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This letter from Sorcha Pollak, an 18 year old member of our congregation who left Dublin after her Leaving Cert. exams last summer to spend a year working as a volunteer in an orphanage in Iquitos in the Peruvian Amazon region. To put pen to paper in order to describe this year is a difficult task as I honestly don't know if I have the words to portray the experience I'm going through. I am 18 years old, I’m on a gap year in Peru and to be honest I’m having the most amazing, exciting and fascinating year of my life. I still remember remarkably clearly that last service I went to in the church a few days before I left for Peru and to tell you the truth I had absolutely no idea what was in store for me. When I came across the Scottish gap year organisation 'Project Trust' it seemed like the perfect option; to take a year out before university but also to do something worthwhile in the process. Because not only has this year been about travelling to beautiful and exotic places, it has also been about learning a huge amount about myself and the real world in which we live. I have been fortunate enough to have had a loving, rather sheltered up-bringing in a recently prosperous country so it only seems right that after all that luck I've had, I should give something back. And working with my beautiful kids in the 'Aldea Infantil Santa Monica' in Iquitos couldn't be more perfect. You can't even begin to imagine how wonderful these children are. This place where I work isn't so much an orphanage as a ‘passing over’ house where kids spend a few years. There are orphans who have lost parents but they tend to be the toddlers and babies. As for the older kids, they've had the unfortunate experience of coming from households with domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse and parents in prison. To put it in simple terms they've had pretty messed up lives. But when you look at their glowing, happy faces you wouldn't think for a second that these children have ever gone through tough patches. They are the face of optimism, and despite their extremely limited opportunities they see the world as a bright and positive place. And I am lucky enough to be able to enjoy the pleasure of working with these angels. Of course it isn't all fun and games and there are always days now and again when the kids misbehave or I'm not feeling physically in great health, but to be perfectly honest the good always out weighs the bad in this gap year experience. Living in a society so hugely different to anything I had previously experienced has been life changing in more ways than I can imagine. And becoming the older sister / mentor / teacher of children aged up to 14 has changed my outlook on life a lot. And it is for this reason that I feel it only right for me to encourage other young people to do the same thing. I don't mean exactly the same experience; I'm referring more to the whole 'follow your dreams' line. I have discovered that I can follow my dreams and at the same time benefit others as well. Teaching the kids of 'Aldea Infantil Santa Monica' English, music, dancing, and art has opened my eyes to so many things and also taught me life-long lessons. One of the most important things I have realised, and I must not forget this on my return to our small yet rich country, is that we are part of a small minority on this globe who really do have the world at their finger-tips. And it is for this reason that we should get out there and try to make a small yet significant difference. For I know that at the end of the day my presence in these children’s lives won't change their lives completely. I do know how valuable support and love is for children and I like to think that when they're older they'll be able to look back on their time spent with me and maybe, just maybe, a wee smile will creep across their faces. On a final note I want to thank the whole congregation for their support, postcards, e-mails and kind words throughout this year. It has meant a huge amount to me, and don't worry, I'll be sure to share all my tales with you face to face on my return in August. All my love Sorcha |