Peru

Our daughter's trip to Peru to volunteer was preempted because of the global pandemic. Globalteer refused to grant a refund, nor did they offer an alternative. We were simply put off by the manager who told us that we should seek recompense through travelers insurance. While they may be a very reputable organization, their handling of this was less than professional, and for that reason, I would recommend that people look deep into the organizations they are willing to help. We will from now on.

I volunteered at the dog shelter in Cusco in 2017 at which time it was not possible to leave a review. My experience was rather negative.

I was very upset by the conditions and the way the dogs were treated to the extent that I had to stop going there after the second day. I informed the Globalteer office in Cusco of my concerns and they took quick action to address the most serious of these.

After I returned home to the UK, I wrote an email to Globalteer detailing what I had seen and also setting out suggestions as to ways in which the dogs' welfare could be improved. I have been involved in animal welfare all my life and have volunteered at numerous shelters in various countries and therefore thought that my suggestions would be useful. As a Iawyer I am familiar with the UK standards. I received a response from the manager which I was not happy with as the statements contained therein did not correspond with what I had seen myself at the shelter, and direct questions were not answered. I asked him if my complaint could be forwarded to the trustees but did not hear anything from them. I then wrote a letter to each of the trustees at the company's registered address but did not receive any replies. I don’t know if my letters were forwarded.

I then asked my member of parliament (MP) if he would write to the trustees for me. He kindly tried to do so but only received a reply from the manager. I am sorry to say that in this reply, which my MP sent to me, the manager stated that I was making things up about the shelter because I wanted to get a refund of the fee I paid to do the volunteer placement. It also contained the same kind of inaccurate statements that I had received myself.

My MP then contacted the Animal Welfare Group in the UK Parliament about this issue, the chairman of which then wrote to Globalteer. Even he did not receive a response from the trustees but only from the manager.

We wanted to thank you all for the most wonderful experience in Peru. We will recommend ABV to anyone interested in volunteering and will also consider working with you in the future. You did an excellent job in every aspect.
J & C

I volunteered with A Broader View for two months with the Women’s Empowerment program in Cusco. I chose to volunteer with this nonprofit after completing my social work degree where I focused my studies and work with domestic violence and with refugees and immigrants (where I was able to practice my Spanish a lot). During my program, I ended spending time with the women and kids at the center in order to provide them with extra emotion support and friendship. I spent a lot of time talking with the older and middle aged women, dancing with the younger girls, reading, joking around, having interesting conversations, cooking, and loads of other things! I had the joy of getting very close to several of them and equally so the joy of being able to call them my friends.
I remember one day going into one of the girl's rooms finding her tearful, with a book in her bed. I asked her if she was feeling sad to which she replied, “yes”. She did not want to talk about why specifically she was sad, but I asked her if she would like to read the book to which she also replied “yes”, and we read the book all day. I taught her new words and encouraged her reading, even when it took her 45 minutes to finish the entire page. From this, I was able to watch her spirits and confidence rise and she has been practicing her reading every day since.
I spent a total of three days on a tour to Puno and spent the night on the floating islands. Puno was amazing because it encapsulated culture, landscapes, and great hike all in one trip, and, on top of that, I made several wonderful friends! While at Puno I took a boat ride on Lake Titicaca which was far vaster than any lake I had ever been on. During our boat ride, we made stops at the floating island including the Uros island. I found the Uros island completely captivating because the materials which were on the island were unlike anything I typically see in the States.
Some things you need to remember: Look into the work more and plan ahead, If you want to donate books, buy them here to ensure they are in Spanish, Make sure you have thick socks, Bug spray isn’t really that necessary, Bring nail clippers, waterproof jacket, sunblock, laundry mesh bag, packing cubes and washcloth.
The online chat was super helpful and the volunteer guide provided me with everything I needed to know and more. I used the chat many times before committing to traveling and making my final payment. Each time Megan was responsive to my questions and gave me useful information. I also found the volunteer guide helpful in giving me tips about packing and safety information. I would be happy to speak with other volunteers about my experience.

I had a wonderful time in peru! I did the medical program in Cusco. I had plenty of time after volunteering to do fun thing with fellow volunteers like ziplining and quad biking! We also went to Machu Picchu over the weekend. I definitely recommend this program!

My experience was amazing. When I got there, Maria Elena was waiting for me right outside the exit entrance of the Cusco airport. She welcomed me with a big hug. She let me sleep a lot on my first day so that I could get used to the altitude. Then she took me out and showed me all around Cusco and where I needed to go and what I needed to know. I started my first day at the clinic and I loved it. The kids were adorable and everyone there was able to accommodate me and help me learn what to. My Spanish classes were great as well. I learned so much great history of Cusco, and I learned a lot of Spanish. I also spent time at the orphanage which was great. All of the girls were so sweet and they loved that you were there which really makes you enjoy it. The food is amazing. You are kept very well fed, and everything tastes amazing. I felt very secure. The area itself was very safe, and there was a gate that was kept locked at all times in front of Marias so there was no way someone could get in. It was very safe. When it comes to clothing, it depends on the time you are coming. It is good to have a good regular jacket because it is still pretty chilly there at night. A good pair of tennis shoes also go a long way. When it comes to travel, be prepared to struggle at Lima airport. When you get there you are normally pretty tired and it can be challenging to figure out but it is possible and once you get through security, it is very easy. Bring more money than you think you need. It is better to be safe than sorry. When it comes to personal items, bring travel sized everything, and you can buy things when you get there.

The two weeks I spent in Cusco, Peru was an amazing adventure, both for me and for my future in medicine. I enjoyed the city so much and loved the culture I was able to experience. I think I could have had a better volunteering experience if the clinic in Chinchero maybe was more aware of volunteers and had set protocols for us. I found myself really looking to fill in time and just roaming around trying to find something to do. The nurses were very kind and I learned a lot about the medical system in Peru. Overall, some of the changes that could have been made also stemmed from me just needing to be more outgoing and asking others if they needed help. The adventures I did on my own time were amazing and I loved my stay. I really enjoyed the food and my host family were always very helpful and supportive. I felt extremely lucky while staying in Cusco and would definitely recommend this trip to anyone who is thinking about doing an IVHQ program.

The two weeks I spent in Cusco, Peru was an amazing adventure, both for me and for my future in medicine. I enjoyed the city so much and loved the culture I was able to experience. I think I could have had a better volunteering experience if the clinic in Chinchero maybe was more aware of volunteers and had set protocols for us. I found myself really looking to fill in time and just roaming around trying to find something to do. The nurses were very kind and I learned a lot about the medical system in Peru. Overall, some of the changes that could have been made also stemmed from me just needing to be more outgoing and asking others if they needed help. The adventures I did on my own time were amazing and I loved my stay. I really enjoyed the food and my host family were always very helpful and supportive. I felt extremely lucky while staying in Cusco and would definitely recommend this trip to anyone who is thinking about doing an IVHQ program.

It might be cheesy to say that I experienced something life-changing in Cusco Peru, but it’s true. I loved every second of my trip. Working in the kindergarten and hospital allowed me glimpses into the education and medical systems and gave me an opportunity to practice Spanish. I learned that sometimes to be most helpful, I had to be brave and ask where I’d be most useful. Sometimes doing the little things meant the most to those around me - like calming a crying child to allow the nurses to be able to finish pressing work, or having the patience with a child to sit and help them finish their food for the first time.
I found incredible kindness everywhere I went. At Machu Picchu, it absolutely poured rain when we arrived at the site and I didn’t have a rain jacket. A complete stranger gave me her rain jacket without even a second thought. Instances like this occurred daily, showing me how universal kindness is.
“No hay dias malos en Peru.” That was my motto here, and it was true ("there are no bad days in Peru"). Each day, even if I felt frustrated with my Spanish communication skills or something didn’t go as planned, I learned something new and positive. Each day became my new favorite day.
An incredible experience, and one that I will never forget.