Volunteer and Teach English in Peru - Lima

The moment I stepped into the airport, I felt welcomed and it was easy to figure out where to go to the accommodation. As for my stay, I found that the scheduled routine makes it easier to know what to expect in terms of house rules and what volunteers should be doing.

I had such an amazing time and am so so grateful I got to be a part of it. My favourite moment was the first day there. The kids, not knowing who I was, ran up to us and were so excited to see us. They hugged us and made us feel so welcomed. Seeing the school and comparing it to my elementary school had the biggest impact on me. It is hard to see how different it is but it is so amazing to see how happy the students were. It was the best month of my life. I loved being at my placement and I loved how I got to experience a different culture completely. Try it out and I promise you will love your whole experience. Go in with an open mind and it will be blown.

Every time I arrived at the volunteer site, the kids would run to me and hug me. I learned how kids could be so mature and responsible at a young age. The kids from the refuge center really taught me a lot by just seeing what their life is like. You will gain a lot more than what you pay for. And you won't know what the world on the other side is like until you are there yourself. Traveling with a purpose and volunteering while exploring a new country is the way to do it. You will also meet the most incredible people there- other volunteers, local teams, and local people.

As a first time volunteer and also my first time visiting South America, I was definitely nervous going in but also excited. It turned out to be such a great and rewarding experience. I would highly recommend this program to any first time volunteers/solo travellers - you'll feel right at home very quickly! I'm looking forward to volunteering again with IVHQ very soon!