Jonathan, 28, England, volunteered for 6 weeks:
“My job did not look too exciting on the outside, but in the inside my mind was bubbling. I reorganised the way English classes are taught by the volunteers so I spent most of the mornings working at the Otra Cosa office. I also taught English twice a week at the Huanchaco library. I really enjoyed my volunteer experience with Otra Cosa. As the organisation encourages initiative, I’ve been able to create, which, to me, is one of the purposes in life. I have gained confidence in myself and a greater understanding of others. In a world where you can be in touch with the world from home, the best way to discover and understand different cultures is to live in them. Working and talking to Peruvians has therefore taught me a lot. I would advise future volunteers to be strict with the students. They lack discipline so it’s best to show them from the start who the boss is in the classroom.”
Sarah, 37, England, volunteered for 2 months:
“At the office, I was supporting the managers of the organisation while also doing handover activities and reviewing the volunteer database. I have very much enjoyed volunteering with Otra Cosa. The first few weeks were very challenging, but I feel that I got in a good routine. The other volunteers are all good to know and everyone gets on well. By volunteering with Otra Cosa, I have gotten a better understanding of how an NGO functions. For future volunteers, I would recommend you to be clear about your skills before you arrive but also be prepared to be very flexible about what you are working on. Lots of initiative will be needed so come ready to present good ideas.”
