Like many gap year travellers, Nick is determined to make a difference during his months in South America. His latest blog post describes his arrival in Uycho, where he has been teaching kids from the local orphanage and building a wall to defend the town’s local reservoir.

However, volunteering is more complicated and difficult than just crusading in like western knights in armour to sort out the problems of the poor. Nick describes their struggles to deal with hyperactive kids and adults who are, ironically, the opposite:

we were midway through the second week and we still hadn´t had any support from the locals. We were getting a bit tired of the whole ´si mañana´attitude

But with perseverance and a bit of imagination Nick and his fellow volunteers get the kids engaged and finally get going with the wall, learning how to work and play the Uycho way. He’s now headed to Lima and La Paz, so keep on top of his blog and don’t be afraid to leave comments and ask questions if you’re interested in a regular guy’s view of a South American adventure.

by Molly on 22 August 2008
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