An Interview with Peru Country Manager Edith Rodriguez Preciado

What is your perspective on the Global Volunteers organization in Ecuador?

We give what it is needed: lots of love and attention to the kids, support to the staff and improvement in my ways the life quality of the kids. Global Volunteers helps in many ways and mainly volunteers bring the outside world to the kids who are eager to learn and ready to receive and give!

How is it different from other volunteering opportunities?

Through all these years at the Puericultorio A. Perez Aranibar (PPA) for instance , Global Volunteers has become well -known by the kids and staff because our volunteers want to serve genuinely. We're there to help and we will do what we are asked to do like mop the floor; to teach cooking to the kids. We do what they tell us to do and that is why we always be where we are needed.

How can volunteers make a significant impact on community projects?

Volunteers can change ways to think about foreigners. Most of the time people think that foreigners want to see and take pictures like tourists but when they meet volunteers and they notice that they want to help and they can be asked to do dishes for them, people change their way to see foreigners... There is a clear difference between a volunteer and a tourist. Also, volunteers' goals are to serve and that is why they offer quality f time to the people around. As PPA's psychologist said: " I prefer that our kids work with volunteers in physical exercises or development exercises because they're patient and loving -  that they dedicate their time to the kids is unique and appreciated".

What do you like volunteers to know about your community before they arrive?

I like volunteers to know and be aware that the kids at PPA deserve the best that they can offer. PPA is a special place where there are suffered abandoned, at-risk and unwanted kids... we have the difficult but it is an honor to be part of the love chain that will bring hope, smiles and the message that someone cares about them. 

The Puericultorio A. Perez Aranibar has been the largest children's place in South America for many years. PPA is like a little neighborhood where volunteers help in different activities. Being a neighborhood, volunteers participated in celebrations like Christmas.Volunteers usually say they have gotten more than they have given. I think the experience is different from their daily life.

How does this service opportunity expand volunteers’ perspective of the world?
Definitely, volunteers are not in their comfort zone and many volunteers can adapt and understand that they can make the day for someone else. I always tell volunteers that PPA is the best place where they can understand that their presence is so important and it can make the difference.

What are your reflections as we prepare to note Global Volunteers' 30^th anniversary in January?

Global Volunteers has done a lot for kids, children's homes, school and communities and there is a lot more that can be done and I think that is why these 30th years are just part of the many years that Global Volunteers will be. Global Volunteers will be where people need help, support, hope and love and this is only possible because of the great volunteers who are leaving their mark of love in the world. The service programs are not about bachelor degrees but instead of applying all our knowledge in helping, not always about donating things but instead giving them a better quality of life, and it is not only about teaching but instead learning from and being open-minded about the culture.

 Global Volunteers has accomplished many goals and has many other ones to do so, but we are not few volunteers, we are now many more who will be eager and ready to serve others.

Thanks to Global Volunteers, I have seen how a room full of pieces of furniture became a beautiful and modern library, how a sad and shy kid became an easygoing and smiley kid... and for sure, Global Volunteers has changed, improved and developed in many ways, communities and most important-- in many minds and hearts.

Thank you to all for what you do.  Please return again and again.

Eating fresh yogurt in Peru

Tuesday traffic to and from Molina was much heavier.  Edith showed signs of being a budding cinema-tographer as she videotaped the traffic of a Peruvian roundabout for Paulette's Facebook and for the entertainment of Paulette's daughter- and son-in-law back in the States. The consensus was that a great video game could be designed based on driving in Peru.

Another highlight of the day was a trip to purchase La Molina's famous homemade, fresh yogurt. All three of the musketeers purchased Yogurt Fresa and it was delicious!!! The afternoon brought all two of Paulette's professors back plus an interesting new addition who loves to play the accordion.  Irene's students rearranged themselves in her two afternoon classes and continued to work hard on their conversational skills. Paulette joined them for the second hour as they integrated her new Monday student seamlessly in Irene's group.

Dinner for two was at Mavery and then it was an early night for Edith and her crew!

The team takes on a new look

On Monday Team 159 took on a new look as Jim and Carter had left Peru on Saturday morning. So we were two volunteers, Irene and Paulette, plus our fearless leader, Edith.  Edith started the morning as always cheerful and helpful with morning housekeeping details. She also gave a brief history on the growth of Lima from 645,000 in 1940 to 4.6 million in 1981 and 10 million today. Much of that growth came from the migration of people from other regions of Peru looking for a better life and work in Lima, much like the migration from the south to the north in the U.S.   

All three ladies took off with Andrés for the rather quick and uneventful ride to La Molina on a Monday.  Paulette continued her first session with the three professors from last week. They are eager and fast learners.  In her second session, there was one new student. Irene continued as well with nine students returning from last week. Dinner was at a lovely restaurant/bakery followed by Paulette's favorite dessert - chocolate ice cream - even though the weather was quite chilly.

My favorite day so far in Peru

Thursday began with the usual breakfast at the Hostel Torreblanca followed by another group talk by Edith about Peru, what we will do today, and what we did yesterday. After this, Edith took my father and me to PPA, while Irene and Paulette made their way to La Molina. In La Molina, things seemed to go the same as the way they did on Wednesday and everyone seemed to have an enjoyable day. Paulette finally became well enough to eat the ice cream that she wasn’t able to have the day before and seemed very happy to finally be able to try some creamy Peruvian ice cream. At PPA, my father continued with his labor project working with Edith while I continued to have an especially enjoyable day with the babies in Niño Jesús. The second part of our day was much different than usual. We took our three siblings - Walter, Harold, and César - out to lunch at La Comer and gave them a traditional American birthday party. The kids seemed taken aback at all the mall had to offer, including an arcade they played in and escalators they rode. The day with the three siblings came to an end when we gave them all their presents and they went back happily and content to PPA. A wonderful day ended with a tasty dinner with Paulette, my father, and me at the Super Rueda; Irene decided to stay back. This day was by far my favorite day and also the most fulfilling day I have ever spent volunteering in Peru.

Message of the Day: “The highest of distinctions is service to others.” - King George IV (1762-1830), King Of Great Britain, Ireland, and Hanover

A very successful and fulfilling day

As the week went on into Wednesday and Thursday, the group of volunteers, including myself, seemed to get more accustomed and settled into the groove of the long days and surprises that volunteering at either PPA or La Molina can throw at you. On Wednesday we woke up to be greeted with the usually flattering, “Beautiful ladies and handsome gentlemen” followed by a talk on what we would be doing at La Molina and PPA on this day. Edith taught us more about the culture and geographical standpoint of Peru and where it falls in South America. After eating breakfast and having our group meeting, Paulette and Irene departed for La Molina as Jim (my dad) and I left for PPA. Paulette and Irene seemed to both have wonderful days, despite Paulette being tortured by Irene about how good the ice cream she got was and a strike going on in the college. Irene once again had seven students and Paulette assisted her in one of her lessons. At PPA in the morning, I left for Niño Jesús to have a great day playing with the babies and my dad left to work on the labor project for part of the day. Then Edith, my father, and I had a nice lunch at De Gallia and returned to finish off the day strong with our challenging but lovable siblings. That evening everyone except for myself went to a very nice restaurant close to the hotel that had a very close and beautiful ocean view. Wednesday was a very successful and fulfilling day for all members of this group. Did I mention that there was sunlight?

Entry submitted by: Carter Ayers

Everything is looking good for a successful two weeks

On day two, Irene and Paulette were more comfortable and once again had good sessions with their students at La Molina.  In spite of the Peru vs. Colombia soccer match, they still managed to have three students in their second session, which was quite an accomplishment as most of Lima was watching the game.

At PPA, each kindergarten class was given the assignment to plant and tend to a garden. Jim and Edith helped the students and their teachers by clearing weeds, removing stones, and turning the dirt. Carter had another good morning with the babies at Niño Jesús. The highlight of the afternoon sibling session was Jim and Carter teaching Edith and the boys how to play baseball.  Everything considered it was a pretty good game although Edith hit the ball and then proceeded to run to third base.

Team 159 is off to good start and everything is looking good for a successful two weeks.

Message for the Day: “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”  - Dalai Lama

Team #159 gets started in Lima!

The team members are Paulette and Irene from Wisconsin and Minnesota (old college friends), Jim and Carter from Pittsburgh (father and son), and our fearless leader, Edith. 

On our first day, Paulette and Irene headed off on their adventure with a great deal of excitement and maybe some degree of trepidation to La Molina to teach the college students English. Upon arrival, they were greeted by Mr. Gorky, the director of the language center, and then introduced to Olenka. Olenka was responsible for orienting Paulette and Irene at La Molina and making them feel comfortable. In session 1, Paulette had three students who were professors and Irene had seven students. In session 2, Paulette was feeling under the weather and assisted Irene who had another seven students. The ladies allowed the students the opportunity to speak without a great deal of interruption in order to gain confidence and feel comfortable speaking in front of them and each other. The students were engaged and Irene was quite impressed by their level of proficiency.

Meanwhile, Jim and Carter were already in the groove as this is their third trip to PPA.  Jim spent the morning clearing weeds and cutting bushes with Salvatierri behind the kindergarten.  At the suggestion of a security guard, they attempted to trim a bush in the shape of a doll.  It looked like a ball. Although Carter is only fourteen years old, he feels comfortable at PPA and took an assignment away from his father working with the babies at Niño Jesús. His main responsibility was to play with them while the ladies bathed and fed the others. He has found this is not an easy assignment as babies can be quite taxing over long periods of time. In spite of this, Carter has excelled and provides the ladies with much needed assistance. In the afternoon, Jim and Carter were for the third time assigned to the siblings program with César, Harold, and Walter Sandalay. They were greeted with hugs and affection. The day was spent playing the usual games of soccer, tag, and hide and seek. The brothers have made great progress from two years ago when César and Harold would not recognize Walter as their brother and now readily accept him.