Volunteers Abroad Reviews and Feedbacks

Coming to Cusco changed my life. My name is Katy, I’m 23 years old, from New York. Deciding to volunteer abroad was a last minute decision for me. I knew I wanted to give back and help others but wasn’t sure exactly how. I did some research and ended up going through the organization A Broader View. Out of all the other volunteer organizations I found, A Broader View had by far the best feedback. I found some past volunteers to chat with, and decided this was the right move for myself.

Next was choosing my destination, and after careful consideration, I knew Cusco was the best fit, and I was right. I graduated with a degree in Education and absolutely love working with children, so I chose the orphanage/street kids programs. The kids were wonderful and working with them was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I taught them English and was so surprised how much they listened and truly wanted to learn. I completely fulfilled my purpose there in every way, shape, and form. Those little faces are ones that I will never forget.

I also attended Spanish classes at the Ethnias School, to help ease the language barrier. I’m so glad I did because it can be very frustrating and stressful not being able to communicate with others effectively. Alfredo, my teacher, was a blast. He made learning fun, so class was never dull. Each day I left, I felt more prepared living in another culture, and speaking in another language.

My host mom and program coordinator, Karem, was amazing as well. She opened up her home and made me feel extremely welcome. Not only was she a great mom, but also a friend, which whom I’ll never forget. She made the experience much easier for me, and I adjusted trouble free. As a coordinator, she picked me up and dropped me off at the airport, as well as personally showed me where I would be studying and working.

A Broader View really takes care of you so you feel comfortable and safe. I traveled to Peru with my sister but am 100% that I could have done it alone. So no one should feel nervous doing it alone because you will be fine and meet other amazing people that are in your shoes. I had the opportunity to make great friends that I will keep in touch with always. My roommate Danita was such a cool girl. We had a great time living together. She actually taught me how to 2-step, that’s a dance they do in the West, she lives on a farm. After sharing sleepless nights, many jokes, and helping hands, I consider her more of a sister than a friend. The city of Cusco is a beautiful one, filled with history and culture. It is a place that’s never boring, and filled with many things to see and do. The people are very warm and friendly which is refreshing, being a foreigner in a strange country.

It wasn’t all easy breezy though, there were challenges I faced, as you would in any unfamiliar situation you put yourself in. The important part is to make every part of your journey a learning experience, and that’s exactly what I did. This experience has changed my life, and myself, for the better. Would I do it again? Absolutely! The places I visited, the work I did, and that people I met, have all made lasting impressions.

This was a chapter in my life, an interesting one, an excellent one! I only hope more people have the opportunity and the time to do something as amazing as this, because trust me, this is everything I thought it would be, and more.

-Katy