Friday 26 October 2012

Hey!

So, I'm going to Peru in August 2013, with a company and charity called Project Trust. Mum says it all happened so fast, that after the talk at school I came home and was "inspired" and then a week later I signed up to Selection whilst she was away. So here I am, with all that over and done with, and I can finally say that I am definitely going on a gap year. Although I can't really believe that I will be living in Peru this time next year - it's all a bit overwhelming right now!

In Peru I will be will be working in a care home for children of all ages, offering my time, support and affection to those who have been abandoned in life. I will help with the day to day running of the orphanage, but will also help the children with homework and with learning English. I also have the opportunity to set up my own extra curricular activities, and I hope to have a music or crafts club. My key role is educational, however it is also social reinforcement for children who don’t normally get the attention - I will be there as a role model, a big sister.

Peru is a vast and vibrant country, five times the size of Great Britain, yet with half the population. It is an amazingly diverse country, ranging from the Pacific coast, the hot and dry desert regions of the West, the high lands of the Andes to the sticky heart of the Amazon Rainforest. I hope to be situated in the Andes (hence the title), although I won't know until March where I will be going. 

To go on my gap year I have to raise at least £5,400, which includes flights, accommodation, insurance and living expenses. However, I aim to fundraise about £6,000, in order to help fund necessary immunisations before I go abroad or travel costs within Peru. To get this amount of money I will be fundraising like never before. I hope to have a bagpack, hold stalls at Fairs and possibly do something like an abseil down the Forth Road Bridge (although Mum is naturally a little apprehensive about this)

Thanks for reading, there will be more to come :)

Heather <3