After an amazing rollercoaster experience of Cusco/Machu Picchu where we achieved a long held dream of completing the Inca Trail and the added bonus of our engagement, we headed off to Pisco for our 3 week volunteering.

We were heading to a charity called ´Pisco Sin Fronteras´ (Pisco without boundaries) which was set up in the aftermath of a 7.9 earthquake in 2007 which devistated the town, destroying 80% of the homes in Pisco and killing 519 people killed (with a shocking 148 within one church when the roof collapsed).

The overall impact has left a large number of people living in makeshift housing of cardboard, scrap wood, and plastic with dirt floors and no more than a bucket in the corner for a toilet, there are also still lots of people living in tents even 4 years after the Earthquake.

The town of Pisco is situated within a desert some 250km south of Lima, bordered on one side by the Pacific Ocean, the remaining landscape is just barren endless sand dunes with many of the towns streets made of sand and rock. The area feels like a building site with many half finished buildings all over.

We arrived at ´Pisco Sin Fronteras´ clubhouse for communal breakfast and introductions, Dave and Emily being newcomers were required to stand up infront off the 60+ volunteers and had to say their name, where they come from, their job back home., how long they will be volenteering and our superpower (dont ask). To make this even more challenging, we were required to introduce ourselves completely in Spanish!!

After the introductions, we selected the project we wanted to work on. Dave and Emily picked the ´French Hospital´ which you will find out in the next blog..!