Reflecting back on this whole experience I still cannot believe it actually happened. Leaving the country for my first time ever in September I was scared and clueless about the world that stood in front of me. I was however, eager to learn and ready to get out of my little town in Pennsylvania. Now I’m in beautiful Peru making my mark. In February when I arrived in Lima, the only Spanish I knew was “no entiendo, no hablo espanol” (two phrases I used quite often…and if we’re being honest, I still do.) My house manager, Karen met me right when I stepped off of the plane with open arms and a welcoming smile. We then jumped right into a taxi to start our hour and a half drive to my new home…Huaycán. There I met the LLI (Light and Leadership Initiative) family. With about ten living under one roof we all have the same goals in mind. The Light and Leadership Initiative offers classes and workshops to women and children who live in the Ate-Vitarte district of Lima to help overcome poverty and enhance social skills to improve the well being of their families. A positive space is provided for individuals to learn and grow and change through love, support and education. LLI runs English, math, chess, sports, art and bibliotheca classes five days out of the week in four different zones. I was brought on board as the art teacher, so I handle all of the art classes but I also co-teach sports, chess and private tutor three students in English. Our workweek starts on Fridays so technically it’s our Monday…confusing I know but you get used to it. We have Wednesdays and Thursdays off to plan lessons, travel outside of Huaycán or just relax. My week looks something like this:
Friday- Art class in Zona S (I take a 25 minute bus then hike about half a mile up a steep dirt hill) from 2:45-4pm then women’s literacy 4-5….I work with an elderly woman named Sofia who can barely write her own name.
Saturday- I help teach English and sports with Javier (one of the LLI volunteers) to 10-13 year olds in Zona D from 10:00am-12:00pm. I then have private English tutoring with seventeen year old Anthony from 12:30-2pm and end my day with an hour and a half art class also in Zona D for 6-11 year olds.
Sunday- I have art class in Zone Z at 10am but have to leave at 9:15 to catch a combi up and we end at 11:30am. I have art again in Zona D from 2-3 then have to jump on another combi to be up in Los Alamos for 4 because I have another art class for an hour up there. I rush back down to lovely Zona D to facilitate conversation club with young adults from 6-7:30. Conversation club is a class that helps advanced English speakers practice their English through games, activities, current events and debates.
Monday- I co-teach with Javier again but on Mondays its in Zona Z.
Tuesday- I have private English tutoring with ten-year-old Mariel and twelve year old Gabriel in Zona S. Following their hour and a half session is a forty five minute chess class.
So that’s my week in a nutshell. All of the “zona” business must seem confusing but its quite simple. Huaycán is separated into different zones, kind of like neighborhoods, and in each of the four zones that we offer classes we have a classroom where we teach the people who live in that particular zone.
I’ve been so busy planning art projects, helping get ready for a big anniversary event, and exploring beautiful Peru that my blog is very late so my sincerest apologies to all of you who wrote it on time. Here are some pictures of the students and my travels throughout my three and a half months here. My last day volunteering is June 11th and I am very sad to leave. My housemates and the students have become my family and I will miss them dearly. I plan on making my way back to Huaycán eventually. Ask anyone; it’s an addicting place. We might be the weird gringos on the block but I know the people of Huaycán have warmed up to us and look up to us for a better life. And if any of you are looking to teach in south America I HIGHLY recommend volunteering with the Light and Leadership Initiative, it’s a truly beautiful organization that’s only getting bigger and bigger every year. Here are some photos I’ve taken from classes and also off time traveling experiences and feel free to add me on Facebook if you’re interested in seeing more pictures or want to catch up! www.facebook.com/anna.malsky
Chau!
Anna J