Patrice Loo: Working with disabled children, Cusco
Sue Blanch: Jardín de Niños
Alex Davydov : Marca Valle Juvenile Centre
Katherine Moulder: Marca Valle Juvenile Centre
Susan Green: Hogar Clínica San Juan de Dios
Julie Screech: Educatores de la Calle

Patrice Loo: Working with disabled children in Cusco

"I was extremely satisfied with the quality of the classes at the Latinoamericana Academy. The professors were helpful, engaging, and thoroughly explained everything. I didn't know it was possible to learn a language so quickly!

Cusco certainly isn't the grandest city in Peru. Nor is it the most beautiful, inexpensive, authentic or relaxing. However there is an incredible energy here, a magnetic charm that once you feel you cannot get enough of. Perhaps it is the deftly crafted wall of Incan stones waiting around the corner to be discovered, or the varied nightlife resonating to the sound of every musical genre, or the taxi driver eager to exhange socio-economical views with you, or maybe it's even the clouds that regularly dot the sky: creamy behemoth sculptures lazily drifting with the wind. Whatever it may be, it's there, unmistakable and omnipresent in all of its allure. So although you cannot walk down the street without being persistently harrassed by tour publicists or craft vendors, you cannot help but love this historically and culturally rich city.

Originally I planned to live with a homestay for just one month, but after two weeks I decided to extend my stay to three. Living with a local family provided an unparalleled insight into the culture of the country, ranging from the cuisine, music, dance, philosophies, and political sentiments, not to mention the advantages of having to speak the language everyday.

I most enjoyed meeting people from around the world, my homestay family, travelling independently, the friendliness of strangers, cultural immersion, learning a new language and working with disabled children. Wherever I went people would express concern for my safety because of my age (18). Restaurant and store owners would give me advice on what to avoid, and taxi drivers would frequently make me stay in the car while they checked to see if my hostal (usually in a dodgy area) was open. I least enjoyed the machismo, scam artists, and seeing children have to work instead of attending school."

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Sue Blanch: Jardín de Niños

"You offered just what I needed (a Spanish course in Peru and voluntary work with children) but I did not have time to organise it myself. The school was great and the staff were friendly and helpful. Some of the teachers did not speak English, which I understand is their approach to teaching. Owing to the nature of the test on the first day, they got the impression that I knew more than I did, so I was put into a class too advanced for me. They resolved this successfully and put me in a more basic class.

The location of the school was convenient, being in the centre of town. It was great being located in Cusco with lots of things to do to suit all - cafes, bars, restaurants, clubs, history, countryside. It is especially good for younger people who have not been abroad much before, but I found it slightly too western.

In my first month I stayed with a single woman and lunched with her extended family every day. I had my own room and bathroom which was lovely (I was expecting to rough it a little!). It was good being surrounded by Spanish speakers all the time - I learnt a lot.

The best bit about my trip was the voluntary work in the kindergarten - I absolutely loved it. It was the best thing I ever did. Living with the locals provided an interesting insight into another country and culture. Also a good balance of studying/voluntary work provided enough time to see and do other things in Cusco and the surrounding area."

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Alex Davydov : Centro Juvenil de Marca Valle (written on his weblog while in Cusco)

"Three other volunteers and I visited the boys at the reformatory to participate in their Christmas party. Although they are locked in their dormitory at night, they decorated the rooms, brought out radios and to sing and dance late into the night. We brought soft drinks and treats for them and tried to keep up with their dancing. The two Dutch girls, Karen and Suzanne that came along were kept quite busy on the dance floor, and all the boys wanted their pictures taken with them. We left just before midnight to join our host families at home.

Peruvians celebrate Christmas when it turns midnight on Christmas Eve. I arrived at the home of the grandparents, where my entire host family was gathered, and as I walked in the door, they all started singing happy birthday (it is my birthday on Christmas Eve), first in English, then Spanish. During my time living with my host family, they always made a point treating me like a member of the family and not as a guest. As such, they included me in the annual photo of all the cousins (below). It soon turned midnight, we at a huge turkey dinner, took pictures, opened presents, and danced. Everybody was dancing (including children and grandparents) until the sun came up on Christmas morning.

Well, what can I say. This is my last week in the city that has been my home away from home for the past 2 months. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here, living with a wonderful host family, making friends from Peru and all over the world, walking among the ruins of the beautiful and mystical Inca empire, working with children who truly appreciate my efforts... I spent much of my free time at the reformatory this week, helping out here and there, but mostly just hanging out with the boys there."

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Katherine Moulder: Centro Juvenil de Marca Valle

"Overall it was a fantastic experience. The language school was excellent, great teaching and extra curricular stuff making it very sociable and easy to make friends. The guide at the school was great and I went on loads of trips, seeing pretty much everything there was to see in Cusco! Administration was excellent and the staff always very helpful.

My homestay also was very good - food a little interesting at times, but I got used to it! Lunch was normally a major carbohydrate packed feast, soup with rice followed by meat, rice, pasta, potatoes!! Also incredibly cold in July...perhaps students should be warned of no heating and drafty houses! Cusco was a great place to spend 2 months. I would really recommend people to study there. It's an easy place to get to know, with great bars and cafes to ease the culture shock. It's very touristy, however still plenty of opportunities to speak Spanish and so much to see in the area.

My volunteer work was great. Marca Valle is a great place, the kids were all really nice and respectful to me, I never had any trouble with them. If anyone is placed there and has concerns about working in a "prison" please feel free to put them in touch with me! Teaching English was quite hard as I had to prepare a lot for each day but it meant I felt very useful. Speaking to other volunteers who were for example working in orphanages or schools with very young children found it tough as they didn't feel as needed or helpful. I felt my Spanish improved during my work and learnt a lot from the teaching. Thanks for helping me set up a great experience. Since I finished the volunteer work I've spent a couple more weeks in Peru, and then have spent a month doing some amazing trekking in Bolivia. Another week or so in Bolivia then I'm off to Argentina! Thanks again, Katherine."

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Susan Green: Hogar Clínica San Juan de Dios

"Thank you very much for your email. Yes, I am back, in one piece and back at work. I seem to be spending all my spare time organising the hundreds of photos I took!

The entire package went well. I hadn't asked that my bags were checked all the way through to Lima - assuming that they would be. I didn't realise that you have to clear US immigration, even if you're in transit. There was a really long wait, with no special desks for people with connecting flights. I think it would be helpful to make sure people know to check their bags through and suggest that people get off the flight quickly if they have a tight connection.

My family, Yony and Wendy, were at Cusco airport to meet me and made me feel very welcome. Three of my four

teachers were absolutely excellent. Only one was a disappointment. The teaching was of a high standard.  I don't think it was quite as good as the teaching in Barcelona where there was a better balance of grammar, vocabulary and conversation. The Cusco course is quite verb heavy and quite prescriptive for the teachers. 

I really enjoyed my time at the Hogar Clinica San Juan de Dios. The conditions there are really very good. They are just completing a new adventure playground for the children. The nurses provide very good care although they don't seem to communicate with the children much while washing, dressing and feeding them. Of course that varies between indiviuals.  There are quite a lot of student nurses. It does concern me that the children have such a high turnover of carers but I suppose that is inevitable. Carolina, the organiser for volunteers at the school, asked me if I would like to spend 2 weeks in the hospital and 2 weeks at the Hogar. I chose not to but one of my US fellow students did so. She didn't enjoy the hospital part at all and it meant that she had a very short time at the Hogar. Carolina also told her that she needn't attend on Public Holidays.  In fact, it is on Public Holidays and in school holidays that volunteers are particularly needed. On those days, I was often the only volunteer and had all the children to try and entertain. The children were lovely and I miss them a lot.

The school has an official guide, Eduar, who is fantastic. He takes all new students around Cusco every Monday and runs regular trips to Inca sites in the Sacred Valley. He only speaks Spanish but speaks very slowly and clearly and makes sure that everyone understands.  The trips were excellent. The other students were, with a few exceptions, much younger than I, but they were all good company and the social life was excellent. 

Cusco is a great place to spend some time. A friend joined me at the end for a great trip to Puerto Maldonado, Lake Titicaca, Arequipa and the Colca Canyon. I then returned to Cusco to walk the Inca Trail - a fantastic way to end.  My Spanish seemed to get worse while I was at the Hogar as most of the children didn't speak. However, it really took off on our travels and I felt moderately confident at the end. It was great to be able to chat to taxi drivers and staff in the hostels. I have some photos which might be good but don't want to send them until I learn how to send smaller files! I'd be happy to hear from anyone who might be going to the Hogar. Best wishes, Susan."

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Julie Screech: Educatores de la Calle

"I chose Cactus because the service and the people seemed very efficient and you provided placements that i was interested in. In Peru the school was great and the teachers were wonderful - all very patient and knowledgable, and very professional as well as friendly and affable. The begging became a real issue after a while. A lot of the projects don't really know how to make best use of volunteers, so being prepared with materials to take with you is a great plan. Books, pens, paper for teaching etc. are rarely available there. I would suggest not going in the rainy season like I did because it really restricts your ability to get out and explore the rest of Peru.... the things I were able to achieve with the kids in the project was what I enjoyed the most."

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