Volunteer storiesInternship
Theory meets practice: Sarah’s internship in Huanchaco
Sarah swapped her master’s degree lectures in Denmark for six months in our Huanchaco office. She talks about small-NGO life, what makes a good volunteer and where OCN is heading.
Tell us a little about your role at Otra Cosa.
I’ve been working with Otra Cosa Network for a little over two months now. I’m studying for a master’s degree in Development and International Relations in Denmark, and I’m doing a six-month internship in Peru with OCN.
I work in the office alongside our operations manager, assistant manager and a few other volunteers and interns. My work is mostly online marketing: recruiting more volunteers so that Otra Cosa can keep supporting its current projects and expand them to reach more of the local community. I also introduce newly arrived volunteers to the work of Otra Cosa and to life in Huanchaco.
Otra Cosa is a small NGO, which means everyone in the office is involved in lots of different tasks day to day. We mostly work on our own initiative, because a lot of faith is put in our abilities and our passion to help OCN have more of an impact on the local community and the people here who need it.
“A lot of faith is put in our abilities and our passion to help OCN have more of an impact.”
How did you get involved in volunteering?
Until now, my experience and knowledge of development work was purely theoretical, from my studies at university. So far, this has shown me how volunteering can play a big part in helping a community develop, and how organisations like Otra Cosa Network can make a difference in the lives of people who, because of difficult socio-economic circumstances, can benefit greatly from a little help from generous volunteers.
What makes Otra Cosa unique?
We have a very broad range of volunteer projects. We don’t just do English teaching or one single kind of placement; we offer many different types of project, which makes us attractive to volunteers with all kinds of interests.
In your experience, what makes a good international volunteer?
A good international volunteer is, first of all, open-minded. Working and living in a completely different culture can be overwhelming, but with an open mind and a lot of patience it can be a life-changing experience.
Open-minded. Ready to see things differently and learn from the people around you.
Patient. Change takes time, and so does settling into a new culture.
Flexible. Tasks can change from day to day, and working life here is different from home.
Motivated, creative and hard-working. The qualities that turn good ideas into real projects.
What does the future hold for Otra Cosa?
Otra Cosa is always working to recruit more volunteers so we can keep supporting the projects we already run. It’s also really important to us to expand our projects and find new ways to help the local community. Our volunteers have many great ideas about how to improve and develop our projects, and it’s our goal to make them happen.
“Our volunteers have many great ideas about how to improve and develop our projects, and it’s our goal to make them happen.”
