What inspired you to travel abroad?
We have a school organization called Team Peru, which I have been part of for a couple of years. This club offers a trip to Peru every two years for students from age 15-18. We were shown pictures and videos of the travelers who had been there before.
Luisa and friends visited Mancora during their time volunteering with Kiya Survivors in Peru
Why did you choose Kiya Survivors?
It is offered at my school.
What was your favorite part about Peru?
The people there were all super nice and welcoming, and the weather was amazing!
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
It was amazing to meet so many new people in such little time. It was extraordinary as I had never been to Peru before, so everything was very new. For me, the best part was actually seeing how the small differences we make (for example, when we painted a mural or fixed mosquito nets) actually impacted the children and their lives there. It was also cool to see where the money that we raise at home, in Copenhagen, goes to.
Was there a custom or tradition in Peru that you found especially interesting or difficult to adjust to?
I thought it was very easy to adjust to all of the new things, because everyone was so kind and inviting. But I do think it would have been better if I would have spoken Spanish, because this could have allowed me to speak to the people more (the adults).
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
Local staff helped organize what we had to do, and organized fun trips for us.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I wish that we could have stayed for longer so that we could have made a bigger impact.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
We woke up quite early, had a very tasty breakfast with fresh fruits, got our stuff ready and then left from our housing to go to the centers. We then worked for a couple of hours (always different things such as painting, fixing roofs, etc.) with a lunch break in between. In the afternoons we had free time which we spent differently every time, either sightseeing (in Urubamba) or going to the beach (in Mancora).
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
I really enjoyed visiting new places such as the markets near Urubamba, and Machu Picchu! One of the best moments that I had was at Mama Cocha in Mancora, where my group and I were painting a type of sign/mural on the nursery building. There was an open window, and we were on the outside and the children were playing on the inside. As we were painting, the kids would keep throwing toys out to us and make us go fetch them to bring them back. It was so much fun playing with them.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
We went to two locations; in one we stayed in small lodges and in the other we stayed at a local’s home. I liked both places, it was very nice to have lots of space in the lodges and have a pool, but it was also fun to get to know our host in the second location and it was a more realistic experience.
What is one thing every future participant should know about Kiya Survivors before their program begins?
It is so much fun!!! The best advice I could give is just to have fun, and enjoy every single moment you have! It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They should also know that volunteering not only helps the lives of all the people at the places you go, it is also an amazing learning experience for you! You gain so much from seeing these new places and so very different lifestyles. Team Peru, and my volunteering in Peru with Kiya Survivors has inspired me a lot in my life even after the trip. For example, I am doing a school project in which we are allowed to choose any topic to research, and we have to create a product. I decided to link mine to my trip to Peru, and decided to research yoga as an aid for disabled children.
Would you recommend Kiya Survivors to others? Why?
Yes, because although you do a lot of work you still get the chance to see Peru and meet the children at the centers. An amazing experience was being able to work in physiotherapy at Mama Cocha. I was able to work with children that had Cerebral Palsy, which was very interesting for me because I had never done that before. I had a lot of fun learning from the physiotherapist there, who was teaching me and a friend as well as the mother of one of the children.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
Visiting new places, and gaining new experiences.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I now work more and more for Team Peru, because I now really know where the money is going and who is getting it.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Travelling and seeing new things!
