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Pisco, Peru
Project Report for April - What We Do at PSF :)
May 08, 2012
Pisco Sin Fronteras – April Projects Report Modular Home (Espinoza)On 25th April a project was started to build a modular house inside the shell of an existing building that had
May 12, 2011
Marchit Valdez, 19, lives in Dios te Ama, Pisco with her fiancé and four year old son Darean. Marchit’s mother-in-law gifted her a plot of land just space enough
March 17, 2011
There are various organisations offering grants and stipends to assist international volunteers with the living (and travel) expenses related to volunteering abroad, including volunteering with Pisco Sin Fronteras. If you are interested
Peru NGO inaugurates "earthbag" building in Pisco (article from ezine Living in Peru)
March 17, 2011
Community members and volunteers gathered on Sunday to celebrate the inauguration of a new community center in Pisco, Peru. The building, designed and constructed by non-profit organisation Pisco Sin Fronteras is
March 17, 2011
Ysmael's need for assistance was first highlighted by a local Pentecostal church group. They approached PSF requesting help for him after he was seen begging for food and money at
March 17, 2011
Melissa is a single mother of four (ages 3, 6, 12 and 14) who came to our office asking for help with the plumbing in her house. Melissa had a
March 17, 2011
Victor is a fit and healthy family man. His wife Pilar is incredibly hard working, has a heart of gold and a passion for learning the English language. Their three
March 17, 2011
Norma and her husband Orlando lived in a small, one-room estera (woven bamboo) and tarp shack in Villa Tupac Amaru, just outside of Pisco. Norma is a mother of three
Earthbag Construction in Pisco, Peru
February 03, 2011
PSF has started constructing homes with earthbags. This innovative constructin process is affordable, earthquake resistant and easy to construct compared to traditional Peruvian home construction methods. PSF is in the process
Volunteer Blog - A week in to my PSF stay by Heather Dessel
February 01, 2011
Once I arrived in Peru, I went straight to the casa de voluntarios and headquarters of Pisco Sin Fronteras (PSF). I got set up in a hostel-style room
Volunteer Blog - Alameda Ludoteca by Elise Bragard
February 01, 2011
In Pisco the majority of children only go to school for half the day, so PSF funds two Ludotecas (day care centres) where children from the
Volunteer Blog - Three memorable weeks at PSF by Lora Hughes
February 01, 2011
I´ve spent 3 weeks at PSF and am about to head back to the UK for Christmas. Out of my 6 months of travels so far 3 weeks is
Volunteer Blog - Positively Shaping the Future with PSF by Michaela Duffy and Tom Lane
February 01, 2011
For me the highlight of our trip around South America so far has been our two weeks volunteering for Pisco Sin Fronteras. We had an unbelievable opportunity to help a
Volunteer Blog - The Best Job I Ever Had by Brid Aherne
February 01, 2011
I have barely 3 hours left in Pisco and I am sad. I feel like I am leaving the best job I have ever had. It is customary to
Volunteer Blog - No Job Too Small by Mel King
February 01, 2011
Three years after the devastating earthquake that flattened more than seventy percent of the town, many people in Pisco are still living in makeshift houses with no power
Volunteer Blog - An Ode to Pisco Sin Fronteras by Oliver Buckley
February 01, 2011
Some people make photo slideshows, others write diaries - I was just messing around with a few lines and came up with this poem. I haven't
The experience of true human connection at PSF by Samuel Haiden
November 15, 2010 | 1 comment
So, I’ve been out of high school now for about a year and a half. In that time, I´ve been through one meager year of University, worked for six months,
Volunteer Blog - Jules Hatfield July 2010
July 26, 2010
Is Pisco a beautiful place? If beauty is defined by the amount of fancy houses and expensive cars a suburb has; by the high class restaurants and shopping centres; or
Volunteer Blog (Bio Diesel)- TJ Lee July 2010
July 26, 2010
BIODIESEL BLOG Day 5-15 July 7th, 2010 The Biodiesel room, just completed with western style swinging doors, is located in the corner of the lot and has the largest footprint
Volunteer Blog - Laura Morgan July 2010
July 26, 2010
I’ve only spent a short time here in Pisco, Peru... but it has been amazing! Pisco is impoverished and greatly damaged from an earthquake that hit several years ago, which
Ongoing Earthquake Relief with Pisco Sin Fronteras
April 10, 2010
On Wednesday evening, August 15th, 2007, several hundred people attended a funeral mass in Pisco, Peru. Family and friends gathered together in three-hundred-year-old San Clemente Cathedral, located on Pisco’s main
Pisco Update #2 - Plaza del Parque
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Julian Hatfield
April 24, 2012
Hey guys thought it was time to fill you in again with a little bit of information on Pisco Sin Fronteras at the moment. Things are very busy here and i have taken on a few extra responsibilities since arriving so that is keeping me busy in the evening and weekends as well. So i'm sorry for the delay in getting to you sooner.A few weeks ago i took on the administrative position of project manager, which has kept me particularly busy in the office as well as out on site. Things are settling down a little bit now i have my head around it, but there are still many exciting things to learn that will keep me busy long into the nights after work. The position of project manager...
Coming Home - My Return to Pisco
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Julian Hatfield
April 09, 2012
Hola amigos... and welcome to the first monthly edition of the Pisco Sin Fronteras updates. Since arriving here 4 weeks ago there has been so much going on that it's been difficult to find time to sit down and take a breather. The emotional roller coaster that was my return has started to settle and now it is back to business like usual. After arriving in Santiago a month ago i spent the minimal amount of time there getting adjusted to the jet lag and time zone and then i was back on the bus and making my way to Pisco. The decision to take a bus directly from Santiago to Pisco was something i anticipated as being treacherous, but i definitely underestimated how draining it would be. All up...
First earthbag structure in Pisco
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Christelle Bertrais
January 10, 2012
Between september 2010 and february 2011, I worked on a very interesting project : building the first earthquake resistant structure in Pisco, Peru.I was project manager in charge of convincing the publics institutions and the people of Pisco of the advantages of developping the earthbag construction in the area. Pisco is often subject to tremors and this type of contruction would be more adapted and secure for the people of Pisco. A hard challenge but completed ! In february 2010, myself and my team of Pisco Sin Fronteras we inaugurated the first earthbag structure of Pisco!One year later, the organization built few more building of this type in the area of Pisco.https://www.omprakash.org/partnerstories/Story/Peru-NGO-inaugurates-earthbag-building-in-Pisco-article-from-ezine-Living-in-Peru...
The Story of Earthbag Construction in Pisco Peru.
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Aaron Chevalley
November 30, 2011
EARTHBAG CONSTRUCTION- "An inexpensive method to create structures which are both strong and can be quickly built. It is a natural building technique that evolved from historic military bunker construction techniques and temporary flood-control dike building methods. The technique requires very basic construction materials: sturdy sacks, filled with inorganic material usually available on site. Standard earthbag fill material has internal stability. Either moist subsoil that contains enough clay to become cohesive when tamped, or an angular gravel or crushed volcanic rock is used."-Wikipedia. In 2010 I had the distinct pleasure of visiting and traveling in South America. While in Cuzco I met a fellow traveler who informed me of the work Pisco Sin Fronteras was doing. The city of Pisco, as it was told to me, was 80% destroyed by a...
Pisco Sin Fronteras - Forever Home
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Julian Hatfield
October 22, 2011
Is Pisco a beautiful place? If beauty is defined by the amount of fancy houses and expensive cars a suburb has; by the high class restaurants and shopping centres; or maybe even the amount of nice parks and gardens that can be explored during quiet afternoons; then no it isn't. But if you measure beauty by the character, the comradely, the good will and the unity that this town produces day in and day out in desperate times of need; then Pisco is amazingly beautiful. This place is a roller-coaster of mental, physical and emotional challenges. You have your days when you feel on top of the world, and you have the days where you want to cry. But at the end of the day it's the smiles, the laughter,...
Last Few Months at PSF and Future Possibilities
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Shannon Ng
October 13, 2011
Since my last progress report, I basically immersed myself into project management. As a project manager it was my responsibility to help oversee the projects, the project leaders, and the site assessments. This role allowed me to gain actual experience in project management. Although I went into this experience wanting to volunteer my time and just help in any way possible, I came out of it gaining so much more out of it, such as work experience.Immersing myself into the project manager role meant that I often found myself working longer days and on weekends. Work wasn't always between 9AM and 5PM; problems sometimes arose outside of “work hours.” Being one of the people that knew a lot about the on-goings of the organization meant...
10 weeks in and the 4 year anniversary of the earthquake...
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Alice Milligan
August 22, 2011
It was the 4 year anniversary of the earthquake on Monday, which was a good opportunity to reflect on why were all here in pisco, the impact that psf has had over these years and also the sheer scale of work required to improve living conditions in the town for so many people to a humane standard. One volunteer who appropriately goes by the name of Buddha, led a guided meditation session outside the volunteers house for an hour between 6 and 7 to mark the time of the earthquake. This was in memory of those hundreds killed, the thousands of family members and friends left grieving and the thousands more who lost their homes and are still struggling to rebuild and get their lives back on track. Unfortunately as...
JJCF Volunteer Grant Update Report #2
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Shannon Ng
August 16, 2011
Shannon NgJJCF Report #2July 26, 2011PSF May – July 2011 Here are some things that have been going on with me at Pisco Sin Fronteras, since my last update. Administrative/ Project Management Support: Since my last report, PSF has been going through some changes in management and the way it runs things. With its ever revolving doors of volunteers, it is hard to have a constant group of volunteers willing to run the organization in the best way possible. As a long term volunteer and someone who knows the ins and outs of PSF, I was asked and chose to stand up to help support the administrative/management team. So I am now back to managing site assessments and projects, and also sitting in on weekly management meetings. During my last stay...
7 Weeks in...
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Alice Milligan
August 09, 2011
Since my last update, the Jesus bathrooms project has been completed which is a great feeling! It is really going to make such a difference in the community where Ive only found one family to have any form of sanitation in their own home, and that was extremely basic. Now there are 2 toilets and 2 showers available for use as soon as the municipality finish installing the sewage pipes through the neighbourhood. They dug up the deep trenches for these a few weeks ago and have since been frequented by small children playing, and street dogs thrown in my small children. It was a week of working very long hours to get it finished but we completed the last of the tiling last Saturday and were all very proud of...
3 Weeks in....
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Alice Milligan
July 25, 2011
It has been just over 3 weeks since I arrived at the big blue doors of Pisco Sin Fronteras, and exactly one year since I arrived - alone and absolutely terrified — in Pisco for the first time. The familiarity of the town and my memories from last year are still so strong that I found it extremely difficult to believe that I have been gone for so long, it feels just like coming home. Before leaving the UK, I was concerned that perhaps I had been foolish to return to PSF, in that it could never possibly compare to the life changing experience I had here last summer. The faces are almost all different, but the atmosphere and the attitude of the volunteers is pretty much exactly as I...
Percy's House (Project Write-Up)
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Shannon Ng
July 09, 2011
(This write-up can also be found on the PSF website, along with other past project write-ups.) Percy's House...(to be continued)It was May 8, 2011. It was also Mother's Day in the U.S., as well as Peru. It was also the day the original plans for “Percy’s House” were finally completed.A general summary of Percy's House is that PSF decided to help build a brick house from the ground up for a deserving family of three, which includes a disabled child, after the local municipality approached PSF and said that they would donate all of the materials, provide transportation, lunch and a construction professional (maestro), and all PSF had to contribute was tools and labor. We broke ground on the project on September 30, 2010 with me and my...
Presentations Made to Middle Schoolers
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Bryan Condon
May 25, 2011
A few weeks after being back from my 6 month stint with PSF, I made a presentation to the 7th and 8th graders at Nipher Middle School in St. Louis. Nipher is located in the affluent area of Kirkwood, west of the city of St Louis. It was important to me to speak to these children (most of which come from upper/middle class families) about the importance of helping others when you are in a position to do so. Pisco, Peru is a particularly poor city in Peru, and the children were shocked to hear about some of the conditions in which people are living there - cardboard walls, dirt floors, lack of plumbing. The student responded to the photos and stories I shared with them of the work the volunteers...
Volunteer Grant - The progress report
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Will Smith
May 13, 2011
Volunteer Grant Progress Report: Will Smith – Pisco Sin FronterasI received word at the beginning of December 2010 that I had been successful with my application for the Omprakash Volunteer Grant. I was elated with the news as I had worked quite hard on the application and had high hopes.I first heard about Omprakash when I was volunteering in Pisco, Peru in 2010 with the organisation Pisco Sin Frotneras (PSF). A group of young students from the States came to film a documentary about the work we do and when speaking to the leader of the group I explained to him that my time to leave and return home was approaching, however I felt that my time at PSF was not quite finished. He told me about the Omprakash Grant...
Tips for Volunteers Helping to Administrate Partner Projects
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Bryan Condon
May 03, 2011
I have put together a Classroom Resource and posted on the Omprakash website. The 'resource' is a guide for those interested in starting up or rounding out the adminstrative side of their volunteer organization. The tips are based on my 6 months of service on the Admin team of Omprakash Partner, Pisco Sin Fronteras. Check the following link for the guide:http://www.omprakash.org/images/userfiles/volunteers/1039/0.505243001304469070.pdfEnjoy
Machismo
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Shannon Ng
May 03, 2011 | 1 comment
At times it can be difficult for women to make headway in terms of equality and empowerment, and I’m talking about in well developed countries like the United States. However, when you try to address the same issues in a less developed, macho, religious country, like Peru, it makes it 10 times harder. Peru, like most countries in South America and around the world, has a strong sense of male hierarchy. Although there are some strong female figures within communities, a lot of the women are generally “controlled” by some kind of male figure. Currently at PSF, we are attempting to get more involved in the community and make more of a difference socially by creating a community liaison position. However, a few of the obstacles that has popped...
Delia's house
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Will Smith
May 03, 2011
Delia’s house:When I arrived at PSF, there was an immediate need for a project to begin as our volunteer numbers were quite high. As there were not too many experienced volunteers available, I was thrown in to the deep end within a week of my arrival. Delia’s story is an incredible one. After living with her husband and 4 children in their home in central Pisco, their lives were turned upside down by the earthquake. Living in some of the most atrocious conditions I have ever seen in my 7 months in Pisco, PSF decided to undertake a ‘Mircale Project’. Miracle Projects are funded by donations predominantly from past and present volunteers, and are given to the most deserving families after a number of factors are examined, and a simple...
A Glimpse Inside
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Shannon Ng
April 25, 2011
A glimpse inside the finished product of a PSF sponsored project - "Monica's Chateau." A little money, time and hard work goes a long way here.*This video was produced by other fellow volunteers.Part 1: Interview with the volunteers.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFvfYwuXVDU Part 2: Unveiling the finished house to the family.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Diyj8vV7wzg
Coming Home
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Will Smith
April 19, 2011
Well it has been just over a month now since I arrived back in Pisco, and how time has flown. It is a routine when first arriving at PSF to introduce yourself at the daily morning meeting. Included in your introduction you must explain a few short details about yourself and detail something interesting either about yourself, something you have done or something you have been a part of. Well of course, my interesting fact was that my friends and family combined together at the fundraiser that was 'Miraclaes From Melbourne' to help support the amazing work of Pisco Sin Fronteras in the form of a massive $13,500 cash donation, the biggest in PSF’s 3 almost 3 year operating history.Percy’s HousePercy is a 13 year old child who contracted a minor...
Looking Back at Pisco
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Bryan Condon
April 06, 2011
I write this blog after returning home from 6 months of service with Pisco Sin Fronteras. There is quite a cultural transition to make coming from earthquake damaged Pisco to the comfortable livings of the Midwest United States. Of course, the transition going from here to Pisco last August wasn’t easy either. But I believe these types of difficulties truly are those ‘character building’ experiences our parents spoke of.Pisco, Peru is a town of uncertain population (a proper survey has never been taken, and no survey of any kind has been performed since the 2007 earthquake). At one point the town was a major sea port on the Pacific coast of South America and more recently a benefactor of the booming Peruvian tourist industry – both of these sources of...
Developing within a Community
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Shannon Ng
March 27, 2011
It’s been about 4 months since I last stepped through the blue doors of Pisco Sin Fronteras. There are only a few familiar faces and the vibe is somewhat different from when I left, but that was to be expected. The common question is “how does it feel to be back?” And my answer to that is “it's like coming home.”I'm about 2 weeks into my current 6 month stint and things are coming along slowly, but surely, which is the PSF way. In this time I have helped to pour a concrete floor, gathered free donated wood, aided in tackling a database, and most importantly, I have began the brainstorming process of my community development project, which will focus on improving the sexual education programs/classes offered in Pisco.I'm in...
3 Minutes
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Shannon Ng
February 18, 2011
All it took was 3 minutes. 180 seconds. One-twentieth of an hour.On August 15, 2007 a 8.0 (reported as 7.9) magnitude earthquake hit the coastal areas of Peru. It reportedly lasted about 3 minutes, but I’m sure for those who experienced it first-hand, it seemed like an eternity. In just 3 minutes thousands of lives were forever altered.3 minutes was enough for over 500 lives to be taken (519 confirmed deaths), more than 1,000 to be injured, and over 50,000 homes to be destroyed. To give you a bit of perspective, the population of Pisco totals around 120,000. More than three years later the survivors are still working to pick-up the pieces. None of them were prepared for those unexpected few minutes. Who would be? And can you really blame...
Modular homes, dodgy belly and dishco: I love Pisco
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by San Jenkins
February 16, 2011
I’ve been travelling around Latin America for 11 months now. Mainly following the gringo trail with a few volunteer projects along the way. As Christmas and New Year were approaching I decided to join another volunteer project and remembered that PSF had been highly recommended to me by a previous volunteer. I still knew little about the project when I finally set off for Pisco and had few expectations, so when I finally arrived at PSF, boy what a pleasant and unexpected surprise!I arrived on a Tuesday late in the afternoon. The following day was a national holiday so in true PSF style there was a fancy dress party that night with an auction to raise money for more community projects. As the afternoon turned into evening, I gradually met...
How to Beat the Heat
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Will Smith
February 15, 2011
Not knowing what to expect what to expect is half the fun when you go on adventures, and this was certainly the case in my first couple of weeks at Pisco Sin Fronteras.After arriving at night and speaking to a few of the volunteers who had been there a while, it became evident that a reoccurring question was 'are you fit?' or 'when was the last time you did something really physical?'. I learnt the reason to this question the next morning.Waking up around 730 to join in the now old house for breakfast and the morning meeting beginning at 830, I was surprised by the heat. It had been a long time since I had been reminded of the hot...
The way the cookie crumbles...
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Kitty Stewart
February 07, 2011
I've never experienced anything quite like Pisco Sin Fronteras (PSF) before. It kind of reminds me of the film, 'The Beach' - the family of friends from all over the world. The atmosphere here is quite difficult to describe but there is certainly something very charming about it. The love, the laughs and the sense of peace unite the travellers who dedicate a part of their journey to PSF. The enthusiasm and dedication from the volunteers here is truely inspiring. And it's what makes this place work.I'm four weeks into my PSF experience now and I'm loving every minute of it. The time is flying by so fast. I don't want it to end.I've been involved in lots of different projects here. I've been painting, cooking, rendering, teaching and using...
Earthbag Construction in Pisco
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Bryan Condon
January 27, 2011
Pisco was hit by a devastating earthquake in 2007 and lies in an area (coastal Peru) that is highly susceptible to future earthquakes. A big part of the work we, Pisco Sin Fronteras (PSF), do for the people of Pisco is construction. We construct many homes for individuals families who were affected by the earthquake. In order to get families out of the tent and dirt floor lvigin conditions which were prevalant after the earthquake, we mostly constructed wooden 'modular' homes. The modular homes were very cheap and relatively easy and fast to construct. As we come upon the 4 year anniversary of the earthquake, we are looking for more long term housing options. Housing options that are more likely to withstand future tremors and quakes...enter earthbag construction.PSF has started...
old blog post: 2 months in Peru just wasn't enough!
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Cecilia Montesdeoca
January 23, 2011
2 Months In Peru Just Wasn't Enough!July 11, 2010I´m back in Brazil now after nearly two months in Peru. There have been so many times where I attempeted to write a new post describing all of my amazing experiences, but each time I felt that the words that I had written didn´t do justice to how I felt. So here goes one more try…My journey started off in Cusco, Peru. Honestly it was a random choice of destination. I say random because I booked a ticket there after watching an interesting episode of Samantha Brown on the Travel Channel. Interesting it was, a place full of culture and energy. Upon my arrival I must admit I was a bit of a downer. Not having adjusted well to the altitude and...
PSF Publicity
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Shannon Ng
January 21, 2011
These are links to another article written about PSF and published in another Hawaii newspaper. Enjoy.Page 1:http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5087/5373711134_600b9171da_b.jpg And the continuation:http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5290/5373111921_6e0e572b63_b.jpg
Pisco Sin Fronteras changed my life
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Missy Cleary
January 19, 2011
Well what can I say about PSF. 1st of all I meet the most amazing people of my life and whom I will always have in my life. Second of all I got to work in one of the best community (I think) in South America. The people of Pisco are so caring and warm hearted. I worked on so many projects while I was there and the one that sticks out in my mind is the center my friend and I raised money to build it was AMAZING!! We bulit a center for BLIND people in Pisco and now they are have somewhere to go and somewhere they can relax while making there arts and crafts. To be part of such a great project has really changed my life.....
Goodbye PSF
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Cecilia Montesdeoca
January 11, 2011
Goodbye PSFThe other day when Ben asked me what my name was during the morning meeting, I must admit I was pretty embarrassed. So I guess I’ll reintroduce myself. My name is Cecilia, I live near Chicago, today’s my last day, and something interesting, I came to PSF for only 4-5 days, decided to take a semester off of uni and stayed 7months.Those 7 months are going to be difficult to explain in a goodbye speech but I will try to do it justice. During these 7 months I’ve never been so amazed by the potential, hardwork, leadership, and dedication of each volunteer. I’ve seen hundreds of people come and go through this place, each crow turn over just as impressive as the next; Each volunteer contributing something special to...
Article About Volunteering at PSF
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Shannon Ng
January 06, 2011
http://www.midweek.com/content/zones/east_coverstory_article/kaimuki_volunteer_aids_peru_recovery/
The Beginning
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Will Smith
December 23, 2010
When I arrived in Pisco, I had no idea what to think. I had always wanted to do some long term volunteering, so during my internship in Cusco (as a marketing assistant at a Spanish school) I asked around. There was one particular backpacker, his name was Wayne, who told me all about Pisco Sin Fronteras. Over a quiet beer and some local street cuisine, Wayne had convinced me that the next bus I was to take would be to Pisco, Peru. I arrived in Pisco on a Thursday night. I got off the bus and jumped into a cab where a friendly local driver took me to ‘la casa de voluntarios’ – house of volunteers. As we drove from the highway down into the town I was amazed at...
Pisco Sin Fronteras 'The Video' - a must watch.
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Will Smith
November 30, 2010
Pisco Sin Fronteras video produced by two fantastic volunteers Kelly and Jefe. A great insight to the destruction of the 2007 earthquake and the amazing work of Pisco Sin Fronteras.
Post PSF Withdrawals
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Shannon Ng
November 22, 2010
Pisco Sin Fronteras is a unique organization, which provides volunteers with experiences that are impossible to describe to outsiders. Spend one day, one week, one month, or one year volunteering with PSF and it has the ability to change you in ways you never knew possible. I speak from first-hand experience. The people you meet, the skills you learn and pass on, and the stories you share are invaluable. I’ve built tables for classrooms, poured concrete, dug trenches, and worked on managing projects. When I first walked into PSF, I had absolutely no experience in any of these fields, but PSF gave me the opportunity to learn. I know of no other company/organization that provides the same opportunity. I can’t help but to relive the memories of what now...
Peru Video - Overview
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Alex Rodrigues
October 11, 2010
My first week volunteering at PSF – Anna Elliott
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Anna Elliott
October 09, 2010
My friend Bethan and I arrived at PSF HQ on a Friday evening, tired from a 5 hour bus journey from Lima. After staring at the sign on the door for about a minute wondering what we were supposed to do, we were greeted by a couple of fellow volunteers who spilled out of the gate, cheerfully informing us that they were “off to get some beer.” Pretty good start, I thought, so we followed through the door into the main yard which was set up for a few games of an American phenomenon – ‘Beer Pong.’ Of course, being English, we had little to no idea of what this entailed but we were quickly greeted by a myriad of names and faces (that I was sure that I...
Being the Change, One day, One house, One life at a Time Part I
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Shannon Ng
October 06, 2010
Who is Ismael? To most people he's just another Peruvian, who's life was turned upside down, because of the earthquake. However, if you actually take the time to learn Ismael's story, you'll soon find out that, just like everyone else, his story is unique.Ismael is an elderly man, who before the earthquake, lived in an adobe house located on Las Americas, not far from the volunteer house, but he lost that house in the earthquake. He was fortunate enough to receive a modular home from the Municipality, but was unfortunate enough to have it accidentally burned down when his cousin was doing some repairs. To make matters worse, Ismael's wife left him and took all of their belongings, leaving him with nothing, but a charred home.Once...
This week at Pisco Sin Fronteras
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Bryan Condon
September 25, 2010
On Sunday a group of PSF volunteers took a day trip to a nearby beach, within the Paracas National Reserve. A day at the beach with friends turned out to be the perfect short vacation from the volunteer work in Pisco. It was back to work as usual on Monday. I was brought to PSF to be the organization's grant writer, and at the moment I am working on a proposal that is aimed to bring funding in for the Ludoteca child care center. Aside from working on this proposal, I participated in a few technical site assessments-this involves taking a look at projects we are planning to work on (from pouring concrete to replace a dirt floor in a living room to constructing an entire house to replace a...
Free wood day!!
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Tom Janes
September 24, 2010
Hey Omprakashers!! Just wanted to tell you guys about an awesome little project we had at Pisco Sin Fronteras yesterday, its upon my blog at www.offexploring.com/tom-janes along with some photos of the day as well.Free Wood DayOn 23rd September 2010, Pisco Sin Fronteras helped a massive 95 families by giving away free wood donated to the organisation by the steel company Aceros Arequipa. The wood given away was wood unsuitable for making modular houses and furniture with, as they were too short, had too many cracks in them or were not the right shape. All in all nearly one thousand pieces of wood, collected from Aceros Arequipa the previous day and also from a reorganisation of the PSF wood yard, were given away in just two short hours. This...
Vision & Mission
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Cecilia Montesdeoca
September 18, 2010
Here at PSF we are always having breakout groups for anything in which we want to move forward on but want a collective opinion about. This week Bryan organized a breakout session after dinner to brainstorm about ideas for PSF’s vision and mission. After being announced at several morning meetings, the breakout session took place with great success. At seven o’clock Thursday night about twenty-five volunteers made their way to the communal area and instantly you could feel the energy in the room. Before we broke off into groups Bryan explained the difference between vision and mission. Vision is what we want the final result of PSF to be. It’s the goal that all of our projects should be working towards, and also be in sync with the values and goals...
Site Assessments: meeting the family and community
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Cecilia Montesdeoca
September 04, 2010
At the end of May 2010 I began volunteering with PSF. I was planning on only staying for four to five days…I stayed for six weeks. The experience was life changing. And if you were to ask any volunteer for one piece of advice before beginning, they’ll say, “Plan on staying longer.” After about a month of traveling around Brazil, I once again find myself in good ol’ Pisco. This place is simply magical. Even though the number of volunteers is about half from when I left dropping from 110 to 40, everyone that is here now has just as much energy and passion to help out and give it their all.I’ve been back at PSF for about a week now, and am enjoying feeling this sense of happiness and...
Extreme Home Make Over Pisco
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Lisa Bradford
June 26, 2010
I don’t normally write blogs or anything like this because I have never been very good at it, but since I have been at PSF I have been doing a lot of things that I didn’t think I would ever be able to do, so I thought why not try this as well.I spent three weeks at PSF and worked on two different projects. The first was a multi functional sports field fundraised by 3 volunteers, named Super Fun Town. I spent a week and a half working on this project, which 15-20 volunteers went out a day to pour the 50 concrete slabs necessary to make the field big enough to be a football/basketball/ volleyball court. The community that we were building it for showed us awesome hospitality, feeding...
First month in Peru with Pisco Sin Fronteras
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Michael Blankenship
June 25, 2010
It was a good moment, watching Delia turn around the corner to see her new house for the first time. And it was hard not to just define the last four weeks of volunteer work in Peru in that moment alone. Honestly though, the weeks have been full of projects--there's so much to do in a place like this that it's difficult to even stop and take a breather. And yet, this weekend will be my first vacation since I've been here. I'm going to Huacachina, a nearby oasis. (Fortunately some kind person has loaned me the money to go.)I'm not sure what I'll find there but the others have been there before and there's a lot of excitement in the air. Time will tell.Thinking about coming to Peru I imagined...
Extreme Makeover Home Edition: Pisco plus more
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Tom Janes
June 25, 2010
Hey there Omprakash folks, this is a blog that I put up on my site www.offexploring.com/tom-janes, just wantedto share this with you guys so that you can see what a great job we are doing here at Pisco Sin Fronteras. I have had a truly excellent past few days, can't wait to tell you all about it!Just Another Manic Monday!So I did my last blog on Monday evening, shortly after which I remembered that I had arranged to go round to Michael's house for dinner. This had been postponed on Saturday, so we were a little reluctant to go in case we weren't completely welcome. After ringing him up we decided to go because his wife had already prepared food and it now seemed rude not to. He picked us...
Work and fun at PSF
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Tom Janes
June 18, 2010
Buenas dias!!! That's Spanish for 'ow do! Welcome to part four of my blog about my work and times at Pisco sin Fronteras. It has been an interesting start to the week, been on four different projects in four days and was today put in charge of my second project which I will tell you all about!Return to SFTWith my first project as leader completed and still feeling a little worse for wear after Huacachina, I set off for an easy day at Super Fun Town, which regular readers of my blog will know is a multi-sports facility (or a big slab of concrete you may say!) that we're building for the poorer district of Tupac Amaru. On the truck ride over Joe, the truck driver, thought it would be...
Working on Jesus House (My Blog Entry)
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Elizabeth Murillo
June 09, 2010 | 1 comment
My First Week: (June 6, 2010)I was given the privilege to lead in the project that began construction the very first week I began with PSF (Pisco Sin Fronteras). Jesus is a 67-year-old man that was attempting to build his own house. He was given all the materials to construct his home from the government, but did not have the means or money to hire anyone to help him with the labor. Jesus and his wife are currently living in a series of huts made of pieces of bamboo woven together. (Mind you, the earthquake hit Peru well over 3 years ago and they still live in these conditions).The foundation for Jesus new house was solid, (hint, hint: Luke 6:46-49 – Blog post from May 25th) so we began digging...
Peru 2010 Blog (Day 7 - Day 9)
Pisco Sin Fronteras, by Alex Rodrigues
June 07, 2010
Day 8 - June 1stToday was going to be our first day in Pisco. On August, 15 2007, Pisco was hit with an 8.4 earthquake that devastated the city damaging 80% of the buildings in the city. The partner we were visiting here was Pisco Sin Fronteras (PSF). PSF is a very large volunteer organization that has been aiding in the reconstruction of Pisco for the past couple years. This organization was a continuation of ¨Burners Without Borders,¨ an organization that brought relief to Pisco in the wake of the earthquake in ´07.I was anxious to see the city and PSF to assess the current situation in Pisco. As we drove through the city in our bus from Pisco, I realized that there was still a lot of work to...