Below my leaving speech for Pisco Sin Fronteras. It's a take on the Harper's Index -- my stay here, by the numbers. Thanks for all the support from home and to todo me Voluntarios, thanks for everything we shared here.*

North's PSF by the Numbers

Number of days I've spent at PSF: 148

Approximate number of times I've heard the phrase "Good Morning PSF!" : 105

Approximate consecutive number of work days I ate scrambled eggs for breakfast: 75

Approximate consecutive number of work days I have been unwilling to even look at scrambled eggs during breakfast: 30

Number of times my meal would have been complimentary if I weren't in Peru, low estimate: 25 

Minimum number of times I've identified myself as a "Monster": 300

Number of times said Monster has helped buy, slaughter, pluck and deep fry a Turkey: 1

Number of times I've had brownies, really good dark chocolate, or indian curries while in Pisco: 6, and they were glorious

Number of times I've used the turning signals while driving the truck: 0

Number of times I was nearly in a head-in collision while driving the truck, low estimate: 70

Number of times I was nearly in a head-in collision while driving the truck before I stopped being terrified, low estimate: 15 

Number of times I talked to a PSF truck drivers who terrified me by not knowing what to do in a near head-on collision before I wrote a truck manual: 2

Number of manuals I have written or helped write at PSF: 6

Number of times I've quietly bragged about how cool I think it is that I've helped write 6 manuals while at PSF, low estimate: 45

Number of times the volunteer I've bragged to who shared my enthusiasm for continuity management: 3

Number of posters I've made while at PSF: 26

Number of said posters that refer to vomiting, sh*tting, or about rehydrating after vomiting or the sh*ts, designed to be read while the reader was in the act of pissing or sh*tting: 15

Number of posters made at PSF teasing me about my love for making posters: 1, and I pissed myself while reading it

Minimum number of times I've talked with co-workers about my bowel movements, as a low-estimate: 300

Approximate number of new volunteers I've disgusted while explaining the meaning of "fecal-oral": 155

Number of times I've enjoyed it: 155

Number of naked handstands in front of all the volunteers, Para Los Ninos: 1

Amount Laura paid to see it, in soles: 100

Minimum number of times I wished I had asked for more: 12

Minimum number of times I've listened to nationalistic arguments over which country uses the proper pronunciation of tomato, aluminum, and pasta, or something similar: 50

Number of times until said arguments became old: 2

Minimum number of times I've listed the three countries in the entire world that still use the Imperial measurement system are the United States, Liberia and Burma: 25, including this one

Number of really good showers I've had while in Peru: 3, and they were all glorious

Number of times I've been electrocuted while in the shower, low estimate: 12

Minimum number of times I heard TBC say that there is to be no sex in the dorms or communal areas: 35

Number of times I've had sex in the dorms or the communal areas: 2, and they were both glorious 

Number of times if you include my room or the schoolhouse roof: Uh… nevermind. 

Number of volunteers I've seen go through PSF: 305

Number of times I met someone who had the desire and follow-through to actually improve the world: 303

Number of volunteers who I thought just didn't get it: 2 (don't worry, they're long gone now). 

Number of new friends on Facebook: 162

Minimum number of times I've come back from Hucachina or Paracas with a sunburn, a hangover, a smile and enough sand in my stuff to make a small dune: 12

Number of times in the five months before I came to PSF when I felt like I made a little victory: 14

Number of times in the five months during PSF I felt like I made a little victory, low estimate: 300

Priority of taking that little victories lesson with me when I leave here: 1

Number of my best days in Pisco when I appreciated how lucky I am to have what I have, as a percent: 100

Number of my best days in Pisco when I appreciated how lucky I am to have a chance to be part of this crazy experiment, as a percent: 100

Number of things I think PSF volunteers can accomplish when we leave this place and spread our capability and enthusiasm across the world, low estimate: Thousands and thousands


*North has been the PSF Volunteer Coordinator for the past 5 months.

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 more and more of the other volunteers, all friendly and welcoming, but with an increasing number of guys appearing in Lycra leggings and dresses as the party was getting started. It was an excellent first night. People having fun and letting their hair down while raising $500 so that we could do more hard work in the community to help the locals rebuild their lives. A great start to my time at PSF, but little did I know this was pretty much going to be life for the following two months: there is always something going on here.

So, after a very warm welcome it was time to start work. The project that I chose was based in El Molino, a shanty town that sprung up on some land as people fled their old homes after the earthquake. PSF has worked on a number of projects there: building modular homes (simple but secure wooden houses) for some of the more poorer families, making a playground for local children and even just helping someone put up a barrier to secure their home. Now the local government has decided to give the people in El Molino the rights to the land and has sent in some planners to mark out official boundaries and roads. This is great news for the people, but at the same time it means that many houses and buildings have had to be relocated, including a medical centre, which I volunteered to help with.

I’ve been working on this project on and off for a few weeks now and it’s pretty much finished! The first stage was to pour a concrete floor, then re-erect the building (a simple structure made from wooden panels), and to then put the roof back on. I have to say after spending most of my adult life studying and working in biological sciences, I wasn’t quite sure how I’d find the work at PSF, but the project leaders and the other volunteers have all been great. They’re really helpful and always have the time to show you how to use the tools and the maestros are always open to a discussion on the finer points of concrete mixing.

Working on site has also been a great way to meet the locals and see how they live and even take part in the local culture. Just before Christmas PSF helped to organise a children's Christmas party in a very poor neighbourhood. Father Christmas was there to give presents to the children and there was lots of dancing and typical snacks of hot chocolate and panettone. I think this was definitely one of the highlights of my time at PSF - to see some of the reactions of the children when they opened their presents (for many children the only one they would receive), and to spend time with the few who stayed, wanting to play right until the very end of the evening.

So, the work here has definitely been rewarding, and the feedback from the locals that I've worked with or that have stopped to talk to me while I’m walking down the street has been really positive and encouraging. But for me, one of the most valuable things about PSF that makes this place really special, is the volunteer community and how it’s organised, or more importantly how it organises itself! You can spend all day digging at rock solid ground, it's really hard work but you know that it’s going to make a difference so you want to do it and do it well, but to then get home and find out that someone has organised a football game, a camping trip for the weekend or a tour of the local steelworks where we collect our wood from (highly recommend it) or even baked brownies for everyone really contributes to the spirit of this place, which we then take with us out into the communities when we’re working. Oh, and it doesn’t stop there. If like most people you’re not a fan of doing the dishes at the end of a long day, then never fear because this is the home of dishco: the PSF approach to a necessary household chore. While you’re cleaning the pots and pans from the evening meal, have a disco!

I could go on and on about the wonderful time I’ve had here and all the work that's been done by the volunteers in even this short time and all of the help that is still needed, but I think the best way to really understand PSF and what it’s like to live and work here is to come and see it for yourself. Seriously, I couldn’t believe some of things that I did just in my first two weeks here. One of the beautiful things about this place is that no two days are ever the same, the volunteers come and go and new projects are started every week, but the excellent PSF vibe that so many previous volunteers rave about is still here!

I have to admit It’s actually been really nice writing this blog entry. I was a bit reluctant to at first as I’m in bed with a dodgy stomach and not in the best of moods, but hey, it’s all part of the experience and it’s been really nice to reflect upon my time here, especially as I thought my eight weeks here were almost up, but looking at the date I’ve only just realised that two excellent months here have actually already passed, and are very likely going to turn into three......

I've never experienced anything quite like Pisco Sin Fronteras (PSF) before. 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 - a family of friends from all over the world. 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 power tools.

I think my favourite project so far has been 'Victor's House'. Victor and his family (wife and 3 children) have really touched my heart and made me realise what a difference we can make to the lives of others who our less fortunate than ourselves. His family are beautiful characters who have been struggling to make end's meet since the earthquake. 

When the earthquake hit Pisco in 2024, Victor's house crumbled. All that was left was their front room, with only three walls and a roof. Victor and his family slept in a tent for a year, until a modular home was provided for them by the government.

In October 2024, Victor came to PSF in need of some help. His mother was very ill in hospital and he had been advised that she should be at home with the family so that they could look after her. Victor had no room in his house for his mother to live and the living conditions were still very poor, with a dirt floor and a field next door for a toilet.

Pisco Sin Fronteras assessed Victor's situation and decided that they could fund this project with the Miracle Fund and other donations from volunteers. Victor and his family were told that their project had been approved on Christmas Eve.

When I started at the project a concrete floor had already been poured outside of and leading into the remains of the original house. We moved the modular home onto the concrete. Windows and doors were built to adapt to the new home. Some volunteers who had previously been working on Victor's house also donated some money towards the project, which meant that a toilet block in the yard could be made, consisting of a toilet, sink and shower. Apparently all the neighbours were queueing up to try out the shower as soon as it had been fitted! Finally a new fence was built surrounding the yard to help protect their new home.

Victor and his family were so grateful for the work we had done on their home. Everyday, Victor's wife, Pilar cooked us lunch and their son, Martine, was always eager to help us with our work. When their home was complete, Victor and his wife invited all the volunteers who'd been involved in the project to their house for some drinks and food to celebrate their new home and to thank us for our hard work.

I don't think I've ever met such an honest, hardworking and loving family. It's inspiring to know that this family are finally living in a proper house after years of struggle since the earthquake. Victor and his family will never forget PSF and the volunteers who worked on this project will never forget them.

This family was just one of many who have been helped by PSF and there are many more that will be helped in the near future. But hard work aside, there is plenty of fun that goes on within PSF, especially at the weekends! There's always something fun planned so that we can all celebrate a hard week's work and chill out with a few beers.

Every other weekend a beach camping trip to Paracas is organised. Last time we caught mussels and crabs and cooked them on the beach. I held a starfish for the first time. Party in the evening! One weekend we went to Huacachina, an oasis in the middle of a dessert. People went sandboarding and hiking dunes. It was a good chance to get out of Pisco for a while and lay next to a pool in the sunshine.

Last Saturday was Pisco Sour Day, a festival to celebrate Pisco's favourite drink (a concoction of Pisco, lemon, sugar, raw egg and angostura bitters) and Pisco Sin Fronteras was awarded the 'Key to the City' during a ceremony in the main square of Pisco. Hundreds of locals came to watch and there was plenty of free Pisco Sour for all! This was followed by a parade around the square with little girls in pretty dresses and some live Peruvian music.

Pisco Sin Fronteras is, beyond doubt, a fantastic organisation. There is so much commitment and enthusiasm from the volunteers and there is some incredible work being produced here. The city is still in need of a lot of repair and there are still plenty of families who need help but as long as the volunteers keep coming and donations keep projects funded PSF can continue to create miracles.

I have two weeks left here and I'm going to make the most of every minute. This is definately a chapter of my life that will not be forgotten.