My placement was great- I enjoyed teaching English, Business and IT to the youth, and as their attendance improved during the month, it was a rewarding experience, I just wish we had more time to teach them! (I understand this was not really practical, since these were extra curriculum classes, and most of them went to school during the day, and needed time to help family with farm work as well).

I also liked the fact that we were given guidance on work needed to be done for the eco-tourism project at the beginning, and then left to decide how we worked upon it. Since this allowed us to think of ways of promoting the business, e.g. through sending emails to Spanish schools, tour agencies and other volunteering organisations to try to get groups of individuals to come on the tour.

When soon after sending most of the emails, Javier got a call during one of the lessons, from a Spanish school saying they were interested in sending 2-3 groups per month, we were thrilled! Then we were able to organise a trip with Javier and some of the youth to go and visit the school to negotiate prices, and to go and talk to more tour agencies, which was a real 'hands-on' experience of marketing directly.

I really liked every aspect of the experience, from the actual project work, to the cultural workshops and weekend trips, living with the host family and the spanish lessons, which were so helpful! I still keep in contact with my host family, students (during their IT lessons- they go on MSN!) and other Peruvians I met and plan to return one day!

I would now really like to get a job helping with a development project in another country when I finish university!

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