Volunteer Stories  |  Phillipa

"Arco Iris" or "The Rainbow Centre", I’ve never have I known a more fitting name for a school. Everything about it welcomes you and challenges you not to be happy within it’s confines. The school is nestled in the heart of the sacred valley in a small village called Urubamba. Every which way you look the mountains hold you in their majestic gaze, there is not a more picturesque setting than this, it is the most tranquil beginning to a working day.

And who can think of a better way to start the day than with a cuddle...here they are given out in abundance. As soon as you step foot in the door there is one or more children waiting to launch themselves into your arms and give you a kiss on the cheek just for being there. It would be easy to forget the reason that this school exists and that is the suffering, abuse, isolation and ridicule that many of the children have endured because they are different. For this is a school for children with disabilities and these range from mild learning difficulties to autism, downs syndrome and cerebral palsy. It is the only school of its kind for some considerable distance and every day there is at least one reminder of exactly why it is needed.

School is a sanctuary for many of these children, a place where they can forget, however briefly any pain and suffering they are subject to at home. With the devotion of the teachers and volunteers and kind donations from the public these children are fed, clothed, cleaned, loved, educated and given vital physical and psychological therapies. They are taught valuable life skills and supported into gainful employment. These are opportunities that, without the school, would simply not be available.

And slowly, attitudes are changing. The children are no longer hidden away but integrated into the community, supported by the proud staff and volunteers whose deep affection and devotion is so obvious in their hard work. These children are an inspiration to us all and while the staff do what they can they need your support to continue to improve the life chances of these kids. They want their rainbow to keep bringing joy and change to the lives of the children in the Sacred Valley and to do that they need your support.