A day in the life of a volunteer

My name is Amelia and I am a volunteer with Bruce Peru Cusco. In this photo I am with Maribelle, helping her to get washed before lessons start.

It's difficult to describe a typical day here because no day is the same. There are some things that we must do every day though, starting with getting up at around 7. One of us must then start preparing a Peruvian breakfast drink for the kids called 'desayuno' (breakfast), which is made with different types of flour, water and sugar and is pretty disgusting until you get used to it. At the same time, we have to make 40 sandwiches, usually with something sticky in them, to complete the children's breakfast. After having our breakfast, the teachers arrive here at 8.30 and we go off to three separate schools around Cusco.

I've been to all three and I like all of them. They all have their separate personalities because of the kids that make up the schools, but I enjoy being in all of them.


Officially I don't have favourites because that would be wrong. Off the record however in the three schools there is always at least one child that you really look forward to seeing and often think about adopting to make a Brad and Angelina style family!

In the Puquin school that child is Livia. She is so beautiful I think she will grow up to be a Disney Princess. She's also very shy so when she gives you a smile or laughs with you, it's a real treasure.


In Ticatica, top of the sprogs would have to be Jesus. He's always got such a massive grin on his face, that is until you ask him to write the letter 'A' or the number '8', then her grabs his hair and pulls a face, but they're both equally cute. In this picture he has covered himself in moisturizing cream.Each mornign at the schools, after breakfast we ask the children to brush their teeth and wash their faces. Because of the climate here the children's skin is usually very dry on their face and hands so we give them cream after their wash. Some kids like Livia hate the cream and you have to chase them around with the bottle. Other kids like Jesus can't get enough and slap it on with a trowel totry and look like 'fanatasmas' (ghosts).

Jesus is also very sweet when he prays. We used to have a very religeous teacher in Ticatica called Marina and she'd always do a big prayer (like the lord's prayer) each morning with the kids and Jesus would say it word for word with his hands clasped together and his little eyes screwed up......


Geraldine comes in a very close second in the cute stakes. She's 4 I think and quite worryingly always has a pair of earrings in. She was the favourite of a previous volunteer here, Alanna and she is naturally very sweet. Unfortunately, one of the only things she has learnt to say is 'no pueeeeeedooooo' (I caaaaaaaan't).



Finally in Ticatica, I have to mention Rosita. I like her because she has a really strong personality. She's funny, feisty, cheeky and very beautiful. She's a real character.


I've only spent a few days in the Huancaro school, but this little chap made a real impression on me. His name is Casimiro. He's very difficult to deal with in a classroom, but I still found him to be very charming in his own way, and I love his middle-aged hair too!


The schools are only open from 9-12, which is a blessing because you really work hard for those 3 hours. The kids are very affectionate almost immediatley which makes it very easy to become attached to them, but if you can speak Spanish it's even better and you soon feel like you're getting to know them. I can't speak Spanish very well, but this is a sure-fire way to learn fast!If you want to improve your Spanish then volunteering here will do it in a hurry....you learn a lot and you learn quickly.

After lunch the rest of the day is your own and if you're a volunteer then to a large extent it's your choice how involved you choose to be in the rest of the centre's activities i.e. fundraising. It's great if everyone can contribute something, but if you only have a week in Cusco it's understood that you mould probably want to see the city and the sights.

I love it here, it's hard work and its frustrating, but I wanted the chance to be a part of something that feels necessary and this is it. This is the only education these kids get....we're not an after-school club, we provide their only access to education and, in many cases, we manage to get them into state school the following year.

Stop reading and come and help....in two weeks Rita and Tomek go on holiday and I NEED YOU!!!!