THE GAP YEAR
WORKING AS AN INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER

TEXT & PHOTOS : SARAH JORDAN

Many young people take a one-year break from their studies either immediately after secondary school or after obtaining a first degree. Motivations are often linguistic, professional or a mixture of both. Here, UN Special contributor Sarah Jordan interviews her daughter, Anastassja, in the UNESCO world heritage site of Machu Picchu, Peru, close to where Anastassja has been working as a volunteer since October 2009.

After obtaining your Bachelor’s degree, why did you decide to take a break before pursuing your studies?
Well, I studied philosophy in Paris and really felt the need to move away from the theoretical aspects of themes such as cultural difference, poverty or socio-linguistics and apply them in a real context, through immersion in another culture. I was also very shocked at the phenomenon of urban poverty during my three years in Paris and really wanted to be useful to those less well off than myself. Volunteer work was a logical choice for me as it satisfies both these needs.

How did you choose your destination?
I have always loved the Spanish language but felt that Spain itself was too close to home as I really wanted to embark on both a geographical and spiritual journey – South America was therefore an obvious choice.

What was the next step in the organisation of your trip?
I knew what I wanted to do and where – the next step was to find a structure that would allow me to make my project a reality. I investigated the opportunities offered by the Red Cross and the United Nations Volunteer programme* but it soon became clear that they were seeking experienced volunteers – older than myself and already possessing a specific skill. I realised then that I would have to settle for volunteer work in a more “secure” context and finally settled on the childcare programme offered by the Global Volunteer Network** in Cusco, Peru. I found their Internet site very clear and really felt that my contribution would be meaningful. However, to volunteer in such a context actually costs the volunteer money (travel costs, food and accommodation) so I then had to deal with the practical aspect of raising funds. I worked all summer in a lakeside restaurant – it was hard work but great to be able to focus on a precise goal.

What did you find most difficult upon your arrival in Peru?
Although my Spanish was reasonable, it was very difficult to express myself and to understand social, spatial and cultural codes in the workplace. In my life outside of the project it wasn’t easy either because I live in an American-run “family house” and the “gringo” life that a lot of the other volunteers seemed satisfied with was not what I had come to Peru for – I wanted something more Peruvian and it took time to make friends and build trust with the Peruvians I have met through activities such as sport, music and salsa.

Tell me about your volunteer programme and other work-related experiences since your arrival in Peru.
At the beginning, I was working on a childcare project in a crèche for impoverished children and I found out what worked and what was acceptable through trial and error. I spent a lot of my own money on toys and games but I soon realised that although the staff were happy to see me do this, (as a rich “gringo” I could afford it), in the longer term it would not be financially viable, so I set about making pedagogical tools from what was available – cardboard and things that would otherwise have been thrown out. The children were malnourished so I would often buy sweets or biscuits to treat them. One day, I bought a Christmas cake and realised, when it inspired what was almost a ritual with prayers and chants, that I had overstepped the mark and that food in Peru had implications that I had not suspected. Gradually, I learnt that what was simple was best and instead of spoiling the children with material things I played with them and fostered creativity. After two months, I started working on a second project – in a psychiatric hospital. This was extremely challenging – I used music and image therapy to connect with the patients. I also found that working on two projects simultaneously allowed me to be more professional about my “work” in general and to be more detached and less involved emotionally. I have learned that when you give in a volunteer context, it is the quality rather than the quantity that counts. The gift of oneself has to be real, generous and exclusive, but is not to be confused with sacrifice.

Now that your 6-month volunteer programme is over, what are your plans for the rest of this “gap year”?
Well, to stay here until the end of July, I now need to earn some money! I invested in an internationally recognised one-month Teaching English as a Foreign Language certificate course here in Cusco and am now teaching English in a catering school. I also speak French, and am teaching at the Alliance Française. Sometimes it’s bit difficult with three languages co-existing on a daily basis! On the personal front, I’m moving out of the family house and have taken lodgings with a Peruvian family – this will allow me to find out even more about how Peruvians live.

What do you intend to do upon your return to Geneva? Have your experiences in Peru had an influence on your future plans?
Oh yes! This year in Peru has really changed the way I see things and I know now that I would like to unite the theory of the philosophy I studied and the practice volunteer work has given me by enrolling on a Master’s degree programme in the field of psycho-linguistics, with a special focus on South America. And who knows, one day I would like to come back to South America and teach philosophy here. I would also like to do some voluntary work back in Geneva. The freedom to give exists everywhere and what is paradoxical about volunteer work is that in giving, one receives.

What advice would you give to another young person keen to have an experience such as yours?
I think that linguistic competence is very important to the success of voluntary ser-vice. Therefore, I would encourage those planning to work in a language that is not their own to study hard beforehand and to find out as much as possible about the host country culture too. Curiosity is also very important – the Peruvians are happy to share their culture and I am sure this is the case in other countries too. Lastly, be yourself – everybody has good points and bad points and as a volunteer, it is precisely your humanity that is useful.

FURTHER READING & USEFUL LINKS
UN Volunteers*
Every year, close to 8,000 men and women of 160 nationalities become UNV volunteers in 130 countries. They work to promote peace, human rights and the Millennium Development Goals by reducing poverty, encouraging democratic government, supporting environmentally-friendly initiatives, responding to humanitarian crises and fighting diseases such as AIDS. UNV works with international and national volunteers who meet the following criteria:

• University graduate / technical expert
• Several years of relevant professional experience and / or experience working in a volunteer context
• Minimum age 25, no maximum age
• Good knowledge of at least one of the following official UN languages: English, French, Spanish
• Adherence to the values and principles of volunteer work
• Aptitude to work in a multi-cultural environment
• Ability to adapt to difficult living conditions
• Highly developed organizational and interpersonal skills

In return, volunteers receive a package that includes re-location costs, monthly living allowance, travel costs, holiday pay and medical insurance. Full details at: www.unv.org. It is also possible to work as a volunteer part-time and from one’s habitual place of residence.
www.onlinevolunteering.org

GLOBAL VOLUNTEER NETWORK**
This organization is based in Wellington New Zealand. It was founded in 2000 and, to date, has placed almost 13,000 volunteers in 21 countries worldwide. It offers volunteer programmes to young people in the following fields: working with children, teaching, building and constructions, assisting refugees, health / medical, the environment and community projects. In July 2009, the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) granted special consultative status to the GVN Foundation.

THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE OF MACHU PICCHU
The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu in Peru has been on UNESCO’s world heritage list since 1983 when it was qualified as “an absolute masterpiece of architecture and a unique testimony to the Inca civilization”. At an altitude of 2,403 m above sea-level, it was built at the beginning of the 15th century when the Inca Empire was at its height. The Spanish conquistadores failed to discover it during their conquest and it was thus left intact and known only to indigenous populations until its “re-discovery” in 1911 by the North American Hiram Bingham. Today, it is the most visited tourist attraction in South America. Following torrential rainfall in January 2010, which caused widespread death and damage in the region, the site was closed for several months and re-opened to tourists in April 2010, shortly before our visit.

http://www.globalvolunteernetwork.org
http://www.gvnfoundation.org/
http://www.unesco.org