The task before the expedition involved designing a structure for the solar panel, along with the necessary maintenance plan, risk assessment, materials and cost, and project management constraints. The task was group work, which made it easier to delegate tasks and meant we could focus on our areas of
As we embarked on our journey to Lobitos, we braced ourselves for what promised to be a long haul ahead. With four flights on the itinerary, starting from Newcastle to Heathrow, then on to Madrid, Madrid to Lima, followed by a hop to Talara, and finally a bus journey to our destination, it was clear that we were
After the long journey, we were warmly greeted at the EcoSwell hostel and house, instantly feeling a sense of belonging with the volunteers and staff. Our first day kicked off with an engaging introductory talk, setting the tone for our time here. Covering everything from the tasks ahead to health and safety
The first task of our EcoSwell journey was no small feat - transporting materials from the EcoSwell house to the site where our work awaited. With a keen eye for efficiency, we swiftly divided our team into two groups, each member strategically placed according to their unique strengths and skills. This thoughtful
Our team's first task was to construct a cookstove oven for a local family. This task required a blend of preparation, teamwork, and hands-on workmanship. We were taught by Cesar (A.K.A the clay master) the correct technique and what steps we needed to follow to create the best cookstove oven.
On the second Sunday of my trip to Lobitos, I decided to seize the opportunity and sign up for the fishing boat trip. Looking back, I'm so grateful I didn't hesitate to join in. The adventure began early in the morning as we gathered at the pier, ready for a day out on the water. Splitting into two groups, we
Both teams had to whip up a presentation about how their project went and what could've gone better to help the other group nail their second project. We split into smaller teams to make sure we covered all the bases and made the presentation look slick. After giving the slides a once-over, we picked
The second project for our team was to install a solar panel for the same family we made the oven for. The first task for this project consisted of digging sand from the other site and mixing with a white powder called bentonite. This was then transported in wheel barrows back to our site and placed in the grounding
On our last day of work, I stepped into the role of team leader. The day began with an introductory talk with the project lead, where we discussed what tasks had to be done and who would be doing which task, taking into consideration peoples strengths and preferences. My main job was to keep everyone
On the last Sunday in Lobitos, the EcoSwell team took us to a beach further down the coast, where there was some amazing caves! As we ventured along the shoreline, we stumbled upon some stunning caves, their incredible formations captivating us with their
Saying goodbye to the EcoSwell team was a mix of emotions, mainly filled with a huge thank you for the amazing experience they had given us. On our last night, a local restaurant hosted us for our goodbye meal. It was nice to get to talk to the EcoSwell team out of working times, as well as celebrate the end
After the volunteering trip, we had a week free to ourselves to travel round the areas of Peru we wanted to. Me and my friends decided on going to Cusco and staying there for the week, which meant flying from Talara to Lima, then from Lima to Cusco. The first day in Cusco, we left to acclimatise, and to have
