Step In with Wonder...Step Out with Purpose
Inkan Spirit, Volunteer Heart - Sunder in Peru
In the Peruvian Andes, livelihoods still depend on family-owned fields, worked by hand or with the help of animals. Social organization, work, marriage, and land ownership remain closely tied to extended family traditions. As modern products and technology reach even the most remote villages, rural communities struggle to adapt while holding on to their cultural values.
Access to medical care, good nutrition, hygiene, jobs, and education is often scarce. While public education exists, schools are usually located in cities or nearby towns, leaving many rural communities underserved. Education is seen as a privilege rather than a right, and this reality was clear at every project site.
Globe Aware partners with schools in this region to renovate and improve classrooms and facilities for children. The program also assists with the Albergue, a facility that houses children during the week so they can attend school and return home on weekends.
After COVID, many schools had closed for nearly two years, leaving an influx of students crowded into the ones that remained open. This made it even more important to keep these schools safe, accessible, and well-maintained.
Our group of 29 volunteers worked across two schools: Picol Primary School, which serves 160 children ages six to twelve, and the Kindergarten, which serves 63 children ages two to five. Located just a short walk apart, the schools allowed volunteers to divide their time and meet the most urgent needs.
Day one began with a joyful activity that helped our volunteers connect right away with the kindergarten children. Each volunteer paired with one to three students to paint their hands and place their colorful handprints inside the greenhouse. Built and maintained in the past years by Globe Aware volunteers, this greenhouse helps to grow healthy and nutritious food for families. Principal Cecelia suggested the handprint activity to bring brightness to the space and give the young students a sense of pride and ownership.
Afterward, the volunteers split up. At the primary school, the team worked hard, digging and leveling the ground to expand the playground sidewalk, continuing the improvements begun by previous groups. They also sanded the outside classroom walls, worn from time and weather, to prepare them for a fresh coat of paint.
Volunteers began painting a beautiful, positive mural on the outside walls at the kindergarten greenhouse and clearing the inside of trash, debris, and large rocks. This made space for wooden dividers to be placed for future garden patches.
The team on the ground included Coordinator Rocio, who had been leading Globe Aware’s work in Peru since 2005, artist Paval, who guided the mural painting, and college student Sami at the kindergarten. Anthony, Paval’s brother, and student Abigail helped with sanding and cement work at the primary school, while father and son, Julio and John, supported both sites with cement and woodwork. Together, they blended guidance and hard work.
Inkan Spirit, Volunteer Heart - Sunder in Peru
On day two, the work continued. Volunteers laid large rocks at the primary school, pressed on with sanding the walls, and cut wood for the greenhouse. By the end of the day, a greenhouse mural was complete, bringing a burst of color and positivity to the kindergarten playground.
Day three closed with remarkable progress. The new sidewalk at the primary school was finished, and the walls had been sanded, ready for fresh paint in the future. The wood was installed in the greenhouse, and volunteers prepared the soil for seeds. They also began work on a second mural, adding even more life and creativity inside the greenhouse.
Highlights of the week included exploring bustling Cuzco, tasting guinea pig for the first time, playing volleyball with the children, enjoying the wonderful meals prepared by Chef Alicia, trying the tamales shared by the primary school, watching colorful performances from both schools, and handing out donations to grateful teachers and students.
In just three days, our volunteers brought meaningful change to Picol Primary and Kindergarten. Their time and generosity revived both schools, making them more welcoming and supportive for the children. It was inspiring to see what could be accomplished together. Beyond the work itself, the connections our volunteers made with the students were heartfelt and lasting, creating memories that will stay with them for a lifetime.
We look forward to sharing future updates on the progress at both schools with our volunteers and audience!
Learn More About Globe Aware's Peru Program
Inkan Spirit, Volunteer Heart - Sunder in Peru Cont.
For the first time since Globe Aware’s Peru program began in the early 2000s, we faced a situation where strikes disrupted travel and trains were canceled during the time volunteers would have visited Machu Picchu. Out of concern for their safety, Globe Aware advised volunteers to postpone their visit for another time and organized alternative excursions. Even so, many chose to forge their own path, hiking for hours and piecing together buses and trains to reach the site. Despite the huge crowds, long lines, and exhaustion, they succeeded.
Globe Aware has a responsibility to prioritize volunteer safety, and while we cannot control natural events or political unrest, we were deeply grateful and impressed that everyone returned safely and continued their work at the schools.
The End of Summer in Costa Rica & Guatemala
Guatemala
This summer in Guatemala, a sweet family chose to end their season by giving back. Together, they helped lay a cement floor for a family in need, floated across the beautiful lake on a boat ride, learned the art of making tortillas, and shared laughter and special moments with the locals and children.
Costa Rica
The Kindred group in Costa Rica accomplished so much in just a few days as well! They worked together to build the concrete fencing of a property that will hopefully become a playground for the community. Alongside their hard work, they also enjoyed unforgettable experiences, from ziplining through the forest to learning how coffee is made. It was inspiring to see how much they achieved in such a short time while still embracing all the beauty and adventure Costa Rica has to offer.
Learn more about Globe Aware's Guatemala Program
Learn more about Globe Aware's Costa Rica Program
A Fresh Round of Podcast Conversations
The Binky Patrol Podcast: All Volunteer, All Heart
"There’s no check you can write that can do that to a kid’s brain.”
25 years ago, Kimberly Haley Coleman turned her weekends abroad into something bigger, founding Globe Aware, now connecting volunteers to service projects around the world. From building stoves in Peru to assembling wheelchairs in Cambodia, these aren’t luxury trips; they’re life-changing ones.
Talks about helping people do & feel good! - The Sustainiacs
Discover how “voluntourism” blends adventure with meaningful service, supporting local communities, protecting the environment, and connecting deeply with new cultures. From teaching abroad to conservation projects, these experiences show how travel can make a real impact. Globe Aware Founder & CEO Kimberly Haley-Coleman joined "The Sustainiacs" to share how volunteer vacations can turn travel into a true force for good.
Coffee-Time-Again
This episode explores the roots of community service and how the spirit of collective action has evolved, from early American barn-raisings to modern-day volunteerism. Kimberly reflects on the importance of working together, not just locally but globally, and how Globe Aware continues to foster that sense of unity and purpose.
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