VISIONS: Peru High School Service Program

I could not have asked for a better summer in Peru. The trip was life changing such that it exposed me to meaningful service and introduced me to new ways of life. Visions is a great balance between working, exploring, socializing, and stepping outside of one's comfort zone. I could not have asked for a better experience. I strongly recommend Visions to anyone who loves the outdoors and is looking for a down-to-earth experience. Also... the food in Peru is amazing... but warning: guinea pig may or may not be on the menu! It was so fun getting to try out my Spanish.

I had an incredible time spending 2.5 weeks in Peru with VISIONS. Not only did I get to visit ancient ruins(like Machu Picchu and The Pisac Ruins), but I got to hang out with the locals every day! These people are so kind and generous.it was amazing that I was able to get to know them. I got to contribute to their community by building schools and improving their water ways. Without us coming out to help these communities, they wouldn’t be able to get the materials needed to build. Going to a place where the language is primarily Spanish, I got to practice with the locals. It was fun and challenging, but my Spanish did improve. Long days and freezing showers, it was so worth it. Thank you VISIONS for this amazing experience that I will never forget. I hope to do another VISIONS trip next summer.

Visions was an absolutely amazing experience for me! I met the most wonderful people. The immersion into the Peruvian culture was incredible, my world has been opened in so many ways because of it. I think about my 2 week trip every day. I got to travel to various places in Peru, and also help out the small town of Urubamba. The connections Visions has with the community are so deep. I finally felt like my true authentic self. I got the chance to meet people I never would have otherwise. We became quite close and still keep in touch. I always felt safe and the leaders made a great effort to check in with how everyone was feeling. If you are considering doing a program with Visions I highly recommend. I have memories that will last a lifetime

The leaders were super friendly and helpful, they knew what to do in any situation and it got done. The locals were very kind and very patient. The housing while different from what I was used to was a great experience, every bit of the culture became part of our everyday lives. The other kids in my group were the best part, we went from not knowing eachother to becoming very very close. Living and working and playing together for two weeks made us close friends. The activities were pretty amazing, the ruins we went to were beautiful and Nicco knew everything about them. The small workshops we did were very interesting, I took ring making and carpentry. I learned a lot and even got to make my own ring which I still hold dear to me to this day. The connections I made with people on this trip were ones I will not soon forget, where ever I travel from now on I will always be looking for an excuse to stop by and say hi to one of them

I don't even know where to begin. My time with VISIONS in Peru was absolutely incredible. I met the most amazing people and learned so much. I always thought it was cheesy when people said that one small experience changed their life, but just the 2 weeks I was there gave me a whole new perspective and really opened up my world. My experience was so authentic. The Spanish immersion was totally new for me, but everyone was super friendly and understanding. I got to see so many different places in Peru. Like climbing up to Machu Picchu at 4 am to see the sunrise. But what was more important to me was creating connections with the people there. Nico was our bus driver (and so much more), he is the most kind, funny and wonderful person I have met. He knew so much about the ruins we visited, and the people in the community of Urubamba. I really hope I can go back someday. And I really miss all of the friends I made there.

I went to Peru with VISIONS two summers ago, and Dominican Republic last summer. My Peru trip was hands down one of the best experiences of my life. I made so many new friends, saw amazing sights, perfected my Spanish-speaking, and got the chance to immerse in Peruvian culture. The staff on the trip was amazing and our daily activities were very enriching and fun. We worked during the day with local Peruvians, then always had a fun activity in the afternoon. One weekend, we went to Machu Picchu, which is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I wish I could go back and relive this trip....I truly think about it on a regular basis and I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to go. I am still in touch with everyone in the group and we all text on a regular basis. A girl I met on the trip became my best friend and we still visit each other pretty regularly, even though we are 600 miles apart. I would highly recommend going to Peru with VISIONS! -Eliza Trainer

I went with VISIONS down to Peru two years ago, and the experience was better than I ever thought it could have been. The staff was amazing, the community was loving and friendly, and we were able to do some fantastic, community-led service. I highly, highly recommend this program. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to return last year due to other circumstances, but I definitely would have if I was able to.

I am the parent of a boy who spent 2 weeks in Peru with Visions Service Adventures during the summer between 10th and 11th grade. He was young for his grade and only 15 at the time. He is now a confident, worldly tri-lingual 18 year old on a gap year, studying Japanese for 3 months in Tokyo. He will head to college in the Fall, with a wealth of experiences under his belt and the resilience, independence, resourcefulness and wisdom that such experiences help develop in an 18 year old. This Gap year that we carefully prepared with him started last fall with an amazing program in Latin America with Where There Be Dragons : A 3-month rugged experience in Peru and Bolivia. Not every teenager graduating from high school is a good candidate for this kind of experience, but for those who are, it is fabulous. But what really developed this sense of independence, what really triggered maturing and self-reliance and confidence, and a curiosity for the world can be traced back to that summer between 10th and 11th grade and his experience in Peru with Visions. He was very hesitant and apprehensive to leave home and go abroad without his family, be with strangers and work at projects he didn't know much about. This initial step outside his comfort zone was an eye opener and even more - a life opener - for him. As parents, our comfort zone was seriously expanded too but Visions' staff, experience and reputation were very reassuring and we knew he was in good hand. He came back from his 2 weeks in Peru with Visions with a new found confidence. Confidence in his ability to be his own person and resist bad influences or temptation (the zero tolerance policies on alcohol are very much enforced and there will always be kids who try and bend the rules. Knowing that you are strong enough to stand your ground to peer pressure is a real confidence builder and so precious in the high school and college years), confidence gained from being given tools and service goals, confidence gained by achieving those goals and being helpful in a community environment, be it the community that welcomed him or the community of the other participants by participating in chores, and finally confidence gained from stepping outside of his comfort zone and prevailing. This, in addition to all the wonderful, fun, new experiences of traveling abroad and being with a caring and trusted organization that really knows teenagers, is really what made it the first and most important step in who he is now. And as parents, we couldn't be prouder, and more grateful to organizations such as Visions.