This first week in Peru has been exciting and challenging in equal measure. Having failed to adequately prepare myself for flying halfway across the world to stay in a completely foreign land and culture for six weeks, nevermind doing so with a group of complete strangers, I was quite nervous about what was to come from my time in Peru. Wrestling with questions varying from voluntourism to how the group dynamics would play out (I have never been particularly suited to group work), I landed in Lima feeling more unsure of my place and role than I have in a while.
However, these nerves were largely eased upon meeting the other scholars and our team leads Jud and Pau the next morning. It was apparent that we were all wrestling with similar fears and that from this swirling uncertainty a certain determination to make the most of this wonderful opportunity had formed. Everyone was eager to get to know one another and with help from the infectious enthusiasm of Jud and Pau, we began the expedited process of gelling as a group.
Cognisant of the shaky ground we felt ourselves to be on in those early stages, Pau and Jud prioritised an agenda of cultural immersion and social community context during the first week. We participated in various workshops that introduced us to make_sense's Design Thinking methodology, were introduced to our teammates, and had the pleasure of speaking with two committed and inspiring community changemakers here in Peru - Saddit Siuce and Antonio Herrera Cabanillas. As well as Pau and Jud, the two speakers were extremely generous with their time, and I came away from each of our sessions excited about our next steps. Armed with greater knowledge about what the social and volunteering ecosystem looked like in Peru, I felt much more positive and optimistic about the potential impact and sustainability of our project with Comunidad Peru.
Finally, we visited the ancient civilisation of Caral (the second oldest civilisation in the world!) and spent a wonderful day out learning not only about a cornerstone of pre-Incan culture in Peru but also discovering more about one another. It was the perfect way to cap off a tiring but ultimately rewarding first week. Here’s hoping the next five will be similarly rewarding!