June 2012
Sarah Lackner
Position
Overall Rating:
It was reverse babysitting- paying to sit in a corner and color with small children.
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
If smiles can make a difference, then yes.
Organization and communication:
I never had any idea what to expect for the day ahead.
Accommodation:
Not affiliated with the NGO- MonkeyWasi is an amazing hostel.
Safety:
I never felt worried while volunteering, but was warned the children may steal, so I just stopped bringing anything with me.
When arriving in Huaraz, I was expecting everything the profile talks about (talked about, I just checked the profile which has been changed). And I had emailed past volunteers who had amazing things to say about the organization and projects I could possibly take on. This was going to be great!! I was more excited for this project than anything else I planned to do over my 4 months in Peru. With 6 weeks available in Huaraz, it sounded like a place where a volunteer could jump in and do something significant for children in serious need.
My first day was great, it was a Saturday and there were two project, both which went well with six other volunteers on hand! We broke into groups and colored with the children until time for their lesson- dental hygiene (I arrived with very limited Spanish and had to sit back for this). The second group was cancelled because of rain. The next day of volunteering, after listening to Jim talk of big plans- things the project would do, things he wanted me to do, places and things he wanted to show me, I learned everything about the NGO's history in the first week.
After the first week and hearing Jim's plans, I wanted to get started asked Jim for a bit more of a project. Where do you need me? He told me if there was any project I wanted to get started to tackle it, but didn't really seem to have any use for me, so to work with the kids too small to participate in the day's project. Problem being there was zero preparation or organization on Jim's part and any suggestions were immediately shot down or he told me had been tried before and just wouldn't work. Considering my limited time span, limited Spanish and abundant motivation, a past volunteer helped me get material together- Ready to babysit the kiddies!
I spent 5 weeks in Huaraz before realizing my time was being wasted. Many days were cancelled simply because of rain. The lesson plan for the day was determined by "how the kids were feeling" which was extremely frustrating. I'm not sure where my volunteer fee was spent. Jim said it would be for shoes and socks for the kids. Asked later he had an excuse, but no socks for the kids. Mandarins were bought every day para los ninos and they needed new art supplies regularly, yet I fear my money was not directly used to improve the lives of the children, but instead spent on a display for the museum opening.
I do believe Jim has good intentions with his NGO, however his words are not equal to his actions (he has many words for anyone who will listen- mostly negative words about Peruvians, but he seemed to prefer talking of what he has done). The profile states that all a volunteer needed is the desire to help. All I wanted to do was help! All there was for me to do was baby-sitting.
If you have the time, I can highly recommend that you stop by and share an afternoon with the kids, they are truly delightful. Plan to spend more time only if you have a high level of Spanish, are not bothered by a complete lack of structure or are prepared spend the enormous amounts of time that would be needed to find and repair the holes which are most definitely there.
July 2012
Sinead Maguina
Position
Overall Rating:
I had a great experience. It has shown me many things that I would have never thought of on my own. The way Jim brings the children together and the love and compassion that he has for the children is contagious.
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
Most definately! The time I spent with the children helped them to develop their young minds and creativity to learn not only academics but how to communicate, play well with others, self esteem and personal progress. I also felt that I have grown myself in compassion and developed a sense of Jim´s goals as my own.
Organization and communication:
Jim started the project initially by himself and it has grown into what it is today. Every organization that is honest will say they are still growing. I am amazed at what Jim and the Peruvian volunteers who are there everyday have accomplished in such a short timespan. Jim made sure I knew what was aware of what we were doing and most importantly, why.
Accommodation:
I lived with family members in Huaraz
Safety:
Huaraz is considered a relatively safe town.
This is the second year I have volunteered with Changes for New Hope. Last year, 2011,I joined the project and was not sure what to expect. After I was with them a day or so I was completely comfortable working with the children. I was deeply moved by the excitement of the children as we joined them. There faces reflected their joy as we gathered them in a circle. Even simple things like teaching them to color inside the lines, building blocks and simple eye hand cooridination games were important to develop young minds to learn, how to learn.
Changes for New Hope is well appreciated by the families of the children because they not only provide educational opportunities but also shoes, vitamins, fruits, toys, clothing, games, eyeglasses, thermal blankets, as well as emotional support, love and a safe place for the children to come to.
I highly recommend this project as long as you have a deep sense of compassion and maturity. You will see yourself grow as well as the children you are helping. I will continue my support of Changes for New Hope when I return to Oklahoma as a virtual volunteer.
July 2012
Rebecca James
Position
Overall Rating:
A truly independent and immersive experience
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
I do, but theres always so much more that can be done
Organization and communication:
Great communication from Jim but this isn't a highly organised type organisation. Its growing and learning from the ground up so bring open minds :)
Accommodation:
Arranged a room in a shared house near to Jim. Loved the experience.
Safety:
Was very well looked after, stayed in what seemed a safe part of town. Help was always given if I needed it.
This was a great experience. I wasn't looking for a "gap year" type organisation and my time in Huaraz really was worth while. I learned a lot about the town, the kids and myself. I loved being allowed to have ideas and run with them (games, songs, art, english lessons, maths). I loved that the materials (books etc) that I collected from home were put to immediate use. I came with quite basic spanish and improved a lot whilst there (6 weeks or so), children make very good teachers! As does William, who gave me great spanish lessons. I would definitely consider going back and would reccommend to anyone wanting an opportunity to really get stuck in.
September 2012
Mia Lloyd
Position
Overall Rating:
I really enjoyed working with the children of the three different groups and it was rewarding to see their development even in the two months in which we were here. The experience of living and volunteering in Huaraz was great as it is a lovely town and the there is also plenty to do in your free time. It is definitely the children that make it special though !
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
Yes- Although 2 months doesn´t seem a long time- you can see a difference over the weeks with the children you are working with, We particularly bonded with one of the groups and seeing the children´s confidence grow and helping them develop academically as well is very rewarding.
Organization and communication:
Jim (the founder of the organisation) organises the NGO well and we were always happy and clear with what we were doing on a daily basis. He allowed us to get fully involved in the organisation and any new projects he was developing. This was great as it meant we always had something to do and felt completely a part of the organisation. Jim was also very good at replying to e-mails before our placement started which is helpful as he was always happy to answer any questions or pre-departure worries!
Accommodation:
We stayed in the same hostel as Jim, which was very comfortable and the owners made us feel very at home. It is well located near to the central plaza which is good for spending free time and we were offered a special rate for staying a long time which really helps! It is 5 minutes walk from one of the groups and short combi ride to the other two groups.
Safety:
I always felt safe here as we would always go to projects in a group and come back together. We nearly always got back before dark too. The neighbourhood we were staying in was in a safe part of town so we also felt safe going out by ourselves.
As part of my university degree(Spanish with International Development Studies),I came to Huaraz to work with children. Volunteering with ´Changes For New Hope´was a brilliant experience. We were working with 3 groups of children from disadvantaged areas of the city. Each group was completely different from the others and we would be with each group twice a week. The children are lovely and we quickly made bonds with each of the groups. As each group varies in the ages of the children that attend, it made the week really interesting and we could design different activities for each group. We made a big world map and made it into a game for one of the groups, designed to help them learn geography (as this seemed to be lacking from their curriculum, it was really nice to see them enjoying the game we had made and learning geography at the same time! With the younger children it was really nice to see their confidence grow through the games and activities that we were doing with them. Although it was only two months, I found it a really rewarding experience and felt that our work with the organisation was appreciated by both Jim and the children. Jim always made us feel like we had an important role in the organisation while we were here, which meant we could always be fully involved and share our ideas for the projects. I really enjoyed myself and will miss the children and Huaraz a lot!
September 2012
Tom Clark
Position
Overall Rating:
My overall experience was very good. I felt I had achieved everything I set out to achieve and felt that I had made a difference in the childrens lives which feels very fulfilling.
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
My volunteer program lasted 2 months. Within weeks of working with the children of changes for new hope i felt that i had made a difference to their lives, whether it was from helping with their english or geography to helping them with their self esteem.
Organization and communication:
The organization was very good in regard to communication. Jim (the founder) insured I knew when and where I needed to be and what I needed to do everyday. When I was unsure about anything I felt comfortable asking.
Accommodation:
Very good accomodation. Clean and safe.
Safety:
Tried to keep on time so that we finished our days before dark.
During my International Development degree course I was required spend 2 months in a developing country as a volunteer. My time in Huaraz volunteering with Changes for New Hope is an experience that I will never forget. Each group of children are unique in their own ways and I really made a bond with each group of children. I also felt that I really made a difference to the lives of these kids and saw a noticible change in the time I was here.
The organization was very good at letting me be free with any ideas that I had and helped me put them into place. For example, I soon noticed that the level of education especially in geography the children where receiving was quite poor so I developed a game to help them with this. The founder (Jim) was extremely supportive of this and ensured I had all the materials and help I needed. Jim also always insured that I had got everything I needed out of my time here in Huaraz. I was conducting a research study for my university degree while in Huaraz and he was very good with insuring I had got what I needed.
But the children are what realy made my experience. They are a great bunch of kids and I will miss them a lot!
The organisation really make you feel part of the team and I strongly reccomend Changes For New Hope for anyone wanting to volunteer with children and has a desire to make a difference.
February 2013
Gunvor Platou
Position
Overall Rating:
Volunteering with Changes for New Hope was an amazing experience that I would recommend to anyone who wants to make a difference in the lives of the children of Huaraz.
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
Definitely. Even though I was just there for a little under two weeks the children quickly learned my name and thanked me several times. The same happened with the parents. They seemed really grateful that I was there and I felt like I had something to offer them.
Organization and communication:
As it is a very small organisation you always know pretty much what is going on. But as the organisation rely on a lot of people outside the organisation (and the weather) changes can happen quickly. It's important to start each day open to changes of plan.
Accommodation:
I lived in the same hostel as Jim (Caroline Lodgings) and was very happy there. It's cheap and the family who runs it is sweet and helpful + you meet a lot of backpackers and hear a lot of good stories. However it's not a five-star hotel and some nights are quite cold and sometimes there is a lot of noice. But all in all a nice place to stay.
Safety:
I never felt that I wasn't safe.
This is my story of my 12 days of volunteering with Changes for New Hope.
I arrived in Huaraz not really knowing what to expect from the following two weeks. I did have a lot of information about the organisation and had been in contact with Jim, so I had an idea of what I was getting into, but the internet can never really prepare you for the real life experience. I knew that I would be getting to know some of the poorest people in Peru and that I would see a completely different side of the country than the one I had experienced in Lima and at the major touristic sites. And I was truly looking forward to the experience.
Arriving in Huaraz
I arrived in Huaraz on the 8th of December 2012, around one and a half month after I had first contacted Changes for New Hope. Jim met me and my friend Mads, who was also volunteering, at the bus station and led the way to the hostel, Caroline Lodging, where we stayed while we were in Huaraz. The hostel is highly recommendable and the family who runs it is very kind and helpful – and it’s cheap.
We arrived on a Sunday, which is the day of the week where there is no volunteering to be done. Instead we went hiking with Jim up one of the mountains and got an amazing view of Huaraz and the mountainsides that surround the city. At the same time we got to know more about Jim and the organisation and were prepared to start the work Monday morning.
Meeting the Children and Families (and other projects)
We started Monday with helping at one of the other projects Jim is also involved in: the comedor.
The comedor is a place where it’s possible to buy lunch for just 1 sol and the people who come there are generally people who have a job but who can’t afford buying lunch other places. We helped serve the customers and washing the dishes afterwards. To my surprise washing dishes was something you did in cold water and I doubt that any European health organisation would have been happy about the way things were done, but all this was made okay by the fact that the people running it and the customers were grateful and kind people. The first day we walked in there we got a big round of applause – just for coming. That’s something that makes you want to help!
After helping at the comedor we went to the group of children closest to the hostel in the area called Challhua. I think we had around 30 children there aged somewhere between four and 14. Jim’s helper Charlie – a Peruvian teacher – took care of the older group while Jim, my friend Mads and I played with and helped the younger ones. I know some Spanish which helped me communicate with them. My friend Mads who doesn’t know more than the very basics of the language found other ways of communication and even though the language can be a barrier, children are amazing in the way the try to understand you. They don’t give up just because you don’t understand them the first five times. This first experience with the children made me happy about my choice of coming to Huaraz and I started looking even more forward to meeting the other groups.
The next day, Tuesday, we went to Santa Rosa which is a small group of houses about 7 km outside of Huaraz. This was, without doubt, the group I liked the best of the ones we helped. Already the first day we went there we were greeted with open arms by both the children and their parents. It’s quite extraordinary how involved the parents of Santa Rosa are in the project. Mads and I had bought LEGO with us from Denmark as a present to the children and they absolutely loved it. They were very creative and also good at sharing. Before we went back to Huaraz we played volleyball with some of the older children and parents. They were really good at it! So if you want to practice your volley skills I can definitely recommend this group of people. The net was put up on a slightly sloping dirt road but this didn’t stop it from being fun. This was one of the experiences I have clearest in my head. The fact that you don’t need a perfect pitch to play and at the same time it made me much more appreciative of what I have in Denmark where I come from and how lucky we are the ones of us who are born into Western middle class families.
Another group is located in a place called Secsapampa, it is close to Santa Rosa but further up the hill. The road up there mainly consists of dirt which makes it impossible to get up there when it’s raining. The same is the case for the fourth group at Rio Seco where Changes for New Hope doesn’t have a house and therefore depends on dry weather. At Secsapampa, after our first visit, one of the little girls hugged me and told me that she would miss me. Again an experience that shows the gratitude that children who are part of the project show to the volunteers who come to them.
Seeing another side of Peru
Volunteering with Changes for New Hope turned out not only to be an option to help children in need but also a chance to get a closer insight in Peruvian culture and to help other groups as well. As an example, one of the other things we did was to go to a private school where one of the teachers offers an enormous support to the project. To repay his kindness we went there to an English class basically just to speak to the children in English. We also visited local markets and restaurants. On the second Sunday we were there Jim and the guys at the hostel helped arrange a horseback riding tour close to Huaraz which was an amazing experience.
Jim is also very involved in art and helps the children improve their self-esteem through artwork. We helped the children draw and paint and also worked on sculptures. All this ended up in the biggest museum in Huaraz where the children could see their own art displayed and which will, hopefully, make them appreciate themselves and what they can do more. Unfortunately for Mads and I the opening of the exhibition was right after we left Peru, but judging from the pictures I’ve seen it was a huge success.
Another thing I noticed was how appreciative the children of the project were. An example: giving them a little bit of Play-Doh and you would make their day – even though they had to give it back by the end of the session. From my experience with Danish children most of them would probably have complained they didn’t have more colours to play with. This is of course a natural reaction when you are used to having a lot of different toys and getting most things you wish for at your birthday. But it was life confirming to see that it doesn’t take a lot to make these children happy and give them a better day, and from that starting point hopefully a better life.
My final words will be on what I liked most about Changes for New Hope and Jim as its founder: The organisation does not help everyone who puts their hand out. They have to show that they want to be helped towards a better life and that they are willing to take responsibility for their own life. The people who just want more and more and doesn’t do anything to change the way they live to become self-supporting are not helped by the organisation. I think this is the right way to do it. And if some people from the last group changes their mind and wants to make an effort, then the door is of course open to them.
All in all volunteering with Changes for New Hope is something I can recommend to anyone who really wants to make a difference for Peruvian children. Volunteering changed my view of life even though it was for such a short period of time and I hope that the days I spent in Huaraz had a positive influence on these children and their families.
