Volunteering with Teach Huaraz Peru by Maree Blackburn

Armed with a delightful two months of paid leave and ample frequent flyer points up my sleeve, I typed volunteer and South America into Google and my adventure began. I was seeking a break from my regular tourism marketing role in Australia with an authentic cultural experience in a continent I hadn't previously visited.

I came across volunteersouthamerica.net in my first search and had a quick scan. After looking through a few more sites I returned back to this one and found an interesting organisation in Peru that seemed to offer the things I was after. I expressed interest through their website and received a prompt reply that confirmed my suspicions it was the organisation for me. A mere two months later I arrived in the Andean city of Huaraz for my six weeks of voluntary English teaching with Teach Huaraz Peru (www.teachhuarazperu.org).

Teach Huaraz Peru is an intimate family run organisation that delivers on its promise to arrange tailored volunteering programs to suit your personal interests. Luis Delgado is the Founder and Manager of the organisation and he is a well respected and active member of the local community. Through his extensive network of contacts he is able to arrange volunteering placements in a wide variety of educational and social support centres with students of all ages and backgrounds.

I ended up volunteering with three different classes at the Universidad Nacional Santiago Antunez de Mayolo and with all grades at the secondary school Alfred Nobel de Carhuaz. The uni students were really enthusiastic and so excited to work with a native English speaker and the secondary students were such fun with oodles of energy and personality that made acting in particular a delight in the classroom! I also had the pleasure of doing some voluntary work behind the scenes with Teach Huaraz Peru, completing a full review and update of the website content to better reflect the range of opportunities and experiences available through the organisation.

I took up the option of homestay accommodation with the Delgado family and was truly welcomed into their home. I felt privileged to really experience Peruvian life and found the whole family to be so supportive during my stay. I was an enthusiastic participant at numerous family celebrations that I otherwise wouldn't have had the opportunity to be a part of and never once felt like an outsider.

I was rather ignorant about all there is to see and do around Huaraz before I arrived but soon found myself filling weekends with a myriad of outdoor activities in the Cordillera Blanco, visits to a number of historical sights and regular swims in the beautiful hot springs of Monterrey.

My whole experience of living and volunteering with Teach Huaraz Peru was really enjoyable and rewarding and I would wholeheartedly recommend this organization to any prospective volunteer.


 - Maree Blackburn
    (08-Dec-2008)

Maree volunteered with Teach Huaraz Peru in September/October 2008