It was Destiny

Neel Gupta, 27, USA

​My name is Neel Gupta. I recently left my job to do some soul searching. I was initially intrigued by Perú given its vast culture, various microclimates and wonderful trekking. To be honest, I was completely unfamiliar with Seeds of Hope until about a month and a half into the travels: I felt incomplete and needed some purpose besides taking in experience after another like the classic traveller. A quick google search and 48 grateful hours later I was in Huaraz being introduced to the other volunteers - it was destiny.

​"I felt incomplete and needed some purpose besides taking in experience after another like the classic traveller."

​From tutoring jobs to camp counseling, I’ve always enjoyed helping and being around kids. Upon arriving at ‘Seeds’, the initial thing I noticed was the kid’s genuine desire to be here. It did not seem like a chore for them to be present; it was evident they admired and respected the community as a special place which they previously may not have had access to. Initially, it was a bit difficult to be ‘fully accepted’ by the kids given my basic Spanish skills - google translate only goes so far while also removing me from the essence of human connection. Fortunately, the children are very forgiving; they assist me with my Spanish as much as I help them with their English - both sides are very eager to learn and assist. After some practice and getting to know the strong personalities, I realized that verbal language is only one method of communication - I could converse with the kids by simply being a kid, again! Although it is quite embarrassing when I revisit geometric theories to understand the homework of the older kids, it is a special moment when the younger kids are in complete awe when I simply outline an image for them to color in. 

It’s unfortunate that as soon as I began to settle in (3 weeks), it was time to depart. Seeds now holds a special place in my heart. I’m thrilled to stay in contact with the kids to watch and help them prosper. I will miss them dearly but will undoubtedly be back soon.