School is Back!

We began our teaching programme this week! With some new faces and some who have taught before, it was great to get back in the swing of things. More kids than ever have showed interest in being part of our lessons and it is amazing to see so much enthusiasm. 

I somehow managed to find a second to catch up with some HOOP volunteers to see how the first week went!

Philipp is from Germany and is teaching our Kangaroo class.

So far I have been getting to know my class better. Finding out their level of English was an integral part as well in order to make sure that all the kids reach a similar level! It is a challenging but very inspirational experience. 

Cancha time is a highlight for me, It’s just so rewarding to see the kids smiling non-stop.

For anyone thinking of volunteering, what could be better than facilitating the future prospects of impoverished kids by sharing your knowledge and gaining a unique experience. No money in the world could ever make up for it! 

Nikky, from Taiwan, teaches the Butterfly class. 

I teach the butterfly class, which is the youngest! We read story books for the kids, we paint and also sing songs. The kids are really cute, and the love from them is so pure! They always run up to me like little angels. To anyone who is thinking about volunteering..don't think, just do it! It’s the best experience. 

Misha, from England, teaches our Koala class

In lessons this week we have been learning about Earth Day. We also play games and sing songs! I have a lot of kids in my class but I am enjoying getting to know them and taking it one day at a time. Cancha time is a lot of fun, and usually involves skipping with hundreds of happy kids! 

Silvia, from Italy, teaches the Parrot class

The kids seem really interested in art or word games like hangman. As I teach a younger class, we start off with some exercises so they are ready to pay attention when the class begins.

Teaching in Flora Tristan is a great way to get to know a different culture, and the memories will stay with you forever!

Would you like to teach at HOOP?

If you like the sound of teaching with us, then we would love to hear from you! 

Seven months of HOOP!

All good things must end eventually, and we’re sad this week to be saying goodbye to one of our long-term volunteers. After seven months with HOOP, Catherine is heading back to the UK. But before we let her go, we thought we’d ask her some questions for our blog:

What did you do before you came to HOOP?

I was finishing my second year at university. I’m studying a degree in International Development at the University of Portsmouth, and volunteering can be taken as a year abroad to get experience. So in September I’ll go back to university for a year and graduate!

Why did you decide to volunteer at HOOP?

I liked the idea of what HOOP was about and the idea of coming to Peru for half a year sounded really exciting.

What have you been doing at HOOP?

I first started at HOOP in September 2014 as a volunteer English teacher in Monkey class. Then In January I started working in the office as an intern, which has included editing videos, managing our social media and newsletters and building relationships with universities so more people like me can come and do the same thing!

Which do you prefer?

They are both very different and doing part of my placement in the classroom and part in the communications team has given me the best of both worlds. If I had to pick, I think it’d be being a teacher as everyday was completely different!

So would you say your experience with HOOP has helped with your university course and what have you learned along the way?

Yes, I have a better understanding of how an NGO is run and I have seen all the different sides to the charity. I studied charities at university so being able to see the organisation in real life has helped a lot.

What have you enjoyed the most about your time at HOOP?

Getting to know the children in my Monkey class and meeting all of the other volunteers.

What was the worst bit and did you face any difficulties while volunteering?

Well, it would have to be falling of a mountain bike on the slopes of Chachani, a nearby volcano, and breaking my collar bone! I had to have surgery...which isn’t nice when you’re so far from home, but I had support from HOOP and the other volunteers. But don’t worry I don’t think this has ever happened to anyone else at HOOP!

Did you ever miss home at all and what do you miss the most about the UK?

Not really minus a little over the Christmas period, as I was having such a good experience in Peru...The thing I miss most about the UK except my family and friends has to be the food!

So would you recommend volunteering with a small NGO abroad?

Yes, even as someone who had never volunteered abroad or even been out of Europe, I think it was a great experience. I feel like I have managed to experience all aspects of how a charity is run which is an important aspect of my university course. Also everyone I met during my seven months here has been friendly and welcoming, making for a great experience and if I could, I’d stay a few more months!

Written by Catherine O’Gorman

World Health Day : How are we helping?

I have decided to focus on an important and timely topic this week, seeing as World Health Day took place just this Tuesday! Good and easily accessible healthcare is something that a number of us take for granted (myself included.) For the families of Flora Tristan this is something they could only dream of. Healthcare in Peru for those with little money does not have a great history; with those with money seeing a much higher standard of healthcare. We are however seeing a number of positive strides taken throughout the country. 

Giving Aid

Making the water safe for drinking!

In our last Health Report, HOOP parents expressed concern mostly about the access to clean water and nutrition which is still a problem for a number of Peruvians.

At HOOP we use the support of a number of doctors, dentists etc. to help out when possible, and in 2014 we received aid from a variety of sources. Through our collaboration with Dentists without Borders, 240 individuals were treated, providing 329 free dental procedures.

Additionally, 63 health checks were made by a doctor. The most common problems of the HOOP kids are fever, dental and eye problems and stomach pain. Due to donations, we were able to provide stomach medicine to 103 different people. Every donation is so important to the community!

We also helped arrange six workshops, conducted by nurses in 2014. Nutrition is so vital for the members of the community since a number of health issues can arise from a poor diet. 

Dr Chihhao Chen, helping one of the HOOP kids

Throughout 2015 we hope to continue to support our HOOP families in ways that are most helpful to them.  

Just a few weeks ago we had a great doctor from Taiwan come out to Flora Tristan. He made a number of check-ups on the children and then followed this up with recommendations for the parents. We really appreciated him helping with our project and would just like to thank him again for his help!

Physical AND Mental well-being.

Mental health is just as important as physical well-being, so having someone to be there for the families regarding a number of issues is a vital part of what we do.  Marisol, who is our HOOP resident Psychologist knows the community really well and has a wealth of experience. As we begin our programme next week, our collaboration with her will be an important part of this.

If you are reading this and you like the idea of coming to Arequipa to volunteer your time and skills, we would be really glad to hear from you! Your help would be truly appreciated out here by the families and us. Keeping the HOOP families healthy and happy is truly our number one priority.   

An Arequipeñan Easter!

Depending on where you’re from, you might think Easter is all about bunnies and chocolate eggs. That definitely seems to be how things are back home in England, where the traditional message of Easter gets hidden somewhere behind all the chocolate wrappings. Well, that’s not quite how things go down here in Peru (although there is a lot of food!).

This week has been lively so far, with the streets full of people coming to see different churches carrying statues of Jesus and Mary through town. On Friday and Saturday, back at people’s homes, tons of food is cooked! Semana Santa is a time for families to get together for all sorts of great Peruvian food such as fish dishes, different soups and desserts. Every member of the family usually makes at least two dishes, so it can be an absolute feast!

Fanesca, traditionally eaten on Viernes Santa (Good Friday)

I asked fellow HOOPster, Tom, who’s staying with our Peruvian homestay family, how the celebrations have been at his casa. “I was lucky enough to be invited to join my host family for dinner yesterday, and we had a rich dish with all kinds of seafood and fish, which is traditional on Viernes Santo – Good Friday. There were four different desserts, and my host family insisted I try them all, and have seconds, which was great since I love desserts. We think of corn as just a savoury dish, but Peruvians will make pretty much anything out of it, including a fruit pudding in a kind of sweet, purple corn jelly, called mazzamora. It’s better than it sounds! They’re also really big on arroz con leche, which is pretty similar to rice pudding.”

On the Easter Sunday, a traditional broth is made with seven different types of meat. Arequipa celebrates this day slightly differently to other cities, with the burning of an effigy of Judas, which will take place in the main square.

Semana Santa parade in Plaza de Armas

Cuzco is also known for having a memorable Easter Week. It all began after a major earthquake occurred in 1650, causing destruction everywhere – apart from the Cathedral of Santo Domingo. Legend has it that a painting of a crucifix helped protect the people inside. From then on the city holds an annual event, El Senor de los Temblores (“The Lord of the Earthquakes”). Thick, smoggy clouds of incense fill the streets. Many people help to hold up El Senor, who is then paraded around the city. It’s meant to be quite the spectacle with a whole spectrum of colours filling up the streets.

If you’re in Peru this week then you are in for an experience! Celebrations across the country are a great chance to immerse yourself in traditional Peruvian culture. If you end up somewhere exciting, let us know!

By Oliver Adams