Volunteer work in the women's shelter in Peru

The work in the women's shelter

At first, working here seemed a bit chaotic. It also took some time before both the children and the mothers started to trust me.

However, after feeling a little overwhelmed and lost in the first three weeks of my volunteer service, I quickly learned to love the women's shelter. What was special were the people there, both the children and the mothers. It took a while for the ice to break, but once the kids got to know me and trusted me and the moms started chatting to me, I looked forward to work every morning and often stayed late at night to put the kids to bed.

I loved how alive the women's shelter was, despite the past and the hardships of everyone. I loved coming to work in the morning knowing the kids were happy to see me, and I even loved doing the dishes after lunch because that gave me a chance to chat with the moms .

My freedom in the project

Over time I also got more freedom. We started doing handicrafts with the children, teaching the older ones how to weave bracelets or taking them for walks through the city center. I accompanied the mothers to go shopping and to the doctor and had the opportunity to teach them a little English.

All in all, the women's shelter was the highlight of my stay in Latin America. For me, the bonds I was able to build with both the children and the mothers are still very important today. There was nothing quite like those moments of lighthearted chatting with moms and it felt like chatting with a friend. But also when the children jumped into your arms or fell asleep on your lap. 

Some of the connections I made are still so important to me that I am determined to return to Peru to continue being a part of the lives of the mothers and children.

Life and leisure in Cusco

In addition to my stay in Cusco, I also fell in love with the country of Peru. Cusco is first and foremost a beautiful city. Surrounded by mountains and shaped by beautiful history and architecture. I couldn't have chosen a better city.

Living with a host family, I never felt alone and always had someone to turn to for advice. That was especially important to me at times like Christmas. Instead of celebrating Christmas alone and missing my family, I was able to experience a typical Peruvian Christmas.

Living with a host family also taught me many Peruvian traditions, such as the custom of wearing yellow underwear on New Year's Eve, which is said to bring good luck. My host family made a significant contribution to making me feel safe and comfortable in Peru.

But soon after my arrival, I also found that it was easy to meet locals as well as international volunteers and travelers. Cusco was the perfect city for a volunteer - there were lots of cafes and restaurants, but also clubs and a lively dance scene. I would recommend everyone to learn to dance bachata or salsa as it was the easiest way for me to meet people. Cusco is also perfectly located for weekend or day trips, eg to Machu Picchu or the Rainbow Mountains.

My conclusion

In summary, my stay in Cusco was everything I hoped for and more - working in the women's shelter not only motivated me to reconsider my future plans, but also made me fall in love with the Peruvian people, culture and nature.

Experience report by Greta, 2019/2020