I had the opportunity to volunteer with Rufada for a month in the fall of 2009. I came with three goals in mind: to help further rural Andean development, to experience authentic Peruvian culture, and to improve my Spanish. My Rufada experience exceeded my expectations for all three goals and left me with memories that will last a lifetime.
Though I was only volunteering for one month, I felt like I could truly make a difference everyday I was there. Because Rufada is a small, truly not-for-profit organization, I was able to work directly with the communities that I was trying to help and could therefore witness our progress first-hand. While I know that my work will help to make lasting changes in the communities, my experiences with Rufada were life changing for me as well. While working in the small high-Andean communities of Chaullacocha, Chupani, and Wacawasi, I was able to see a side of Peru that is hidden from most tourists. The communities are extremely rural and isolated, and thus their traditional Andean culture has been perfectly preserved. While eating, sleeping, and working with the members of the community, I witnessed ancient customs and a completely different way of life. It was a truly authentic and powerful experience.
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Finally, working and living in a Spanish-only environment did wonders for my Spanish skills. I arrived with very basic knowledge of the language, and, after a month, I could confidently hold a conversation and even drive a hard bargain! In short, for anyone looking to deeply immerse themselves in a completely different culture and lifestyle, and make a difference at the same time, the Rufada volunteer experience is a perfect opportunity.
Noah Polsky, Student at University of Pennsylvania, 2009 Setember
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