I arrived in Lima this summer and to join the VIDA programme. I have to said that I was amazed by the professionalism of Inka Magik members have displayed all the way through from my arrival to the airport until my induction before taking me into my placement.
Once I arrived to the project out of the skirts of Lima, I met the project leader Carlos, who introduce me to other fellow members and volunteers from other parts of the world. Indeed, my expectations were challenged once I realise that my comfort from my Western standards will not be met in full over here in Ventanilla but it is not all about me, or was it?.
I was stunned by the local people warm heart in having somebody around them who could help them in supporting to move forward their communities. Thus, I understood that my challenge will be starting from nothing material but from the most basic element which is knowing how to interact and developing relationships with other people.
Basic things means also transmitting knowledge and make people understood their selves by knowing that people like us from the Western world are not different than them. We all have needs and at some point we prioritise wrongly what the meaning of these needs means to us.
What I am gaining from my time here, it will remain in my life and I do not regret at all my decision in helping out this community because it gave me also a clear understanding on how to approach my own community back at home.
I was stunned by the local people warm heart in having somebody around them who could help them in supporting to move forward their communities. Thus, I understood that my challenge will be starting from nothing material but from the most basic element which is knowing how to interact and developing relationships with other people.
Basic things means also transmitting knowledge and make people understood their selves by knowing that people like us from the Western world are not different than them. We all have needs and at some point we prioritise wrongly what the meaning of these needs means to us.
What I am gaining from my time here, it will remain in my life and I do not regret at all my decision in helping out this community because it gave me also a clear understanding on how to approach my own community back at home.
Talking about the VIDA project and the youngsters and families from this community are amazing because are eager to learn and to provide an educational space in their lives. I am learning also in the workshops some carpentry skills and have thought young people a safe alternative to at risk situations, helping to improve the quality of their lives by coaching them.
Carlos, the project leader has a very positive attitude and he is trying his best to provides us with the appropriated support and materials.
Local youngsters from this communities like any other worldwide one are full of questions and fears in order to approach their development especially when they do not have peers or relatives to turn to. Thus, I become the personal coach of Mateo and my goal is to improve his self-esteem, some times it comes to my mind the phrase 'nobody is a prophet on its own land', meaning back home my own brother will not listen to me, but what Mateo does to try and to learn it makes me think about the skills I have in order to reach others.
Local youngsters from this communities like any other worldwide one are full of questions and fears in order to approach their development especially when they do not have peers or relatives to turn to. Thus, I become the personal coach of Mateo and my goal is to improve his self-esteem, some times it comes to my mind the phrase 'nobody is a prophet on its own land', meaning back home my own brother will not listen to me, but what Mateo does to try and to learn it makes me think about the skills I have in order to reach others.
I have not finished my placement yet, still two months to go and I am also changing in becoming better as a person in all senses and without doubt I will recommend VIDA to anyone who wants to learn more about him/herself by helping this fantastic community, by the way my host Peruvian mother Dora, cooks the most fantastic food I ever come across in my entirely life, how she does it with a little budget? to start with it, I dislike junky food and try to eat fresh food back at home, and here in Peru the food has not additives and mostly is organic thus, I am in heaven right now. Peru is fantastic!
You can write to me at any time to projects@inkamagik.com (cc: Jonathan Edwards-volunteer VIDA -2011)
