Rafael's experience, one month at Un Lugar Surf School
Can you describe the project?
Un Lugar Surf School is a local surf academy set up by Juan Carlos, a former surf champion. Apart from being a commercial surfing school, renting boards, Juan Carlos also offers free surfing lessons and material to local children who can't afford these things. Most of them are children from Mundo del Nino (ex-street children) or Hijos de Huanchaco (an association of fishermans). They have to take their parents to talk with Juan Carlos before, to do an induction for the parents, to let them know their kids are in good hands. During the summer holidays, these children are coming Monday, Wednesday and Friday. During winter, the lessons are on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
What is your role in the project?
My role was to fix the boards, wetsuits, leisures, to get everything ready for the kids. I was also teaching surfing to the children. There were 2 groups : the beginners and the intermediates. In the beginners, some of them didn't know how to swim, so I also had to teach some of them how to swim. We are doing exercice before going in the water. We teach them how to respect the sea. Then, we all go back to Un Lugar to do the cleaning job. We regularely have meetings with JC for him to give us tips to help the children. Un Lugar doesn't have a proper surf teacher exept JC. It needs to have someone living there, knowing the kids, being able to say which kid can get a board and go alone in the afternoon, someone staying for a while, etc.
Did you enjoy the experience?
Yes, I really had a lot of fun. It is good project because you're outside with kids. They like being in the water. They like surfing. Sometimes, the younger kids just like being in the water and have fun. It's a time off. It is really good for them, to keep them out of the street. It is also a physical exercise, and help them forget about their daily life, which is not easy.
Being a volunteer at Un Lugar also allows you to rent boards and wetsuit for free, and to get a free surf lesson.
Louise's experience, 4 months at the skate ramp
Can you describe the project?
The Skate Ramp is a great project created 2 years ago by OCN volunteers, in parternship with Un Lugar Surf School (the ramp is build on Un Lugar's boss, Juan Carlos, property). The ramp is located in a poor area of Huanchaco, called El Cerrito de la Virgen. Its aim is to give to the children of the area an opportunity to do something else than hanging out in the streets. For some of them, being good at skateboarding becomes a serious objective, and they come as much as possible to practice. For others, it is just another way to have fun. Nevertheless, only two children can skateboard on the ramp at the same time. So, being a volunteer at the skate ramp also means to take care and have fun with the kids who are not skateboarding. We are going there 3 times a week : Tuesdays from 4.30pm to 6pm (because they have homework help before), Fridays and Saturdays from 4pm to 6pm. Most of the children generally show up around 5pm.
How long does it take to get there and how much does it cost?
It takes about 20minutes from Huanchaco's church to reach the Skate Ramp walking. You can also take a mototaxi for 0.50cents, but volunteers go there walking most of time.
What is your role in the project?
As the skate ramp is located in a closed property, my role is to open the place, and the small office to get the boards, the protections and the other games out. Then, I am helping the children skateboarding, by giving them "advices" (which is not that easy considering that I don't even know how to skateboard) for the experienced ones, and by holding hands for the beginners. I am making sure they all have protections when they are on the ramp, and that they don't hurt themselves. Then, I am also playing and talking with the others children coming, because most of them are not going to skateboard. We are doing monkeybars, hula houp, freesbee, soccer, etc.
The volunteers are also working at making the place look better, by organising cleaning/painting afternoons for example. But there is still a lot to do !!
Do you enjoy the experience?
I really do enjoy the experience. It is great to be there for a long time and get to know the children. They are between 4 and 17years old, which makes it even more interesting. They are asking for a lot of attention and we always have a lot of fun, doing hula houp races or else. After a while there, the children do know you and trust you. You can't help but loving them really fast!
Any tips you would give to the next volunteer?
Knowing how to skateboard is definetely a plus !! A perfect spanish is not necessary, but speaking a bit can really be interesting to create a trusting relationship.
Louise's email adress:
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Anne's experience: 4 months at FairMail
Can you describe the project?
The fair trade photography project produces greeting cards in Peru (and also in India). The photos on the cards are taken by underpriviliged Peruvian teenagers. This project offers them photography training, part-time work, medical insurance and guidance in making their future plans. The teenagers get 50 % of the profits of the sale of their own cards to finance their housing and education.
How do you get there and how much does it cost?It takes around an hour to get to the project from Huanchaco, and costs 1.50soles one way. You need to take a H bus without heart. Get out at UPAO, then turn right, pass Plaza Vea (big commercial center), and turn right again on Calle Fatima. It is a 10minutes walk. What is your role in the project?I am teaching photography to the teenagers on Wednesdays from 3pm to 5pm, and on Thursdays from 9am to 11am. In total, there are 10 children, but there are divided in 2 groups, and you have one group every day. Thus, I am doing more or less the same lesson, twice. Then, every Saturday, from 9am to 1pm, it is the practice time. It is the moment the teenagers are really take the photos that will be postcards. I need to prepare everything: the trip, get to know which area we are going, the theme, the kind of photo we are going to do. It is all about organization !! Do you enjoy the experience?Oh yes. It is a lot of responsability because you are almost running the project on your own. Renato and Cynthia are only taking care of the administration part and give you the money you need for the different trips, but you need to organise everything on your own. But I truly love it. The relationship with the kids is amazing. It couldn't be better. I am having a really nice time. The children are really cool and want to learn. They have fun, and so do I. Any tips you would give to the next volunteer?You definetely need photography skills, and to speak spanish well. You only work 3 days a week, but there is a looot of preparation. It is a lot of extra time, but it is fun. I also think that it is better if you stay at least 2 months to get to know the kids, and create a relationship with them. Conclusion word: It's great. A really well organised project that the kids really enjoy ! Anne's email adress:
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