Alumni Interview with Ivy Jones

What inspired you to travel abroad? 

I decided to travel abroad during my gap year because I wanted to learn about and experience a different location and culture in depth. There is no better way to learn about different ways of life and ways of thinking than to live in a different country for a long time. I love to learn and immerse myself in new experiences, and that is why I travel. 

Why did you choose EcoSwell? 

I chose EcoSwell because I was interested in international development, and I wanted to learn more about EcoSwell’s approach to sustainable development in the community and environment. I had read a lot about development work before, and I wanted to see it in action and be a part of it, and EcoSwell seemed to be doing good work that was relevant to the community, while also providing a place where I could enjoy my time outside of work. 

What was your favorite part about Lobitos, Peru? 

It is hard to choose a favorite part about Lobitos. There is something about the town that I can’t really put into words that causes people to end up staying much longer than they had planned, and that urge was strong for me. One thing I can put into words is that it was very difficult to hold on to any worries while the sun was shining, I was surfing every afternoon, and spending time with people every evening. 

What made your experience abroad extraordinary? 

What made my experience abroad extraordinary was the ease with which I felt I became integrated into the small town community. I was constantly meeting locals, people who worked with different organizations, travelers in the hostels, and expats. Gaining all of these contacts gave me a very rich experience, and allowed me to learn so much more about the town I was in. 

How did the local program staff support you throughout your program? 

I was constantly supported by the four EcoSwell directors, as well as the volunteer coordinator. The four directors fostered a positive and inspiring work environment, while also taking time to get to know the volunteers outside of work. The volunteer coordinator made sure I was quickly integrated into the daily life of EcoSwell, and frequently talked with me about my goals with the program, as well as making sure I was having an enjoyable time. 

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad? 

The only thing I wish I would’ve done differently would have been to come to EcoSwell sooner, so that I would’ve had more time there. 

Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like. 

On a typical day, I would wake up, make breakfast, and start work around 9:00 a.m. As an NGO management intern, the tasks I had were different every day, but involved designing a new website for EcoSwell, interviewing local families as part of a community reforestation project, doing financials, and maintaining the dry toilet—a project we are working on to conserve water in the community and create usable compost.

At noon, I would sometimes help cook lunch for the team, depending on the day. We would always eat lunch together. In the afternoon, I would work until around 5:00 p.m., sometimes in the EcoSwell house, and sometimes out in the community helping plant trees. Almost every day after work, I would surf until sunset, and then return to hang out with the other volunteers, either lounging outside the EcoSwell house, or visiting a nearby hostel for drinks. 

What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad? 

I dedicated most of my free time to either surfing, spending time with the volunteers, or spending time out in the community getting to know new people. 

What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it? 

There were two co-ed rooms shared between the volunteers. Sometimes all four beds in my room were full, and sometimes I was the only one, depending on the number of volunteers there at the time. I was comfortable, and felt that I had everything I needed in the EcoSwell house. What I liked most was living and working in the same place; it made things very convenient. 

What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins? 

Ultimately, your time at EcoSwell will be what you make of it. If you learn about something that EcoSwell is doing that you are interested in getting involved in, ask to get involved in it. If you have an idea for something, tell them about it. If you have feedback about your experience, bring it up.

The EcoSwell team is flexible and receptive, and they want to hear your ideas and honest opinions. They want you to be happy with the work you are doing. Even though it might not be possible to achieve everything you hope to (which is sometimes the case with development work), EcoSwell will support you in making the most out of your time. It is a very positive work environment, where everyone in the EcoSwell house is seen as part of the same team. 

Would you recommend EcoSwell to others? Why? 

I would strongly recommend EcoSwell to others. EcoSwell gives you meaningful and relevant experience working on sustainable development projects. You will have the freedom to make this experience into what you want, while also having real responsibilities. You will be completing jobs that truly matter to the organization and community, not just busy work. You will be in an incredible location where you can surf, get to know people, and chill out while doing meaningful work. 

What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is? 

No matter how much you read about the rest of the world and history, you will never truly understand it or be able to empathize with it until you go and spend some time there. I think it’s important to learn about the rest of the world in order to inform the decisions we make on a daily basis, because these decisions do have an affect world-wide, whether considering people or the environment. Plus, I think it’s just super interesting and cool to learn about new places. 

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

Working with EcoSwell in Lobitos was a great opportunity to learn more about what matters to me, both in work and life in general. Being abroad always opens up new perspectives for me, and allows me to learn more about myself, as well as the rest of the world. And working with an organization like EcoSwell made me think about what I want to do to make my work meaningful in the future, like it was here. 

What does meaningful travel mean to you? 

For me, travel is most meaningful when I learn as much as I can about the place I am in. I feel like my time has been well spent when I walk away feeling like I have an understanding of the history, people, culture, advantages, and problems of a certain place. This happens when I talk to as many people as I can, go to local events, participate in all of the activities that people do there, and take every opportunity I can to somehow be involved in the local happenings.