Meet Katie – Volunteer in Peru

Katie was no stranger to international issues before she came across United Planet. Passionate about alleviating global inequality while in high school, she founded a nonprofit called Let Them Shine in order to raise money and supplies for children in Uganda.

It wasn’t until college at the University of Virginia that she discovered United Planet. Katie had always wanted to volunteer with children, but didn’t know what program to pick. She came across United Planet while researching online and thought it was the perfect fit. She said that,”what I really wanted was a better understanding of culture, language, and to feel connected with the community I would be visiting. I found all of that in United Planet and that was what helped me choose it.”

Katie volunteered every day at an after school program in San Jerónimo. Upon arriving at the project site, she would help the children with their homework before heading outside for free play. Katie said it “was a really powerful moment to see that these kids wanted to learn and it was great to feel like I was actually doing something positive for kids that didn’t have a lot to go home with.”

Katie stayed with a host family in Cusco, and told us:

“I felt incredibly welcomed by my family. My host Dad cooked for us and even taught me how to make authentic Peruvian dishes. When I first arrived I had a little bit of altitude sickness due to the extreme elevations of Peru, so my host Dad brewed a special tea with coca leaves that are known to help and served that with my meals for the rest of the trip. He really went the extra mile and I felt like I was eating incredibly well and my family took great care of me.”

When she wasn’t volunteering, Katie had the chance to explore the cultural aspects of Peru through multiple adventures speaking Spanish, meeting new people, and exploring Cusco. She even had the chance to visit Machu Picchu and climb mount Huayna Picchu. Katie let us know that:

“Cusco was one of the coolest places I’ve ever been; there was so much history and culture, the people were incredible, and the food the best in the world. There was such lively energy and you just felt welcomed.”

“What I really wanted was a better understanding of culture, language, and to feel connected with the community I would be visiting. I found all of that in United Planet and that was what helped me choose it.”

Katie went into the trip not knowing exactly what to expect, but she knew things were going to be really different. It was her first time going abroad alone, and while it was scary at first, she knew once she was there that the experience would help her grow up. We’ll let you take it from Katie:

“It is hard to be thrown into a culture you are not familiar with, but United Planet makes the transition very easy.The great thing was that I was learning not just about the native Peruvian culture, but what really felt like a global culture, as I was able to meet with people from Europe and different parts of the world at the town United Planet placed us in.”

When asked what she would recommend to future volunteers embarking on United Planet Quests, Katie said:“Go longer! I was only there for ten days, if I could do it again I would stay for as long as I could!”

Reflecting back on her Quest experience a few years since her adventure, Katie told us that:

“United Planet changed the trajectory of my life in the best possible way. I had always liked helping people, but United Planet helped me start to appreciate the importance of cultural immersion. Since my United Planet Quest I went on a three month backpacking trip to six continents, have taken cultural classes, and want to get into policy work. Overall it was an incredible, positive experience. I have remained in contact with people I’ve met through United Planet. The global community we’ve become a part of is incredible.”

Are you interested in an experience like Katie’s? You can learn more about volunteering here!