Volunteering for ProPeru last summer was undoubtedly one of the most transformative experiences of my life. In my eight weeks in Urubamba, a stunningly beautiful pueblo nestled among of mountains of Peru’s Sacred Valley, I had the opportunity to live in the midst of one of the richest and most historic cultures in the world.
The goal of the project was to install stoves (called cocinas mejoradas) in the poor mountain communities around Urubamba. These stoves are designed with a chimney that eliminates the smoke from the inside of the house and has other structural modifications specifically designed to reduce the consumption of firewood, a precious commodity in the Peruvian Andes.
The most rewarding part of my summer (complementing the actual stove installation) was the cultural interchange that I experienced in each family’s home. Memories such as turning a child’s blank stare into a smile, preparing mud alongside mothers while attempting to learn Quechua (the indigenous language of the Andes), and constructing walls of hefty adobe bricks with fathers soliciting marriage opportunities for their daughters, are what truly characterized my work. As a tall, athletic white male who spoke Spanish, I represented something that many of these communities had never seen before. I could not be more thankful for the ability I acquired to connect with the families and make them feel comfortable welcoming me into their homes.
In many ways, this experience lit a fire inside me; it showed me another side of the world—one that many coming from our society do not have the opportunity to see—as well as the difference that I can make as an individual. Simply put, these eight weeks inspired me. Now, as I am attempting to navigate the intricacies of my senior year at Carleton, I view my experience at ProPeru as very formative in terms of both my forthcoming career decisions and my growth and development as a person.
I am immensely grateful to the College and to Phyllis and Stephen West ‘53 for granting me the Initiative for Service scholarship, which enabled me to have this experience, and it is my sincere wish that opportunities such as this continue to be available to Carls for years to come.
The Initiative for Service Internships in International Development has been awarding grants to support internships for Carleton students since 2003. To donate to the scholarship fund, please contact the development office at (800) 492-2275.
To learn more about the Career Center’s sponsored internships, contact Brad Kmoch at bkmoch@carleton.edu.