Contact: Judy Strobel
800-487-1074/651-407-6108

St. Paul, MN (August14) –  Betty and Phillip Okuma have discovered that the biggest rewards often come in small packages.  The retired couple recently volunteered at Puericultorio Perez Aranibar (PPA), a large children’s home in Lima, Peru through Global Volunteers, a nonprofit, nonsectarian international development organization in consultative status with the UN. 

Each morning Betty worked with toddlers, playing with them, feeding them, and taking them on walks or rides in the red wagon.  “There were usually 10 – 12 toddlers in each play area,” she said.  “All of them were such a joy.  …  Susanna, Talia, Fatima, Emily and Daphne were just a few,” she said.  “When I arrived they would surround me wanting to be picked up, held, hugged, touched and kissed.” 

Each day was a little different with many endearing moments, she recalls.  “I could see the progress each was making on a daily basis.  Emily, the youngest, was very quiet and not very mobile the first few days but became more active and interactive the second week and smiling so much more.  Daphne lay crying the first two days and could not be comforted but was one of the happiest and most boisterous later in the week.   

In the afternoons, Betty worked in the hospitalo, entertaining the children who were sick.  “We played music, games and did all types of arts and crafts.  They looked forward to these extra activities which were only available when volunteers were available to coordinate.  We used the art supplies donated by our volunteer team and previous teams.  I was so thrilled to see the children’s artistic talents and intellectual qualities come to light.  Elian, Manuel, Carlos and Julia were some of the children who were so happy to express themselves meticulously and creatively through their art.  They were so proud of what they created and I encouraged them with many praises in my very limited Spanish, ‘muy, muy bonita.’” 

Phillip did various projects around the large grounds of the PPA with Alfonso, the gardener.  “With my rudimentary knowledge of Spanish and Alfonso’s little understanding of English, he was able to communicate to me what the project was for the morning,” said Phillip.  “Sometimes we would plant flowers, but most of the time we spent cleaning up an area where they are planning to put in a park with basketball courts.  Alfonso was great, he wanted to learn English and teach me Spanish.  So as we were working he would point to the shovel and ask me what the word in English was and then tell me what it was in Spanish.  It really made me feel good that he genuinely felt proud of himself for teaching me some Spanish and learning some English.” 

In the afternoon, Phillip taught English to the 2nd grade boys and the 3rd grade girls, boys one day then the girls the next day.  “All the kids were full of energy, and I soon found out if you were not prepared you would lose control quickly,” said Phillip.

“In one class session, we used different beanie babies to teach them English.  We also used flash cards with simple math problems and the students would figure the problem in their heads then answer in English, thus teaching them both math and English at the same time.  It was fun teaching them English but probably the best time for me and the students was after class going out to play. 

“After teaching the students English for only one day, I was very surprised when they all recognized me prior to an awards ceremony for the boys.  When my students saw me, they all started shouting and waving to me, ‘Felipe, Felipe.’  My wife later teased me that I had finally achieved rock star status,” he said. 

Betty assisted in the kindergarten classroom a couple of days, helping the children with their Mother’s Day cards.  “They worked very hard on them and were very proud of their handiwork,” she said.  “This age group was very active and boisterous.  Mother’s Day is very important in Peru but it was sad to think that many of the children at the PPA do not have mothers or do not have contact with their mothers and would not be seeing them on Mother’s Day.  The children presented a spectacular Mother’s Day program reciting poetry, singing, and performing traditional Peruvian dances in colorful traditional costumes.  I wondered what their thoughts and feelings were that day.” 

In its 25th year, Global Volunteers pioneered short-term, community-driven service opportunities (aka “volunteer vacations”) in 1984.  Working in 21 countries on five continents, the organization wages peace and promotes justice through mutual international understanding. 

The couple appreciated their interactions with Global Volunteers Country Manager who “generously shared with us the rich culture of Peru…the people, customs, language and food” and “opened our eyes and hearts to the heart and soul of the PPA and made our experience exceptional.” 

Also memorable were the “incredible meals” that were “food for the mind as well as the body,” said Betty.  “We learned about lucuma, a fruit used primarily for flavoring sweets and easily developed a daily craving for lucuma ice cream.  We even had tamales made with fresh corn.” 

No special skills are necessary to join most Global Volunteers service programs – only a curiosity about the world, a desire to be of service, and a high degree of flexibility.  Work
projects are determined by the host communities, directed by local leaders, and generally focus on children. The four principal projects are: 1) caring for at-risk children, 2) teaching conversational English, 3) building, painting and renovating community buildings and 4) providing health care.   
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The Peruvian people welcomed the team with open arms into their country, culture, and lives.  “Everyone we met at and outside the PPA, from the market vendors to the postal workers, were warm, friendly, and sensitive to our needs,” said Betty.  “While there was a language barrier in many situations, at the PPA it did not seem to affect the common goal of helping the children.  We were able to communicate with the staff with our limited Spanish.  The children spoke to us in Spanish and we responded with hugs and occasional shrugs.

“The PPA staff and Management were very supportive, patient, and appreciative of our help,” she added.  “Actions and smiles easily transcended across cultures and languages.  During the week, we worked with staff in our work areas and sometimes with the local volunteers including the ‘brown ladies’ who were affluent ladies who devoted significant time and financial support to PPA.  We always felt comfortable and completely at home.  The children were always happy to see the ‘visitas’ and they made us feel welcome and committed to helping them.” 

Global Volunteers measures its success against the United Nations’ Millenium Development Goals which address the serious consequences of poverty and improve the standard of living for millions of people. In Peru, volunteers contribute to UN goals by helping to reduce child mortality and achieve educational milestones.

Betty said she and Phillip visited the homes of two girls with the girls’ social worker.  “The homes and shelters were all built on a hill with whatever materials were available to each family.  That could be cardboard, canvas, or brick if they were fortunate.  The floors were dirt and the majority of homes had no doors or enclosures which would keep them safe.  Their water supply was stored in tanks at the bottom of the hill and had to be carried uphill in plastic containers.  There were no streets or driveways to their homes.  You literally had to climb over rocks and bushes to get to your home.  It was heartbreaking to us but the family was very proud of what they had and was looking forward to having their children home on holidays or weekends. ”

I will be more understanding and tolerant of the differences in people, i.e., what drives them and what events molded them as human being, i.e., their culture, life experiences, or childhood.  I will be less quick to draw conclusions or judge someone without some thought or deeper perspective.  I don’t believe there are any problems, barriers, or differences across countries and cultures which cannot be resolved peacefully if the desire is there...  I think Global Volunteers and similar organizations are making a difference in waging peace by promoting a greater understanding of culture but it is a slow and enormous task considering the current world situation.  While the children are ultimately the victims of war, perhaps they will also be the best initiators of peace.” 

Global Volunteers invites people of all ages and backgrounds to serve in this unique way – to give back and make a genuine difference by working with and learning from and about local people in their community.  This is Travel that Feeds the Soul®. 

Seeing the poverty in parts of Lima was enlightening, according to Betty.  “We have so much in our country and take it for granted.  They have so little but truly seem to treasure what they do have.” 

Although the children at PPA either have no families or are separated from them for very long periods of time, they all seem so happy, per Betty.  “They are well taken care of but loved the attention and nurturing the volunteers were able to bring to them for such a brief time,” she said.  “Working with the children was truly a pleasure and we will continue our volunteer efforts whether it be close to home or in another country,” she stated.

To join a team, call 800-487-1074 today or visit the Global Volunteers website at www.globalvolunteers.org.  Service program fees are tax-deductible for U.S. citizens.  Airfare and visas are extra. 
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