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Peru; the home of Machu Picchu, a gorgeous northern coastline, and the birthplace of ceviche. During April 2023 I was lucky enough to travel from the beaches of Mancora in the north, to the mountainous regions of Cusco. During this trip I volunteered for Otra Cosa Network, a British organisation founded by Juany and Peter Murphy.

Otra Cosa Network is based in Huanchaco, a quiet seaside surf town forty minutes north of Trujillo. OCN specialises in child development in many different areas of Peru’s society, for example, Global Glow is an international project targeted at education for girls from West Africa to Afghanistan to Peru.

On the 15^{th of} April 2023 Global Glow, in the Huanchaco area, hosted a protest throughout the small town; the roads were closed, and the girls were passionately chanting against gender violence and holding huge placards in favour of equality. In Peru, 1 in 3 women are likely to suffer sexual and/or physical violence during their lifetime. This protest was incredibly emotional due to the passion and hurt coming from these girls. I later learned that many of the girls protesting knew someone or had been a victim themselves of gender violence. The age range of these girls was only ten to fifteen.

OCN is also eager to make a difference in other aspects of society. The environment. Every month OCN hosts a beach clean in the neighbouring village, Huanchaquito. In April 2023 over one hundred bin bags were collected, full of rubbish accumulated from being dumped on the sand or washed up from the Pacific Ocean. During the beach clean OCN volunteers were present as well as students from a private school, children from a nearby orphanage and news reporters from Trujillo. It was a very accomplished feeling watching everyone work together to better life not only for us but also for local wildlife.

Not only does OCN contribute to education on a global scale it is also very keen to help the local populations. In Cerrito, a nearby inland settlement, the OCN recreational centre is located. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday children from all around Cerrito turn up, of their own accord, to learn English, Literature and Environmental studies. The recreational centre is used by not only OCN but also another international charity: Concrete Jungle Foundation. CJF specialises in skating education globally, a form of healthy release of stress and anxiety for the children of Cerrito; and, of course, a chance to learn another new skill.

I was shocked to learn about the dark twenty-five-year history of Cerrito and the sub-standard of living that occurs there, fully known by the authorities. Drinking water is delivered once a week via lorry, residents queue up with bottles and buckets in the hopes to receive enough water to last a week. Running water is considered a luxury with human waste stored in silos.

When new families arrive – fleeing conflict, the el niño storm phenomenon or just with the hopes of a more prosperous future – they must erect their own tents on the arid and dusty ground under the blazing sun until they have enough resources to start constructing their own houses.

However, the resilience, gratitude, and hunger to learn, from the children of Cerrito, is perhaps the most astonishing part about this twenty-five-year-old settlement. During the three weeks I volunteered for this charity I believe I forged some strong relationships with these children as well as the other volunteers.

Otra Cosa Network prides itself on creating long lasting relationships within the Huanchaco and Cerrito communities. Every Thursday night I was a witness to these relationships as the volunteer teams from CJF and OCN visited the salsa club. The volunteers were very well known within the local populations, and it was an extremely welcoming and friendly environment to be a part of.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my three weeks volunteering for Otra Cosa Network in Huanchaco. It was touching to witness the positive effect that this charity has on the local children purely by offering them a safe space to learn and play. Otra Cosa Network is always looking for new volunteers, as well as managerial positions to be filled, so I would encourage others to connect and learn more about this incredible charity; I will never forget the children of Cerrito nor the locals of Huanchaco.

I urge others to visit Peru.

For more information on Otra Cosa Network you can email the founder Juany@otracosa.org or visit the website https://www.otracosa.org/ .