A volunteer assignment in Peru is revealing and
memorable for a Mississauga student volunteer.
Words by Ben Kim
After changing planes four times, I had grown accustomed to the weirdly welcoming racket that accompanies the turbulent landing of a plane. But this last one was different because that “boom” marked my arrival in Cusco, Peru after our 30-hour-long trip. Half asleep and half-anxious, my friend and I clumsily collected our baggage and found ourselves marching out of the plane into the land of the llamas.
I had flown down to Peru for a volunteer trip. My friend and I have always wanted to jump start our summer with a memorable, worthwhile experience. I specifically chose a volunteer medical placement not a position with a child orphanage or school because I felt this was an experience I could not find in Canada.
Indeed, I was given the rare opportunity to venture around at a clinic for low-income families, assisting Peruvian physicians at the obstetrics, medical lab, reception, and the orthodontist’s office. With the “Puedo ayudar a que—Can I help you?” phrase that I had practiced on the plane, I managed to meet and interact with a wide variety of Peruvian patients during their visits.
Equipped with gauzes and needles, I joined the physicians on their house calls. Some days, we administered measles shots for infants. Other days, we provided consultation for pregnant mothers— mostly in their teens.
One thing that really touched me during these memorable visits was the passion and dedication displayed by the physicians. With every step I took under the Peruvian heat following in their footsteps, I developed an understanding that their job was not just a job. It was a mission. They didn’t just save lives but were doing something even more profound and valuable—they were providing hope!
The physicians knocked on doors tirelessly to seek out the neglected and helpless. We were lucky if one out of fifty doors creaked open. But being there and caring for basic needs is a small step towards changing the lives of the impoverished.
Life in Peru operates in a challenging balance which was driven home to me when something momentous occurred that will also stay with me for a lifetime.
One day, I decided to follow my fellow roommate to an after-school program, located at the top of a local mountain. As soon as I jumped off the bus a sad surprise awaited: a boy of around 7 years of age with a severe gash on the back of his head. His eyes were blood shot. His face was covered in crisscrossing streaks of tears. Seeing the herds of farm animals wandering by and animal excretions shoveled onto mountainsides, all I could think was—do something!
No first-aid kits. No alcohol swabs. No bandages. But the leader of the after-school program was smiling and laughing, brushing it off as a typical accident for a typical boy. But in my mind a child’s head with an open gash deserved more immediate care!
I arrived at the mountain village in the afternoon; the boy left at dusk. I remember noticing how well the colour of the sky approaching darkness reflected my state of mind at that point.
To me, this incident became one of the many reflections of Peru that I will carry forward together with the impact of all the truly incredible experiences and memories I collected as a volunteer. The country is hurting as a result of government corruption, the ongoing cycle of poverty in generation after generation, and class and gender discrimination. There are many strides being taken to consider the health of children even if the lack of resources is discouraging. I may not be able to influence the larger problems but the impact on my life will be indelible. I have promised myself to never pass by a child in need. Dusk or dawn, I will stand with the child until that bus comes in.
Would I go back to Peru? Without hesitation!