Estrella Rocha was only 15 years old, when this summer she volunteered for 4 weeks in the local orphanage in Peru. She thinks that being empathetic and kind are fundamental values of doing good. Her goal is to help others in her everyday actions, and this is what Estrella thinks she will always stand by. She believes that the best way to learn about another culture is from children because they are truthful and tell you what you need to know. That is why she decided to participate in the Working with Children Quest with United Planet, and shared her experience volunteering abroad in Peru.
The culture in Peru is absolutely amazing! There’s not a negative experience I encountered in Peru. The people are extremely friendly, the food is delicious, and the architecture is beyond scenic. The colors and the designs are breathtaking.
I volunteered at a local orphanage, one of the United Planet’s working with children guest, and I miss so much. My typical day would start with breakfast with my host parents and other exchange sisters. After breakfast, I would head off to school. After school I would go out to lunch with some friends or visit the Mercado where I would always order a smoothie and a sandwich. Later I would wander the streets, pet some dogs, and bargain a little. This was a time filler before I had to head off to the orphanage.Volunteering with the kids was my favorite part of the day. We would play soccer, or watch Disney shows.
My favorite place in Peru is the San Blas Mercado. I loved the ambiance there. It’s bright, colorful, and everyone is enjoying quality food. I especially loved it because you can make friends so easily. With a simple Hola! You would learn the story of so many different people. Anita and Marci are such lovely people, they would always bring a smile to my face.
While volunteering in Peru, I did try Bachata salsa, which I loved! No matter how much I sucked, I went to two classes. I also befriended the salsa teacher, he really helped me with my Spanish. I would highly recommend trying everything and anything. Ask the locals for fun things to do. I am excited to go back to Peru and be able to try the same things but through a different perspective. I love United Planet and everything they’ve done for me!
Written by Estrella Rocha, United Planet Volunteer in Peru.
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United Planet is a non-profit organization with a mission to create a global community, one relationship at a time. Established in 2001, United Planet offers volunteer abroad, virtual internships, internships abroad, gap year volunteering, and global virtual exchange in more than 40 countries.
