Life In The Field

Ashely Kalagian

In 2007, I decided to volunteer with GVI in Peru because I wanted to do something genuinely charitable, not just monetarily, but by becoming involved in people's lives and putting them before myself. GVI's educational projects provided an excellent opportunity for this.

During my six months in Peru, first as a volunteer and then as project intern, I not only was able to connect with the students and teachers of Triunfo school, but could also see how my time, money, effort and caring resulted in positive improvements in their school days and ultimately, their lives. The changes in the school environment itself were vast: we painted the school inside and out, replaced broken windows, installed a flag pole, bought plants for the students to create a garden, built and stocked a kitchen, and hired a cook to ensure hot lunches for the students every school day.

In my teaching capacity, either with the Peruvian class teacher, on my own, or with another volunteer, I worked with the students to improve their reading, writing and math skills, as well as develop their imaginations, artistic skills, and general knowledge of the world; this was a great challenge, especially as I was developing my beginner-level Spanish throughout my time in Peru. I also created a basic English curriculum for all the students grade one through six, and used creative exercises, games and activities to help the kids retain their new vocabulary. When there were difficult days, I could always count on the encouragement and kindness of my host family, advice and support from the project manager, and the enthusiasm and friendship of the other volunteers. Finding GVI an exceptional organization, and Arequipa being an enjoyable place to live, I applied for an internship and stayed on, taking responsibility for the project at Triunfo school by liaising with the director, teachers, students, and other volunteers to report directly to the project manager and together deal with problems, implement new ideas, and ensure the success of the project day-by-day. Now, I proudly recommend GVI to anyone interested in enriching their lives through volunteering, and am looking forward to returning to South America to work with GVI once again.