By Cherricha Jacobs, Desk Officer - Jamaica

The success of volunteerism is achieved when there is a satisfaction, difference, sense of achievement and accomplishment! All these words were used to describe the work of our volunteers on August 28th at the May Day High School. This school is one of our placements and we wanted to make a difference for the new school term which begins September 7th. Our sports volunteer, David Spitz, who currently works at the school, was delighted that May Day High School was chosen as our Dirty Day Project.

Volunteers got busy putting on their working gear – masks, gloves, “working clothes” to make a difference to the male and female bathrooms, as well as, planting trees around the football field.

Despite the heat, volunteers were all cranked up and ready to take on the day’s tasks. Volunteers chose to plant trees (“Planting Team”), cleaning markings from the walls (“Cleaning Team”) or painting (“Painting Team”). All set with specific tools in hand, shovel, gloves, masks, cleaning solution, paint brushes and/or rollers, paint pans, machetes, pick-axe, it was obvious that volunteers were here to “volunteer” and eager to make the difference!.

With plants in hands, shovels, gardening gloves, machetes and pick-axe in hand, the “Planting Team” was off to the football field. Volunteers dug holes around the field while the others assisted with placing the trees into the holes. Soon volunteers were immersed into the task at hand, ignoring the heat. Yes, it was hardwork digging those holes, in addition, to the nice warm heat coming from the mid-morning sun! One aim – “we got to finish planting all these thirty-three trees”. So without “easing up”, they worked and before noon, all trees were planted.

On entering the bathrooms, the “Cleaning Team” was greeted with what would be a hard task to get the markings off the walls – wow! And they were many graffiti! With little hesitation, volunteers got busy with cloths and cleaning solution, put on their gloves and masks and started cleaning off the wall s. Volunteers were divided into “Female Cleaning Team” or “Male Cleaning Team”.

Painting Team

The “Painting Team” seems excited as it first appeared that they had chosen the easiest task! As they had to just pour out paint and using their rollers and brushes to bring a facelift to the bathrooms – WRONG! There were markings everywhere, so they had to re-apply paint over and over to get those markings faded. “Painting Team” soon realized it wasn’t so easy. Volunteers had yellow and pink paints all over them – in their hairs, on their face s, on their clothes, on their feet, on the hands – all over!! Volunteers didn’t mind getting dirty as they smiled, climbed on desks and ladders to apply and re-apply paint where needed.

After the bathrooms walls were looking bright and freshly painted, the next task was….you guessed it….to tidy up the floor which was nicely decorated with either yellow or pink drippings from the brushes and rollers. Volunteers quickly worked together to get the job done by noon. Everyone was happy as they saw the big difference!

Special thanks to all our volunteers! The differences in the appearances to the bathrooms will undoubtedly put a “big grin” on the faces of the students on Monday morning as they will be pleasantly surprised to see no markings on the walls!! The trees planted will bring more comfort to students when they are fully grown, as they will now be able to sit in the cool to watch their football games, eat snacks and socialize.

By Harry Kent, Programme Advisor - UK

This July a group of students from Ardingly College set off to India for something a little different from your average summer holiday. The group was made up of 10 year 12 students, all of whom had an interest in travel and a real enthusiasm for volunteer work.

The main objective of their trip was to build both a volleyball and badminton court at a large orphanage in Madurai. Madurai the second largest city in Tamil Nadu is not only known for being the Athens of the East boasting the largest temple in southern India, but also notorious for its high population in street children.

Madurai Seva Ashram cares for over 130 orphaned girls aged from 4 to 18, it is set in large grounds on the outskirts of the city, and although the children are fed and watered there is a real lack of extra curricular activities for them to get involved in.

Earlier in the year the Orphanage secretary approached Projects Abroad to request our volunteers help and the Ardingly group jumped at the chance to contribute to this worthwhile project.

On the 6th of July the group got to work and soon found that the Indian way was somewhat different to what they were used to, but although different the group got stuck in and soon enough the unclear Indian logic became understandable.

The courts were built with compacted soil, sand and clay, this was a grueling job of 8 hours a day, but on Friday evening the last line had been painted the nets were up and ready for the following days competition.

Although the sports day didn’t show up any future volleyball stars it was great to see the courts being enjoyed, this really was a rewarding project where the group left a lasting contribution to both the orphanage and the children.

This goes to show how much of an impact a group trip can have over such a short period of time. Projects Abroad would like to thank each individual volunteer for making this programme possible.

By Will Harper, Director - USA

As Editor of the blog I spend a lot of time chasing my colleagues all over the world for blog posts to keep all of you, the visitors, entertained. But I have unfortunately pulled another Mexico. For those too busy to click on the link I visited our programs in Mexico in February 2007 yet wasn’t able to get a blog post up about the trip until three months after. Rest assured I am getting better (and less hypocritical) since this post is only two months after my recent trip to Peru in July. See, I am working on it!

This trip was my second to South America on which I served as the escort on our escorted flights offered to the 2 week volunteers. Here are some observations and advice for those traveling to the beautiful country of Peru.

1. Machu Picchu is a MUST SEE

Iconic view of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is often the sole reason some people visit Peru and while there is so much more to Peru it certainly does not disappoint. Perched upon a mountain ridge above the Urubumba River valley and at over 8,000 feet above sea level, Machu Picchu is one of the most dramatically located ruins I have ever seen. It is just stunning. I was fortunate enough to visit twice, one time climbing up and down and then taking the bus up my second time. Although at the climb almost gave me a heart attack at the ripe age of 27, it was totally worth it and I would recommend this to anyone with a good ticker and who likes to hike as it really makes you appreciate all the effort the Incas put into creating this place. My second recommendation is to visit in the afternoon just before sunset. By this time the day trippers from Cusco and the large tour groups have cleared out by this time and you feel like you have the place to yourself.

2. Always have change, always. Never get caught without it.

Although I have sometimes encountered this in other countries before, for some reason it became very evident that there is a serious change problem in Peru! It seems every time I ever went to buy something in my first week in Peru no body had any change, ever. So like a good traveler I adapted and hoarded as much change as I could my second week. You have been warned!

Peruvian soles

3.Get your Pachamanca on

Pachamanca is a traditional Peruvian dish usually found in the central Andes. It is essentially a huge feast cooked in an earthen stove. After a hole is dug in the ground, river stones are washed and then heated up by a wood fire. Once they are ready the hot stones are interspersed between different layers of chicken, pork, lamb and beef wrapped in banana leaves and finished off with a layer of potatoes and plantains. After two hours of cooking everything is taken out and the feast begins! I was able to take part in one while visiting our Inca Project. After a heavy carb diet the pachamanca was an amazing bounty of protein!

Step 1. Start with a bucket o’ meat

Step 2. Heat river stones

Step. Dig everything out and enjoy!

4. Do not miss Maracuya

Maracuya

Maracuya or a Peruvian passion fruit was one of my new discoveries from this trip. When in Peru expand your tastes buds by trying any new fruit or vegetable you don’t usually see in your grocery aisles back home and for all of you connecting through the Lima airport I would recommend grabbing a scoop or two of the maracuya gelato at the ice cream place near the food court. You will not regret it.

5. Visit the Jungle

Sunset over the Madre de Dios River

If there was one surprise from this trip it was my three day stint on our Conservation program at the Taricaya Reserve. I am not a big jungle guy but I was blown away by everything there is to do and learn about at Taricaya. In my short visit, I was able to birdwatch amongst the rain forest canopy, help out on the model farm, prepare meals for animals being rehabilitated and watch the sunset over the Madre de Dios river. Even if you are volunteering in the Sacred Valley on the Teaching, Care, Sports, Medicine or Inca programs I highly recommend doing at least the 7 day Conservation Add-On. You might come back with a new favorite animal like I did.

My new favorite animal, the tapir!