Volunteer in Peru with AMIGOS
Help the Poorest Children While Extending Your Language and Cultural Understanding
By Karen Milne
While discovering the delights of Peru, I
decided to volunteer at AMIGOS Spanish
School, the only nonprofit language center
in Cusco, where income from teaching
Spanish to foreign visitors helps provide
an education for local children. I
was immediately struck by the friendly
and caring atmosphere and consideration
for both the foreign visitors and
local students.
Located high in the Andean mountains
and surrounded by Inca history, the
school offers children in extreme poverty
a 3-year program consisting of daily
English classes, workshops to build selfconfidence
and communication skills,
and a daily meal—sometimes the only
one a child receives. It was easy to see the
positive impact the program was having
on the local students and how it would
open many doors for their future.
Foreign visitors to the school told me
how much they were benefiting from
the high quality Spanish lessons, the
warm atmosphere, and the knowledge
that they were investing in the future
of Cusco’s children. At AMIGOS all the
teachers are professionals and accreditation
is even available.
For travelers like myself who wish to
make a long-term contribution, AMIGOS
offers volunteer work in teaching and
administration for those staying for three
months or more. The well-organized
homestay program offers comfortable
and safe accommodation with incredible
Peruvian hospitality and home cooking.
In addition to language classes, the foreign
students’ program includes a “real”
city tour and visits to a local school and
Cusquenian homes. This essential part
of my experience allowed me to gain
an understanding of life for the children
in Cusco. Authentic cooking and
salsa dancing classes are also available,
offering travelers a cultural education
and an essential preparation for enjoying
Peruvian nightlife.
During my time at AMIGOS I came
to know the founder and director,
Jesus Napancca, who grew up working
throughout his childhood to support his
family. As a Spanish teacher in Cusco
he noticed the demand for an English-speaking workforce. Because very few of
his fellow Peruvians spoke English well,
the choice jobs in Cusco were usually
taken by foreigners. He decided to start
a school for underprivileged adolescents,
where in addition to learning English the
students would also receive emotional
support, a daily meal, and, most importantly,
love.
When I asked what else lay behind
the project he replied, “We believe that
one way to further communication and
understanding in our world is to learn
about each other, in a deeper and more
profound way. Learning a language of
another culture is the first step to this.”
It is easy to become part of AMIGOS.
You can contact the school via its website
at www.spanishcusco.com.
Karen Milne is a professional fundraiser in
Scotland. She spent 12 months in Cusco,
Peru during 2005 working for a variety of
developmental voluntary organizations. As
a Spanish speaker she was able to build
many close relationships with local people.
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