the next group would come. I had three groups per day. After all the classes were done, all the volunteers went back to the apartments together. At night, I would go out for dinner and hang out with the volunteers. Most of the days were like this, but we had some days when we went to the co-op or had a training.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time?

I went to restaurants and tried new foods. I didn't have any bad food while I was there. I would also go to the mall and sit at a cafe to read. I went out a few times with the other volunteers to some events or to get dinner.

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?

I shared an apartment with four other girls. I shared my room with one other girl. I liked that there were a lot of places like the grocery store, restaurant, cafe, and laundry that were all walking distance to the apartment.

What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?

You don't have to have a teaching background. There is so much information online. I found a lot of cool exercises for secondary communication in the web that I adjusted to fit the needs of my class.

Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?

I feel grateful to have had this experience. It was everything I thought it was going to be. I learned so much from people and I more importantly, learned about myself. I learned that I can work with teenagers, that I can connect with them and give them some guidance—let them know what's coming ahead.

Would you recommend SKIP to others? Why?

Absolutely! I recommend SKIP to everyone because it is a very well organized NGO. I have volunteered in many places and sometimes they are not organized and the volunteers feel like they are wasting their time. SKIP was very professional and organized from the beginning. The training, the paperwork, housing, classes, schedules, etc. were well put together. The program is targeted towards children, but also involves the community and the volunteers. It's a great place to volunteer if you are interested in non-profit work.