“Quito forced me to step out of my comfort zone and try new things on a daily basis. Whether it was adapting to the schedule at the center or zip-lining over the rain-forest, I was compelled to live outside of my normal world in the United States. The trip was an exhilarating experience of a lifetime that I would never trade for anything.”

The center provides care and meals for 40 – 70 children, ages two to 12, who need attention; their families are missing fathers, or struggling with alcohol and drug problems, or suffering from disabilities. Many single moms drop off their kids while they cobble together work – selling food on the streets, cleaning. The center is jumping with life, but existing on a shoestring.

So many of our volunteers who travel to Chile come back and rave about their experience; we thought we should let you see how much United Planet’s Chilean Country Coordinator, Paul, raves about the volunteers.

The University of Idaho recently sent a group of 13 students and two professors to build houses in Chile. The decision was a response to Chile’s devastating 8.8 earthquake in February 2010, the fifth strongest in recorded history, which had left thousands of Chileans homeless.

As we reported before, United Planet just donated some money to the Aldea Infantil in Cusco, Peru so they could buy materials to renovate and repair kitchens and living areas. They’ve been nice enough to send some photos of the work in progress. Fun stuff…