TESTIMONIAL

I spent five weeks working as a football coach and volunteer after applying through Volunteer Work Latin America. I spoke only a few words of Spanish beforehand, but with the help of local team I was still able to make a difference to some amazing children right from the start, whilst picking up my Spanish to conversational level along the way. VLA had already found me some long term, cheap accommodation in Centro Medellin with three meals a day provided! If you want, VLA will also help you arrange Spanish lessons - something I would strongly recommend doing if your Spanish is only basic.

This project was better than I could even imagine! I met some amazing families and learned a huge amount about coffee, fruits and most of all the style of life of a Peruvian family! The moment I arrived in my first family (that lives in Huayopata - about 1 hour away from Quillabamba), I was greeted with a huge hug and offered jugo de platano y papaya (banana and papaya juice) fresh from their garden! That basically describes the whole stay! You will help the family with the work on the farm, anything from watering the plants to cutting a banana tree down! The food you will eat here is all fresh, whether it comes from their farm or the local market. The coffee is amazing! Everything is organic. The family was very warm, in fact I became part of their family and I hope I will be able to go back. They will make you love the Peruvian culture.

After two weeks I moved on to another family (that lives in Lucmabamba - 45 minutes away from Santa Teresa), again a very warm welcome accompanied by gourmet coffee, i.e. THE best coffee that exists! This village is slightly higher so a bit colder and a bit more difficult to work on the farm but also different products; coffee of course, avocado, yuca and so on! You will help the family with their work there, be prepared to walk quite a lot! Other than the work, you can explore the area, it is very interesting. You should visit the the thermal baths of Santa Teresa, do zip line or hike to an undeveloped Incan site with a view across the valley to Machu Picchu! Whatever you do this project is amazing! You get a taste of the Peruvian life and of the best coffee you will ever have! I strongly recommend this project!