Community Involvement
Ludoteca Child Care Center
PSF sustains a local childrens daycare centre by providing the salary for an amazing local lady Vitalina. Additionally, we send volunteers daily to help out and play with the kids. Many of our volunteers describe working in the Ludoteca centres as a great experience for themselves as well as for the kids. The volunteers practice Spanish, while helping kids learn English phrases, play games, draw, paint and enjoy the fussball table with the local children of Alameda. This a great service for the community as this child care centre allows parents to work while knowing their children will be looked after in a fun, stimulating and safe environment
Intercambio Spanish and English Classes
We have an urgent need for English teachers at PSF. We have an increasing demand for classes and unfortunately some of our stalwart volunteers have moved on. Ideally, interested people would be TEFL, CELTA, etc. certified and experienced but enthusiasm and commitment to a long stay are at least as important. Teaching experience in any discipline would also be helpful.
Every Saturday morning we open up the volunteer house for an “intercambio,” or language exchange. This is an opportunity for people from the local community to come along and learn English skills while interacting with the volunteers and sharing cultures. It is a great way for the volunteers to get to know the community and for the community to get to know us. Our intercambio sessions are growing increasingly popular. When we first began in May 2024, we had four Peruvians in attendance. These days, forty or so people are likely to show up for a Saturday session. Because of this increase in interest, we will be expanding by separating the children's sessions from the adults. This will allow more interaction with the adults and an even greater growth capacity.
The popularity of our intercambio classes has also allowed us to branch out into the community with further English teaching programs. We now have regular English classes going on in three different venues around town including a local school, a Ludoteca (see above) and local Fishermen’s Center.
The Fishermen’s Center
In
2008 Burners Without Borders started working with an Association of local
free-diving fishermen the ‘Lobos de Mar’ to prepare an Information Centre in
San Andrés, a small fishing town 5 minutes away from Pisco. PSF helped
establish the center as a community space to teach classes and hold meetings
and events. Members of the Association have ideas for other projects they
would like to start to educate fishermen and the community about responsible
fishing and reducing local sea contamination.
School Murals
Education is the key to a child's
success in Pisco. We are helping to make schools a brighter, more interesting
and more colorful place for kids to study by painting fantastic murals!
Computing Classes
For many people in Pisco,
computers are not regularly accessible, so these basic computing classes offer
a new, valuable skill and allow them access information, culture and knowledge.
Our resident IT guy, Kevin, pioneered this project to assist in educating local people with basic computing skills, classes are held at The Fishermen’s Center (see above) every week.
Our resident IT guy, Kevin, pioneered this project to assist in educating local people with basic computing skills, classes are held at The Fishermen’s Center (see above) every week.
