AHS graduate helps indigents

PAID IN SMILES-After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Agoura Hills resident Brad Altman spent six months as a volunteer for Peru's Challenge, working with children and helping to rebuild a broken-down school. Altman used The Acorn to help teach English to his students. For Brad Altman, a 2001 graduate of Agoura High School, a smile is worth more than a dollar.

Altman volunteered his time and services for the past six months to Peru's Challenge, an org a n i z a t i o n dedicated to i m p r o v i n g c h i l d h o o d e d u c a t i o n , health and hygiene in indigenous mountain villages.

"It feels great putting smiles on the faces of kids who, in our standards, have such difficult lives," said Altman.

In September 2005, Altman began volunteering at schools in the Peruvian communities of Yutto and Pumamarca. In Pumamarca, he divided his time between working with children in lower grades and helping to reconstruct the dilapidated school. Altman taught English, art and physical education to children from ages 12 and 17 in Yutto.

"The school in Pumamarca was desperately in need of a new roof, new windows, new desks and chairs, a new bathroom and a new coat of paint," said Altman.

Although encouraged by his parents to pursue a paid job after college, Altman decided to dedicate a year of his life to volunteer work following his senior year at the University of Wisconsin.

"I figured that I had the resof my life to work, and that 10 years from now, the money thaI could make working for one year would probably not make too much of a difference, buthat the volunteer work I could do and the experience I would have in Peru probably would make a difference," said AltmanAltman learned about international volunteer opportunities through Internet searches and informative meetings sponsored by his university. Since he had some knowledge of Spanish, he decided to focus on Latin America.

"After months of looking at different options, Peru's Challenge seemed to be the best place for me," said Altman. "I chose it because I liked the idea of working in rural areas but also living somewhat near a main city."

The trip, which was originally only supposed to be an eight-week stay, turned into a six-month experience. The president and vice president were so pleased with Altman's work that they offered him a three-month post as a project manager while they were away on business. As a project manager, Altman started a summer school/camp in Pumamarca for 100 children between the ages of 3 and 14.

During his stay in Peru, Altman lived in Larapa, a suburb of Cuzco, one of Peru's largest cities. Larapa is a mix of contrasts. While a portion of the landscape is covered with dirt roads and mud houses, other sections of the suburb are dotted with modern homes and apartments, Internet cafes and a private university. The area is a safe and pleasant place to live, according to Altman.

"What really makes Larapa great is that it is so close to Cuzco, which is one of the coolest cities in South America," said Altman. "There are many Inca ruins throughout the city and Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas, is only a four-hour train ride away."

Some of the more troubling aspects of Peru for Altman included the poverty and pollution. According to Altman, poverty could be seen throughout the city while trucks and cars spewed thick clouds of pollutants from their exhaust.

"Sometimes, all you can see on a crowded street in Lima is black smoke from buses and trucks," said Altman.

While Altman was elated with the positive results he has seen from volunteer work, his experience had its disappointments. He was constantly frustrated by the desire to give the children more opportunities but not always being able to do so.

"Time is another cause of frustration," said Altman. "It takes a very long time to see some of the results of our work."

Anyone interested in volunteering overseas should visit www.volunteerabroad.com.

For information on volunteering in Peru, visit the website www.peruschallenge.com.