Our first HOOP Hero!

Every so often, someone steps up and proves themself to be a real hero. At HOOP, this could be someone who has made sacrifices to personally help the Flora Tristán community, or someone who has gone to great lengths to support HOOP through fundraising or simply spreading the word about what we do here in Arequipa. So, to celebrate the heroic deeds of some of HOOP’s best and most dedicated supporters, we’re delighted to be launching our new HOOP Hero Award for people who have made significant contributions to the Flora Tristán community.

Our first winner is so awesome that if you gave him the power of flight, it would probably only be his fourth or fifth best superpower. He has made sacrifices in his medical career to set up HOOP as an official charity and has gone to remarkable lengths to help give the people of Flora Tristán better opportunities in life. He has even published a book to spread the word about HOOP in his home country (oh, with 100% of the profits supporting HOOP!).

I am of course talking about Li Shang-Ju from Taiwan. I don’t want to go into too much detail about all the great things Dr. Li has done, since (as such a great hero) he is super humble. Li has accomplished some inspiring feats for HOOP. He once sat outside San Fransisco church here in Arequipa writing down the names of HOOP’s kids in Mandarin on paper to raise awareness and donations from passers-by. He also hosted a Taiwanese camera crew in Flora Tristán to document his endeavors, and once travelled to Lima to seek support from the Taiwanese Embassy and a Taiwanese company, which is now donating a whole new building to Flora Tristán.

Fellow HOOP co-founder, Teresa recalls some of his other heroic deeds: “Li started the HOOP Scholarship Program and raised the money for it on his own. He would prepare and teach the first three scholarship students before and after school or even during the weekends to make sure they weren’t falling behind. If we couldn't solve a math problem, we would sometimes take it home, figure it out in the volunteer house and then Li would go to school in the early morning to explain it to one of our kids before their class started. No one is as respected and loved by the community as he is!”

As songwriting legend Bob Dylan once said, “A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with freedom.” Li understands this and has shown it through his heroic powers of kindness, dedication and an infectiously positive attitude. So we are delighted to announce him as our very deserving and gracious recipient of the first award. Thanks, Li, you’re our HOOP Hero!

Five Reasons Why Volunteering is the Best!

We volunteer first and foremost for the people, but let’s face it; the other benefits aren’t half bad. Volunteering can be an absolute life changer in a number of ways and here are just five of them.

The chance to learn a second language.

Volunteering in Arequipa means there are lots of opportunities to learn Spanish, a language which is desirable to a number of employers since it is the second most spoken language in the world. Oh and it’s also immensely rewarding to learn! You will be able to wow all your friends and family back home with your newfound skills.

Meeting people from all walks of life



You will make friendships and meet people that can change your life! Working alongside people from all ages, nationalities and walks of life is great for escaping from your comfort zone. HOOP is such a diverse NGO; we have had volunteers of all ages and nationalities and are proud to have received so much positive feedback from former volunteers.



 Meeting the kids of Flora Tristán is also such a breath of fresh air. Sometimes people back home take an education for granted, but the kids who turn up have such an enthusiasm for learning.

Two of our former volunteers who married in Flora Tristán! 

 

The chance to make a serious impact

We volunteer because the thought of helping someone else is truly rewarding. Giving your all to a community such as Flora Tristán and knowing you are making a difference is one of the best feelings in the world. Words can’t fully describe the experience, you just have to come and see it for yourself! The families’ appreciation is so sincere.

It’s a great opportunity to be an inspiration to children at an important time in their developments. We all have that one teacher who we remember as being particularly inspirational, this could be you!

Developing career skills



You can learn a number of things whilst working with HOOP that are great for putting on the CV. From helping with fundraisers, to assisting on the communications side; there are so many ways you can leave your mark with HOOP and wow potential employers with your Arequipa experiences. One of the really fun things to do here is participate in the pub quiz which can do wonders for people who might be looking to improve their public speaking.

HOOP volunteers at a previous fundraiser

Experiencing a new culture!

It’s so much fun to wake up somewhere each day that is completely different to home. Each experience is new and exciting and will stick with you forever. You also get the chance to try lots of exotic new foods, fruits, drinks that you have never before had access to! If you choose to volunteer in Peru then you are highly unlikely to be disappointed with the food. (Peru has been voted as having the best food in the world on a number of occasions now)

So what are you waiting for?

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.   

Earth Hour : Just One Hour to Save the Earth!

This week’s blog has been inspired by Earth Hour, which takes place tonight at 8:30pm (wherever you are!)

What Is it?

Earth Hour is a global event where millions switch their lights off and use no electricity as a sign of solidarity for our planet. It’s a great opportunity to take part in something creative without electricity, like swapping stories in the dark, or doing a bit of stargazing! HOOP volunteers will be using the time to get together and play games by candlelight.

Climate change isn’t just an issue for the future, it is affecting us now. Here in Peru, plants, people and animals will be heavily affected, with dry season average temperatures expected to increase in between 0.7°C and 1.8°C by 2020 according to the Peru Support Group, 2014. 

Although Peru is just responsible for 0.1% of global CO2 emissions, it is not going to get an easy ride when it comes to climate change. According to TreeHugger.com, it was the only country achieving the ‘sustainability sweet spot’ in 2007, where it managed to balance high development without heavily consuming resources.

A few months back, Lima hosted the Conference of Parties (COP20), a global climate summit of leaders from all over the world. The outcomes of conferences like this, where climate science meets politics, are going to have a big impact on all our lives, and the future of the planet.

Thinking sustainably

Since Arequipa is bathed in sunshine for 300 days of the year, it is a big opportunity for generating solar energy. Companies like Caja Arequipa are giving ‘green’ loans to small companies who want to be using cleaner and efficient energy.

A solar water heater on the Home Sweet Home Hostel

Not long ago, there was mention of Arequipa being considered as a possible destination for a wind farm project. From living in Arequipa, I see solar panels and solar water heaters every now and again, often on hotels and hostel buildings. So it’s good to see alternative energy sources becoming more of a ‘thing’.

Earth Hour gives us the chance to think about how we can best protect our planet. These days, pretty much everything we do relies on electricity in some way, so going without it, even for just an hour, is a great way to make us think of ways we can be more sustainable in our day-to-day lives.

Get involved in Earth Hour tonight, and think about how you can live more sustainably every day - and don’t forget to share what you get up to!

By Oliver Adams