Weekly Volunteer Schedule

Last Monday Laurel and I had an orientation meeting where we were given more information about the volunteering program and we were able to go to the different orphanages. We saw all of them so that we could choose which ones we’d like to volunteer in. After seeing them all, we each chose our weekly schedule. Laurel and I both had some preferences, but for the most part we just wanted to be placed where we’d be the most useful. We don’t have the same schedule as each other because we wanted to be flexible. Here’s what my weekly schedule as a volunteer looks like currently:

8:15-12:30 Mondays and Thursdays

                Divino – this is an orphanage for kids ages 0-10. They have a lot of the really young kids and babies at this orphanage. This was the one that Laurel and I both had a preference for, because the cute, chubby Peruvian babies are just adorable.

8:30-12:30 Tuesdays and Wednesdays

                San Antonio – this orphanage has older kids and even some teenagers. It is mixed in with some kids that have special needs. This one has a number of different projects. There are different groups of kids that we could go play with and teach English activities to. This week there was a huge project of getting the outside yard/play area looking decent. The area was covered in weeds and long grass, the playground equipment was in need of a new paint job or at least a cleaning, and we have been painting a beautiful mural on the wall. There has been a lot to do here.

8:15-12:30 Fridays

                Esperanza – this is an orphanage for babies and young children with special needs. Volunteers typically play with the children, or help the workers as the children go through their therapies. They receive physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

4:00-6:00 Tuesdays and Thursdays

                La Punta – this is not an orphanage. It’s a government owned place for girls that have been abused or exposed to violence in some way. The girls stay there anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. It is a place for them to feel safe again. As volunteers, we go there to play with them, teach them English lessons, and just provide a (hopefully) happy distraction for them. We are not told what they have been through or why they are there, although I do know that one of the girls there right now is pregnant.

It has been a humbling week. It’s heartbreaking to see so many children without families. They are so sweet. These children just love everyone and all they want is to be loved as well. Even if they have no idea who you even are, they’ll run up to you and hug/kiss you (Peruvians kiss each other on the cheek as a greeting).  Anything I can do to help these little sweethearts, I will gladly do it.