GVI - Volunteer Programs in Peru

Interview with Leanne Hart, world famous GVI alum

GO: Why did you decide to volunteer abroad with GVI in Peru?

Leanne: 
We have been very lucky to have the opportunity to travel and work together as well as to have the support of spouses and family who say, “You go girls!” 

Our second trip with GVI had us land in the picturesque city of Arequipa, Peru. What was not to love? Temperatures at a cool 68 degrees, incredible blue open skies, surrounded by three volcanoes, the Andean Mountains, not to mention the world’s driest desert, the Atacama. It took our breath away, and it wasn’t just the altitude!

The trip we chose had us building a much-needed water cistern in a community 30 minutes from the city of Arequipa. We were able to work alongside other volunteers from the United States and the U.K. Some of the volunteers had come from other GVI projects, like Ecuador, while others had already been in Arequipa for 2 and 3 weeks. Some others were transitioning to other locations within the GVI umbrella, like Nicaragua and Africa. We were also able to help for one afternoon in the GVI run school near the cistern project, which gave us a great and wondrous appreciation for those volunteer teachers.

Leanne with some fellow volunteer GVI'ers

GO: Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.

Leanne: A typical day would have us leave from a specific location and travel 30 minutes to the community of Villa El Triunfo. We would start at 8:30 . First on the agenda would be collecting water for use at the school. All available buckets and containers would be filled with water.. Some days we would only have 15 minutes before the water to the school and community was cut off. Other days we had the luxury of an hour.( hence the need for a water cistern. ) This cistern would be used at the school as well as by the community. The finished project will be put in the hands of the community and school and it will be up to them to ration their water and use it wisely for the duration of the day. The work itself was hard, dusty and dirty. We shoveled dirt , mixed gravel , sand and water to make concrete, carried blocks and bricks as well as learned how to mortar and lay brick.

We usually took a break when the kids had recess. Our soccer skills were put to the test and we quickly realized we made better referees than participants, as the kids out-maneuvered, out- ran and out-skilled us at every opportunity and turn. It was wonderful to know that we could make the kids so happy and squeal with laughter just by running alongside them.

Our lunch was supplied by GVi and then back to work until 2. Each day we would walk out to catch the bus . Once back in Arequipa we would take our 2 hour spanish lesson and then home for dinner with our host families. Each week that you are with GVI you have the opportunity to do a cultural or adventure tour. We were offered mountain biking down the Chachani Volcano. What a ride!

Volunteers in Peru

GO: How did this experience impact your academic development?

Leanne: 
Once home, we realized part of the responsibility with volunteering and learning is sharing. GVI has a unique program where returning volunteers can join to become ambassador. There are many venues and opportunities for this. We attend local travel fairs, when possible, as well as share our experiences with like- minded people at Meet-and-Go venues. Travel reviews and blogs are excellent ways to share your experiences as well. Technology has also made it possible to reach a wide and extensive audience and demographic. We took a chance 3 years ago on our first GVI program in Guatemala – we just surfed the net, found something that appealed to us, booked it, and the rest is history. It’s easy to promote something you believe in and a program which comes through on everything it advertises. There’s no reality gap here - it’s a win-win situation for everyone concerned.



The point system associated with the Ambassador Program is a unique feature of GVI. We have the potential to drastically reduce the cost of our next trip by doing something as simple as posting a note on our wall or replying to an email enquiry. You can put in as much or as little time as you want. Magazines are always a great source to use. Local small town papers are a potential source for a story, as they are always looking for that story which is unique. What we like about the Ambassador Program is that we can tailor it to our schedules. We can be as involved as our time allows or just choose based on your interest in a specific project or locale. It is no hardship to make a commitment and stand up for something you believe in. What is next? With over 40 countries to choose from and over 150 different programs offered ,my only dilemma will be Fiji Islands or maybe something closer like Ecuador!