What inspired you to go abroad?
I have always had a great interest in working with people and I just love South America, therefore I have thought about going abroad to do something like this for most of my life.
Maria who works at SKIP and I
Why did you choose SKIP - Supporting Kids in Peru?
I had read and heard a lot about microcredits and that was something I really wanted to work with and when I found SKIP and their Economic development program it just felt perfect for me.
What was your favorite part about Peru?
Peruvians are very friendly and I love the culture. It's hard to say what I loved the most but one of the best things about Trujillo was Hermelinda, the enormous market with all the fruit and veggies you could possibly dream of.
What made your experience abroad unique?
For sure all the people I have spent so much time with, both other volunteers and the women working at SKIP. I ended up spending a great amount of time within the Women's artisan program, which I loved! I created a special bond with the mums taking part in this project and I have so many lovely memories from the hours I spent with them.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
The local staff is awesome!! I would say that the local staff is a substantial part of SKIP. Most of the local staff team have been working for SKIP for years and they are very impressive, great people who constantly give the volunteers support and help.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?
I wish I would have tried to create local Peruvian friends earlier on, it would have helped in improving my Spanish even more.
Me outside SKIP
Describe a typical day in the life of your program.
Every day was different but we work mornings, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., and afternoons, 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., normally Tuesday - Saturday. Within the Women's artisan program I was mainly working afternoons.
For example, on Tuesday afternoons I had "Talleres costura" the Women's artisan program where they sew. The mums come to SKIP at 3:00 p.m., so before that I had to prepare the room and prepare the materials they needed for the day.
When the mums arrived, most of the time I would go to talk with them and register the new products which they had produced. I would pay them back for what we had sold during the week. After the mums left for the day it was time to organize what to bring to which location to try to sell. We sold the mums products in local cafés, hostels, and also at SKIP.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time?
I had a very nice life beside work and I did a lot of different things. During normal weeks I went to the gym, out to bars or clubs, and spent time with my friends either in Trujillo or in Huanchaco by the beach.
What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?
I stayed about four months in one of the apartments through SKIP, and two months in a host family. I liked that I got the possibility to try both. I think it was great to start my time living in the apartment. By doing this I got a chance to get to know all the other volunteers really well and became friend with them quickly.
What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?
It's good to know that the main program at SKIP is the education program so no matter what other program you come for, you will have to help out a bit in education as well.
Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?
I do appreciate things more. Also a huge thing is that I really improved my Spanish, something I have wanted to do for a long time.
Would you recommend SKIP to others? Why?
YES! SKIP is a great NGO. All the local staff are awesome and it’s a well-functioning organization with impressive people in all leading positions. Also, the work they do is great and well needed in the area.
