WHY I
donated... Emily Rowe spent five months volunteering in Peru with the charity HOOP and saw first-hand how they change lives for the better In 2018 I decided to go on a gap year after school and I came across HOOP (which stands for Helping Overcome Obstacles Peru) while I was researching places to volunteer. I wanted to improve my language skills as well as give back using my skills as a native English speaker. The main aim of HOOP is to teach English and give children in Peru an extra life skill and the chance to break the cycle of poverty by getting better employment. The kids end up with fantastic English because they learn with native speakers in a fun environment. There are other issues in the community, including domestic violence, and HOOP helps to provide a support network including social workers, psychologists and doctors. I lived in a house in Arequipa, an amazing city in Peru surrounded by three volcanoes that you can see from wherever you stand. It has a beautiful, sunny climate and it’s In striking distance of Peru’s beautiful mountains, canyons, beaches and Machu Picchu. Being part of an international group of volunteers was great fun. We would go out to the school every day and
meet the kids for an hour of English at you because they know you are classes followed by another activity, there to bring positive things. I know like art, helping with homework or people felt like they were walking into just playing. In the evenings we ran a safe space when they joined us. fundraising activities. I fell in love with South America and We lived in the city centre but I’ve been trying to go back ever since I the community and school that left! I’m still in contact with volunteers HOOP operates in is based is on the and members of the community outskirts of Arequipa where there is and I helped run some lessons via a real change in conditions. Driving Whatsapp during the pandemic. there each day on the bus felt like In 2019 I joined other volunteers to transitioning between two different raise money for HOOP by doing the cities. There were frequent water Three Peaks Challenge, walking up and power cuts which really affected the UK’s three tallest mountains in 24 the community. Kids struggled to do hours. We started with Ben Nevis in school work without the internet. the early hours of the morning and The children wanted to know all conquered Snowdon by sunrise on about the UK and see pictures – they Easter Sunday. It was all worth it to even wrote stories about visiting the raise just under £5,000. queen! They learnt so much My experience with HOOP by meeting people from taught me how much all over the world. we take for granted in The Peruvians the UK. The kindness are such friendly and giving nature HOOP is building a new facility in people but when of the people I Arequipa in order to better deliver its life-changing services of education you walk around met in Peru, who and healthcare and have a lasting the village in your were much less impact on children and their families HOOP t-shirt the advantaged than in the community. hoopperu.org.uk whole community is me, was truly smiling and waving inspiring.
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