La Molina Partnership to Continue!!

As many of you will remember, Global Volunteers kicked off a new host partnership with La Molina Agrarian University in 2010. After four successful pioneer teams, we are happy to announce and confirm that this partnership will continue in 2011 and beyond!! For the time being, our teams in August and January will primarily offer this teaching service opportunity with hopes of expanding the opportunity to a larger number of teams in the years to come.

If you would like to learn a little bit more about this wonderful university in Lima, please click on the following link: http://www.lamolina.edu.pe/portada/html/about/history.htm

If teaching conversational English at La Molina is something that you would like to explore, please do not hesitate to call (800) 487-1074 or visit www.globalvolunteers.org today!!

The Final Days...

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Message of the day: "One of the greatest diseases is to be nobody to anybody."

As usual, Marcia & I were picked up at the hotel at 8:15 a.m. Marcia started her day working with toddlers from 3 to 5 years old, later in the morning she was assigned children between 5 to 8 years old.

John continued his garden work, mostly clipping and watering. Marcia, Tatya and John go for a late lunch at Qubba restaurant. Had a good talk about Global Volunteers and the service program in Lima. In the afternoon, we continued our work with the siblings, most of it spent on various puzzles.

Marcia and John returned to the hotel in late afternoon and ended the day with dinner at the hotel!

Written by: Volunteer John

Another Beautiful Day!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Message of the day: "The best way to find your self is to lose your self in the service of others."

As always a beautiful day!

After our meeting with Tatya, I played 2 at a time with the toddlers mostly boys, they love play-doh and the tower. Today was different, as all of a sudden 14 dentist (or aides) arrived, putting up tables and chairs down the hall from where we were sitting. They checked the kids one by one. One of “my toddlers had taken a bite of play dooh and one of the PPA aides scolded her for having blue green play-doh in her teeth!

After a lunch at the same nice place as yesterday, then headed by taxi down town to a party store to buy a piñata and treats for the small farewell party for 30 children. Our final week!

John gardened and watered in the morning but we made him come with us, after buying our stuffs we went to a store to buy clippers and a new rake for the PPA. Many stores have US products and the malls seen very busy. We returned to the hotel tired and helped Tatya fill the sacks and piñata. Tatya hopes to have 30 at the party, then 30 each at future parties so all children will have their turns. A rest, then supper in the still unfinished dining room- we were the only ones- and the end to a busy day.

Written by: Volunteer Marcia

Peace begins with a smile...

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Message of the Day: "Peace begins with a smile."

We started the day at 8:30 A.M. with a morning meeting at PPA. We received our assignments and Marcia continued her work with toddlers, one or two at a time. John worked in the garden area, mostly sweeping and watering. We lunched at Qubba restaurant and, walked both ways, which was a nice exercise for “old folks”, Marcia and John.

In the afternoon we worked with siblings and it involved several things. i.e. puzzles, bracelets, the dictionary, clothes, etc.

I should also mention that we had our Spanish class for 30 minutes before working with the siblings.

The volunteering day was finished at 5:00 P.M. We returned to the hotel and later had dinner at Donatello.

Written by: Volunteer John

Day One at the PPA!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Message of the Day: "Volunteers are not paid - not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless." – Anonymous

Today was our first day at the PPA. Tatya started our day with the morning meeting that included John’s journal entry and the message of the day presented by Tatya. Soon after that our tour of PPA began.

We visited the homes (pavillons), classroom areas and play areas of the PPA. We have met various groups of adorable children who graciously greeted the Global Volunteers in their homes. Our first day introductions also included meeting sisters & other staff in charge of the respective age groups, the gardeners that can for sure use John’s hand with all the work they need to do to upkeep the beautiful green areas at the PPA. We also had an informative meeting with Raquel, the director of the school.

We walked to lunch at a lovely restaurant called Qubba. In the afternoon John and Marcia interacted with the siblings groups. The last 30 minutes at PPA was spent on learning Spanish with Tatya. John and Marcia were very appreciative of Tatya’s efforts to share her language with them and definitely want to keep up their classes during the next two weeks.

Upon the arrival from the PPA, we met (or reunited – in Dorota’s case) with the two former Global Volunteers from MN, Marcia and Greg Potvin. They recently completed a service program in Lima and after the post program travel will be soon heading back home in MN. We all enjoyed their lovely company this evening.

All in all, the full day was had by all and we look forward to what our upcoming time at the PPA will bring.

Kelsey PaintsForPeru & Volunteers at PPA!

Recent PPA volunteer Kelsey of Minnesota took a creative approach to raising funds for her Peru service program!!

Kelsey started a blog called PaintForPeru and painted pictures to help raise funds for her impending program.

The photo above is just one from her program in early 2011!! Please visit paintforperu.blogspot.com to learn more about Kelsey's effort and view some of her truly lovely photos with the children of PPA!