A Week in the life of a Cusco Volunteer
Like so many organisations LAFF is delighted to be able to welcome volunteers back in person to Cusco, after almost two years of operating online. With the arrival of Alma, as project manager, LAFF resumed its in-person activities.
Life in Cusco can only be described as magical. Every day starts with a trip to the local San Blas market where we pick up freshly pressed ‘combinado’ juice from our favourite juice lady! Sometimes we pick up a bakery item from the local ‘panaderia’ as we make our way to the office, in Zaguan del Cielo, to begin the day of work.
Twice a week in the office we have team meetings to update each other on what we are all working on so everyone knows what is going on! Most days we are based in the office to work, but sometimes we also work from home if it is more convenient. This allows us to explore the Cusco cafe scene too – which I have to say is impressive! A personal favourite is Cappuccino Cafe which overlooks the Plaza de Armas and makes for a very photogenic view of the famous square! It is also a great spot to soak up some of the Peruvian sun…
But on days when we work in the office, we normally take a break for lunch at around 1 PM and we all go for a team lunch at the local restaurant serving the 9 soles ‘menu del dia’ or for a change of scenery, we also have some other favoured lunch locations in the local area including the falafel from a popular vegetarian gem or Ceviche stand at the San Blas market. Sometimes we also pay a visit to our favourite ‘tienda de galletas’ for dessert….
After lunch, we return to the office until about 5:30-6:30 to continue working on the current projects. These might include fundraising projects, arranging collaborations with local organisations to improve the personal development of the projects we support, working on social media or recruitment and so much more….
One of the best things about Cusco is that there is so much to do. It is almost impossible to run out of new places to explore. So in the evenings after work, we often go and explore the vast array of bohemian bars that are scattered around the meandering cobbled streets of the old town. A highlight is that many bars offer free salsa lessons… which is a great way to let your hair down and immerse yourself in local Peruvian culture after work. On other days, it can be just as relaxing to watch the sun setting over the dramatic mountains that act as the awe-inspiring backdrop of Cusco at one of the viewpoints around the city.
`Every few weeks we also try to make sure that we visit our partners which usually involves catching a ‘collectivo’ to the projects, taking meetings, observing a workshop going on or catching up on any news. Many of the projects are situated outside of the centre of Cusco which means the journeys provide some extraordinary views of the Sacred Valley. It is always great to see first-hand how important LAFF’s work is to improve the access to education of these young people.
The weekends are opportunities for volunteers to take day trips outside of the city if they wish. Examples of the many day trips possible include exploring local Inca ruins or Machu Picchu, visiting the chocolate and coca museums, going to the salt mines or exploring the Sacred Valley. One of the many selling points of Cusco is that you can live in a beautiful city but also be out in the countryside and explore nature within an hour. Equally, Cusco is well connected to other local cities in Peru and Bolivia so weekend trips to Arequipa (Peru’s white city), Lake Titicaca or Copacabana are all very easy.
Volunteering in Cusco is a truly enriching experience. The work is exceptionally fulfilling whilst being sustainable. Being situated in Cusco gives volunteers a launchpad to explore Peru whilst also immersing themselves in local culture in the city that was once the heart of the Inca empire.