Henry

United Kingdom
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
Description
Hello! I'm Henry and I've been travelling in South America since May 2023. I love experiencing new cultures and ideas by meeting people. I'm easy-going and a team player, but a hard worker too.

I'm looking for volunteering opportunities in schools and hostels. I have a strong academic background and science teaching experience through volunteering in UK schools. I'm also not afraid to get stuck into cleaning and maintenance: I used to work in housekeeping.

I used to be a research scientist, and I have a PhD in biochemistry. Most recently, I worked as a science communicator at Cancer Research UK, explaining science to people of all backgrounds and ages through writing and public speaking. I'm applying to retrain as a chemistry school teacher in September 2024.

My two great passions are the natural world and creative writing. I've recently had a few short stories published, and I'm working on a novel. I'd love to meet other creatives through volunteering.
Interests
Culture
Books
Charity work
Cooking & food
Events & social
Dancing
History
Hiking
Gardening
Politics / Social justice
Nature
Languages
Music
Movies & TV
Photography
Self development
Vegetarian or vegan
Writing
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
More details about my language interests
I'm interested in improving my Spanish and teaching English.
Find a language buddy
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Art Projects
Eco Projects
DIY and building projects
Babysitting and creative play
Some knowledge of:
Charity Work
Languages
Teaching
Gardening
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Helping around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
General Maintenance
Able to teach about:
Helping with Computers/ Internet
More details about your skills
PhD in biochemistry, with a focus on microbiology.
Fluent in English.
Intermediate Spanish.
Teaching.
Housekeeping and cleaning.
Bar volunteering.
Photography.
Writing.
SEO.
Decent cook.
Age
30
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements
  Ideally vegetarian

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27 Nov 2023

Left by Workawayer (Henry) for host (Volunteering at School and ...)

I was nervous about making this my first Workaway, but I had an excellent experience and really recommend it.

The host family were welcoming and attentive to my needs. Thank you, Julio, Luz, and Karina! I enjoyed talking with them and learning about Peruvian culture, and they were very interested in my life too. Gladis, the cook, made lots of… read more traditional Peruvian food which was tasty and filling, and adapted the dishes to my vegetarian diet. I stayed in a dorm with two bunk beds (four beds in total) and an ensuite. I was alone, but there could be other volunteers with you. It wasn't fancy, but it was comfortable and the WiFi was good for streaming etc. I always got a good night's sleep, and could enjoy some privacy if I wanted to.

It was an immersive experience—I only spoke Spanish with everyone except Julio, who speaks very good English. They've had guests who don't speak any Spanish before, so don't let that put you off! I've only ever taught myself on Duolingo and got by fine. My Spanish improved a lot—especially my confidence in speaking.

The kids at the school are lovely and made me smile and laugh a lot. I mainly worked as a teaching assistant in a class of ~20 5-6 year olds. Everything was in Spanish, but kids are surprisingly patient if you can't understand them. I was able to help pupils with their maths, language, and art work. You do have to figure things out yourself a bit, but as long as you're warm with the kids and make yourself available to help the teacher, you'll be fine. I really felt I made a difference—by helping the pupils who struggled more or were disruptive, I allowed Miss Idelia to focus on the other pupils or on other tasks. I learned from Karina that many of the pupils have extremely challenging home situations, which makes how sweet they are truly incredible. Sometimes there were behavioural issues, but the teacher was always on hand to deal with them. I also helped in older pupils' English classes from time to time, which was fun.

I paid 50 USD per week. This covered accomodation and three meals a day Mon-Fri. You have to leave on Saturday morning and you can return from 7pm on Sunday. This wasn't a problem for me as I wanted to spend my weekends in the more touristy parts of Lima. I thought the price was fair.

Overall, I highly recommend working here. Thanks again Julio, and all the best for the future! Stay in touch.

(Excellent )

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