Peace Villages Foundation - Aldeas de Paz

Testimonials 2005 until 2007

Diane Grills, Harrison Ct Virginia Beach, VA,
What I will remember most about Peace Villages and my weeks here is awe. I am totally awed by the beauty, life and vitality surrounding this place and the `people who have infused this organization with passion. I have learned to listen in silence as we watch the sunset. To be utterly inspired by such brief contact with strangers who have become dear friends. I leave here stronger and more impassioned than ever. Thank you for this experience. Much love! Diane Grills

Valeria Harris, Staffordshire, Williamsburg, VA,
“Oh my god. It is so beautiful. You will love it." That pretty much sums up my time with Peace Villages. It is an opportunity unlike any other I have had in my 21 years of living; though my six-and-something were not without adversity, I don’t believe that the highs in life are completely enjoyed without the lows. It was an incredible experience, and I fell changed (hopefully for the better) because of it. A few people I’d like to thank in particular…. Manfred - you are one of the most unusual, challenging, and fascinating people I have ever met or worked for. I’ve enjoyed our talks about love, life, and humanity in general.  Jessie - You are incredibly strong, tactful, hysterical, articulate, loving, and drop dead gorgeous to boot. Don’t ever let anyone make you think otherwise. Jorge - you have a beautiful soul. Every step you take is overflowing with the love you have for life. You never fail to make me smile and laugh. I am going to miss you heaps and I love you bunches. We are, as you say, riding the same wave. To all the others who I haven’t mentioned specifically - I feel blessed to have met you all and no matter how brief out time spent together, you have all touched me in some way. Peace. Valeria Z Harris

Daniel Alexander Hengel, Gypsy, Carmel NY,
Thank you for a home in which peace and serenity are intrinsic to its being. Daniel

Jared Steinklein, Old Farm. Valhalla, NY 10595, 
Santa Elena de Uairén. I cannot say enough about the people, the character and dynamic, the scenery, the music, the food, the fauna (dogs) and the overall ambience. I traveled here alone and after 24 hours of freezing hell ( bus ride) I approached Roca Cristal and was greeted by Jorgito’s “Jared! Welcome!” This village is truly welcoming and I know that I’d be embraced by the people. I enjoyed meeting people from Europe, Canada and my girls from the sates. They changed everything for me. My expectation of the experience were cloudy at the start – would I be lonely spending 28 days in this remote town…would I genuinely have a good time? Emily, Gloria, Gillian, Margaret, Rachel and Sylvia – they helped make this adventure truly that. I had intended on coming here and reflecting on everything I had done and doing and who I was. These deep question were facilitated by my new lifelong friends – only a few days into knowing them. Perhaps it means I was vulnerable but I’m sure it was the nature of this experience – traveling to the south eastern corner of Venezuela as an American who knows little Spanish in the prime of his young adulthood. I am forever grateful for this experience… thanks to all the staff. I appreciate your efforts.

Emily Marchese, North Wales, PA, United States
“There are places I’ll my life, though some have changed,” okay, I won’t recite the entire song here, but just know that it applies. I came to Sta. Elena two months ago with the intention of “finding myself” – among other things. What I found here was so much more than just myself. I found some of the most amazing people I have ever met, both within this foundation and in the town. I have never met such welcoming, friendly, loving people as the ones who live here. It will be strange and awful to catch a cab at home and not even speak to the cabby, let alone have him give me the cd he was playing because I mentioned I liked a song. To the people within the foundation – you have become some of me best friends in all the world (literally). The dedication and all around good-heartedness that is expressed by every single one of the volunteers here has renewed my faith in humanity. Cheesey I know, but absolutely the truth. Manfred, thank you for sharing your dream – keep up the good work. Jesse, with you by his side I know things will run smoothly. Jorgito – my angel and my devil all in one. You were the first person to make me feel welcome in all of Venezuela, and it was you who kept the smile on my face even when things were awful. I can’t thank you enough for all you have done for me, but more importantly for always sharing your contagious smile and huge heart. I leave Santa Elena with my own heart full of all the love I have received from everyone in my time here – and my wallet absolutely empty. ¡Esta es la vida! Love always!  Emily USA

Nicola Sharp, Vancouver B.C. Canada
Where to start…I have learnt many things working with the Peace Villages Foundation. I will never again complain over a few bug bites, not after having my entire legs covered in them. My concept of time has changed after living here, to be late in Venezuela is to be at least 3 hours behind schedule. Upon my return to Vancouver I will have to reacquaint myself with the Canadian way of life. I will no longer be able to use the excuse “it rained” to not get stuff done. I will miss walking through Santa Elena and hearing a different Regaton hit from every doorway. I will miss the hellos of strangers in the street, and who know I may even come to miss the hollers of mi amor and bonita. I will not miss Blanco, the devil white dog at the hotel Roca Cristal, but little things like that are forgotten as I look back on this trip. Those who I have met I will never forget. Lots of Love, Nicola

Gillian, Bucknell, University, Lewisburg, PA, USA
When I came to Sta. Elena I had these crazy expectations that entailed a lot of manual labor, a lot of solitude/time for reflection, and a 35 year old Swedish room mate named Helga. What I got was a giant rumba mixed with “quality” (said in a British accent) hospital experience and a dash of adventure. Sta. Elena/Gran Sabana is (thus far) the most beautiful I’ve lived – whenever I’ve driven thru the Gran Sabana I really almost do expect dinosaurs to come lumbering from behind a tree. It truly is the lost world. Living in the posada with all my friends and going on adventures with them has probably been the highlight of my trip. I don’t think I’ve ever had so many reaaaally intense experiences in such a short time. In just a few weeks we almost died rafting (well, I almost died twice…damn the body rafting) saw c-sections watched surgeons and went to Angel Falls (I mean Salto Angel.) Seeing the c-section was legit the best experience I had in the hospital and really convinced me that being a doctor was what I want to do with my life…and that kind of epiphany is absolutely priceless. Right now I am in absolute denial that I’m leaving in 3 hours – I don’t thing I can handle leaving Never Neverland and going back to the real world.
To recap some of the highlights-
- rafting followed by kiko-mania (until we actually met him)
- dentists (for you Em – fiesta night was una locura)
- Canaima – only Gloria, Emily, Rachel and Silvia will know the insanity of 4 bottles of rum, hours of trying to do the tripod, making friends with tour guides (awww Hector!) and late night hammock talks. So glad I could share the experience of swimming at the base of Angel Falls with you SOY UNA SOLDADA
- Topazio – dude, we own that place
- Mountain dancing – there’s nothing like dancing like a maniac wearing only a bathing suit and hiking boots on top of a mountain
- Sleepovers – spooning with J-Rod and hanging out till all hours
Guys living here has been good and I’ll be reminiscing while jamming to Reggaton in the real world for a long long time. Ever or bof – courtesy of Matt
(check.v) Paz afuera I’ll miss youuuu!! Gillian

Paul Taaffe, Cottages Harolds, Dublin, Ireland
After a nightmare of a bus journey I was somewhat concerned that volunteering with the PVF was the right decision for us – after all we could have been sunning ourselves on some tropical beach or traveling in luxury to some exotic destination. These thoughts were soon vanquished after a warm welcome form Andrea and after settling into our cosy room we met Jorge – and after a warm welcome and breakfast we began to settle into Santa Elena. Our lasting impression will be of the commitment and hard work of the PVF team and volunteers as they give their time and talents to improve the local communities. Paul Taffe, Ireland

Brian Taaffe, age 10
I did not know what to expect at the peace village the day before we arrived on the overnight but. When I arrived in the guesthouse I had an idea it was going to be fun. The first day Jorge told us what to do the next day. We went to the tucosito and helped with the kids about 5 kids showed up on the first day. Acouple of days later it was very fun because it was the opening of the mobile school the people have been waiting for the mobile school for weeks. One of my favorite part of staying in the guesthouse was the dogs. Carmen, (my favorite) Lucy, Soxes and princess (who was having puppies soon.) I liked when they shook my hand and sat down. Last year in Thailand I have done more volunteering not with people but with elephants. I like volunteering when I go on holidays. I hope I can return to Venezuela and do the Peace Village someday. Brian

Elaine Taaffe, age 12
It was a great experience for me to come to Santa Elena and work as a volunteer in the Peace Village. I will never forget the Tucosito and the final training session of the mobile school. One of my favorite things about the Peace Village was the day we brought the mobile school to the poorest part of Santa Elena. All the children were so happy and amazed to see it so it was always crowded. I will never forget the Peace Village and would like to return some day! Elaine

Emma Rose Feltes, Willard, Toronto, ON, Canada
Well, my dears, it has been an absolute pleasure. I have no idea how to begin to reflect on this experience. I’m coming away so full of inspiration – to travel, to work, to volunteer, to learn Spanish, to sing – and I feel like this is just the beginning. I want to thank Aldeas de Paz for this.
I also want to thank all of the volunteers – mis amigas, you are amazing. At the first training session for the mobile school we had to complete the sentence, “I feel good when….”, and I said, “when I feel a connection with others.” I am so happy I got to be a part of this incredible little community. You will not be forgotten, and all of the hilarious experiences we shared certainly will not either.
I started this summer hoping for a challenge and stepping into a classroom of cute and talented little niños y niñas between the ages of 6 and 11 with the task of teaching them a Mozart lament as certainly one and I hope that the music program can continue and develop in the future.
Well, it’s been a ball, and I know that back in Canada, when someone asks me how my trip to Venezuela was, I can confidently say, “¡SOOO GOOD!” Much love, Emma

Leah Kainer, Richardson, BC, CANADA
I will write this message in Spanish…OR NOT. I never imagined that when I arrived at Peace Village head quarters I would fine myself amongst twenty 20-year old American college students (sorry Girls, ALL girls) I had envisioned only speaking Spanish, hard physical labor all day, bathing in a river, surviving off rice and beans. Nonetheless its been an amazing time. I have never made so many good friends here. (Thank you all for being so friendly and accepting!)
Teaching English was both rewarding and challenging and I hope to do it again in the future. Tucosito was inspiring, and Chirikayen and eye-opener. (No water or light was a challenge!) Thank you so much to Andrea, Manfred, and my darling Jorgito for making my stay so comfortable. I feel so comfortable in St. Elena and very attached. Its hard to leave. I’ll miss you all. XOXO Leah, Canada

Rachel Magnus, Helmsdale Sacramento, CA, United States 
I’m going to keep this very short and sweet, because in all honesty, words cant really express how much I’ve enjoyed living in this little city full of surprises, teaching English classes that seemed to always be cancelled due to rain, and spending time with the amazing, amazing, AMAZING volunteers – my friends and the people of Santa Elena!! Everyday had been a heap of new experiences for me, and I only hope that I can take these new experiences and use them positively in the future.  Okay, I feel like I’m starting to say a shit load of card crap that I hate, so I am going to say what I really want to say: I WILL MISS EVERYONE HERE SO MUCH (you know who you are) Everyone in Santa Elena keeps asking me if I will return someday. Hopefully I will, but one never knows. It can never be the same, amazing time that I’ve had within this last month, and it will always be hard to remember that. I hope everyone will keep in touch (you better), and if you come visit me in D.C, you always have a La Linea Hamaca to sleep in (sorry, no hector included). I love you all, and only know that you will do wonderful things in your futures. I truly believe it!! Love, Rachel

Molly Josephson, Eaglebrook Moorestown, NJ, USA,
Working at the hospital, living in Sta Elena, and getting to know the other volunteers has been an invaluable experience. Over thee past two weeks, I’ve learned a ton – way more that I ever anticipated. Every day was an exciting, new experience at the hospital. I got to learn, see, and do things I never would have been able to do anywhere else. I know that the lessons and memories I’ve gained from living in Sta Elena will really help me later in life, as will my enhanced knowledge of healthcare and the Spanish language. It’s also been fun shopping, walking, dodging the rain, dodging manic taxi drivers, eating Marilu cookies, taking pictures, waiting…and waiting for internet, and swatting puri-puri in the streets of Sta Elena. Thanks to the coordinators and to all the other volunteers for making my stay such an unforgettable one. Molly

Joe Uhler, Barton Hills Dr; Austin, TX,
So, I’m a little stressed right now. Don’t expect much. I didn’t know what to expect when I got here. Jorge and Richard picked me up at the bus terminal early on a Sta. Elena morning. I must have looked a little dazed, and definitely confused because Jorge knew immediately that I was the chump form Texas that he was supposed to pick up. I spent so much time with Jorge that first week after I arrived that people believed we were brothers. I compared our relationship to the one E.T and Elliot shared in the Steven Spielberg masterpiece. When I was hungry, he was hungry. When I was tired, he was tired. When I thought something was satisfactory, or mildly pleasing, Jorge thought it was “SOOO GOOD!” Jorge is the busiest man in Sta. Elena. I am so glad I got to know and live with him. There is never a dull moment when Jorge is involved. Thank you Andrea for putting up with me when I needed the computer and when I was involved in the late night fiestas. Manfredo, I didn’t get to spend as much time with you as I would have liked. You are an amazing man and it was my pleasure to be a part of your beautiful vision. Mobile school girls – I have endless love for all of you. Nelle, you are so understanding. I enjoyed all our talks. Sorry I grossed you out so often. Good luck with the school and your boyfriend. He is a lucky man. Tanya – you are one of the most dynamic, loving people I have ever met. If they let you into the U.S, please come to Austin. You have a place to stay for as long as you can stand me. Francia, my pink bear, me love you so much. Enjoy Sta. Elena. Keep Jorge in line. I’m about to start crying because I’m never going to hear the words, “We are going to the geeirls place.” Girls – you are and more a gift from God during my stay. Each one of you have so much to offer the world. Gloria, I won’t forget your smile. Our walk/stumbles home a week ago was lovely. You have such a great outlook on life. You picked me up just by being honest and positive. Speaking of walks… Emily, how many times did we stumble behind Leah and Emma on our way to/from the discotech. I enjoyed the dancing and drinking, but mostly I enjoyed getting to know you. You understand me when I was drunk. Sorry I dropped you on your ass that night. We laughed together though, similar to our laughing fit after the near-death rafting excursion. I hope we will share more laughs when I visit you in Boston. Margaret. Mi amor. I would write more in Spanish, but that’s all I learned while I was here. You are an amazing woman. Dedicated and brilliant. I will always be your Ho…Seph. Emma you amaze me. Smart, beautiful, funny. She can sing, dance, act, teach…kiss. What can she not do. Emma, you are going to make a huge impact on everyone you come into contact with. I am one of the lucky many. Rachel - you are an incredible dancer. You’re so tranquilo that I never would have expected such moves from a tiny girl like yourself. Thank you for translating during classes – you had no idea you would be teaching two languages. Jill – my beautiful red head your energy was infectious! Try to avoid body rafting…and rafting in general. Emma “dos.”  To all the girls I didn’t get to know as well as I would have liked – I hope you have as good of a time and as many memories as I have and do.
Much love to everyone. Joe Uhler

Alfred Olivas, Miami, Florida, USA
To the amazing staff at the PVF in Santa Elena, Venezuela: Many thanks for all your assistance and execution of our placement. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here with your organization. Santa Elena is a special place, with a lot of charm. I have never seen anything quite like it in ALL my travels throughout this amazing country, or anywhere else in the world. If I hadn’t been away from home so long, I would choose to stay longer. I will definitely return soon with the hopes of starting a small film house and internet café…And I saw the perfect wood beams for the home I will build here. I encourage you to continue will the noble work you are doing. Little by little, such acts and organizations can help in the pursuit of social justice, equality and education.
Andrea – you’re awesome – thanks for your professionalism and organization. Manfred – Permaculture! You will soon lead a cult of many at the grounds… Richard – Gracias Pana – un placer y un abrazo. Cuídate guey! Jorge – pórtate bien y cuida los voluntarios bien – tan bueno y profesional como lo haces. Gracias Amigo. Alfred Olivas (science currículo consult.), Valencia, Venezuela – El Paso, Texas!

Scott Sinclair Liebertz, Centro Valencia, Venezuela
Thanks to Manfred, Andrea and Jorge for the important work you’re doing and for providing the opportunity to join you for a short time. Thanks also to Richard for good conversation and the occasional ride to and from town. It’s reassuring to learn that Peace Villages exists and that so many people want to be a part of it. Best of luck with the new projects – especially the mobile school, which I’m sure will be a great success in Angela’s capable hands. I hope all the new volunteers will be infused with Manfred’s enthusiasm and Jorge’s energy. Scott Liebertz, Valencia, Venezuela and Stanford, CT, USA

Emma Fawcett, Hawk Court Howell, NJ, USA
Well, I’ve really enjoyed my two weeks here in Santa Elena, teaching English and getting to know this crazy little boarder town! The students have been wonderful – friendly, enthusiastic, and eager to learn – and I’ve had a great time teaching classes with the other volunteers. Whenever I hear calle cuga or Juanez on the radio, Santa Elena will come to mind – the fun, interesting mix of Venezuelan and Brazilian cultures makes Santa Elena a great place to Volunteer. I’ll always remember the world cup madness, singing Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes with my students, dumping out my suitcase so that Venezuelan soldiers could inspect my books and underwear (but ignore the prescription drugs!), the thrill of watching students grasp a new concept, sleeping in a hammock at the grounds, and the insane mix of torrential rain and blistering heat. Enjoy your time here while it lasts – your placement will be over before you know it! Emma j Jaurett, New Jersey, USA

Lorraine Gifford, Yardheads,  Edinburgh, SCOTLAND, UK
The reality of getting out of here, packing and writing guestbook and finishing English course to leave behind will fail without some dramatic changes in the laws of space-time continuum. Therefore having already written a contribution for the newsletter, I’m going to use it here too! If you’ve read newsletter no.3 save yourself some time and skip the next 2 pages! To future volunteers, hope you get as many laughs in Santa Elena and I have. To everyone else, keep in touch – there’s always a bed for you when you get to Edinburgh!

“SANTA ELENA: There is always a story”
In the title I quote another volunteer, who always said this with a bit of a laugh, and forced me to do the same, for the difficulties, frustrations, snags, technical hitches, complications and concerns that are life in Santa Elena have a certain tenacity that will either make you bitter, twisted and want to kill or give you enough to laugh at to last your entire life, and a good way through the next several geological epochs. I, as a stoical Scot, don’t really do touchy-feely sentimental drivel: I am not going to dwell on the fantastic work being done and the commitment and drive of those here. I have enjoyed my “time-out in Santa Elena,” but the stories are the best; this REALLY is a frontier town – a diamond in the rough, and it’s HILARIOUS!
Generally speaking, slightly more attractive than the many fat, repulsive guys in town, clearly not strangers to a deep fried Arepa or three, and usually found hissing at you from their pimped-up cars, was the big, black scorpion in the house one Wednesday night. Nick and Matt had just got back from their Roraima trek, and were regaling us with fantastic tales. I walked down the hall to go to the toilet, and noticed a large creature tucked in next to the skirting board, also walking down the hall. Surprised, I commented half to myself, but quite loudly, “Oh my word, what’s that?” turned the light on, and before the others arrived to investigate, I thought I realized what it was and said, “Oh is that really a scorpion? I’ve never seen one of those before.” I thought I’d maintained a certain degree of composure, aware that as the only female in the house, I was definitely going to hold my end up when it came to not screaming hysterically, however I needn’t have worried! Jorge’s profanities arrived on the scene shortly before he did, and here you need to imagine a six-foot something, gangly mass of limbs, being used to great latino, effect accompanied by a torrent of;

“Oh f *&^ k. Dat is being the f *&^% ing beegest scorpion I seen and eet eez so f ^%$ ing black meaning ees so f &^% ing poiseenis. Were eez my shoes?”
“Hang on!,” I said, “I want to take a picture.” “Lorrrr-reine, eef u want a f &^% ing peecture, take fast, hurry, eez f ^%$ ing walking eento my room. Hurry! Hurry! I do not want to f &^% ing die wit scorpions een my room” he said his voice becoming more tense and reaching pitches it probably hadn’t done since he was about eight. To be fair, however, it wasn’t my room the scorpion was walking into! The scorpion seemed rather less potent when it’s form had been thinned considerably and spread into the shape of a man’s size 10 trainer. After removing the now VERY ex-scorpion from the house, phase two of Jorge-panic ensued:
“Eet was being een your f &^% ing bags, coz scorpions eez never being een de house. Ees bery un-úshú-al. You have been f &^% ing bringeeng it back from Roraima. All your bags een de kitchen and we sheck dem now.” It was at this point that Nick decided to get in touch with his latino side and succumbed to hysterics too. Aghast, and in a stream-of-consciousness type sentence composition, said that he’d been putting his hand into the bag for a week and could have been bitten, and how many days was it there for, and what if there were more, and he didn’t want to die in the night with scorpions climbing out of his bag, and could they climb into his bed, and so on and so on. He checked his gear with the methodical thoroughness, precision and attention to detail that would swell the heart of a swiss watch-maker. I’m sure he even checked underneath the cap of his toothpaste!

Teaching in Santa Elena is a far cry from Interactive Smart Boards, laptops in classrooms, and delivering lessons by Microsoft Powerpoint. In fact it’s a far cry from text books, courses and materials, and I found myself actually picking up a stick of ye-olde-worlde white stuff of legends told to me by my granny: I think she called it … chack … chock … ah yes, chalk! When it is sunny the classroom at the back of the library makes the heat generated in the Chernobyl Disaster seem like a heat source suitable only for slightly browning toast. When it rains, the sound is deafening, and the classroom fills with 3cm of water. The lights don’t always work, and here I am not going to say something cheesy about the light in the minds and hearts of the students never being out, because it’s just not true. Aside from a few core students that turn up religiously, the rest have sporadic attendance or arrive an hour late, and seem surprised that you actually started on time. They don’t bring pencils and then often steal yours, to an extent that 9 years of teaching and stealing pencils from students in Scotland has been turned into a personal pencil deficit in less than 8 weeks! I have been proselytised at by a student picking me off like a lion eyeing a gazelle infant astray from the herd, proving that no matter where you go to get away from it all, Jehovah’s Witnesses always get there first!

Now however, that I’m about to leave Santa Elena, what precisely will I miss? I will miss the Do-it-yourself automotive “improvements”: The go-faster stripes that on close inspection are blue masking tape! The idea that one would have a car so lacking parts that it’s really only three quarters of a car, and still think to oneself, “Ahh yes a back window, rear-view mirror and brake lights are a mere bagatelle, and fixing these would merely affirm my imprisonment in a western capitalist & platonic model of the automotive ideal, so first, I’m going to buy a pink, fluorescent light to illuminate my number plate! I will miss watching people repair a road by putting the tar in the pothole, and then dousing in petrol and setting it alight. Admittedly, I wouldn’t consider road-building one of my specialist subjects, but I suspect this is not the orthodox method of road construction. In it’s own way, I will also miss IRUK café; that bastion of dreadful service, inefficiency and rudeness, but it’s the best café latté in the Orinoco Watershed, and has given me a new appreciation for the comparative rapidity of Dial-up Networking!

To finish, I don’t think you can really appreciate traveling, unless you can also appreciate going home. My eight weeks in Santa Elena are over. I still have a month travelling in Venezuela and then it’s back home to Scotland, where among many other things, I’m looking forward to a hot shower!

Laura Morrissey, Rockwood, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
My experience in Santa Elena has definitely been an eye opening experience in many ways. I had never really traveled before and in the blink of an eye was embarking on a journey that required 3 flights and one long ass-numbing bus ride. I have learned so much about the culture here and also learned a lot about myself. I found myself taking chances and doing things that pushed my boundaries and served to be a great learning experience. I also learned about the many differences in our health care systems (Canada vs. Venezuela) – and it makes me very grateful for the system I enjoy. Although communication posed a challenge for me in the hospital I was still able to do quite a lot of patient care. I am very pleased with what I have contributed to the hospital and the individuals I have met along the way. I will always remember this experience for broadening my somewhat narrow scope of the world and providing me with more experience in pursuing my career. I am grateful to all the people who have supported me through this journey – at home and in Santa Elena – who were always there for a hat and a good laugh. Remember…..Anytime is a good time for a chocolate cake! Ciao! Laura Morrissey

Roos Smit, Hoogersstraat, AB, Nijmegen, Holland
Okay, my last 20 minutes in Santa Elena. My short stay here was very intense!! 2 weeks with an huge experience! Went to beautiful waterfalls, played with the children in Tucusito and enjoy the social contacts! That’s the most important. Well and have to write very fast in English and I don’t know how, and all that stuff. Thanks to Jorge! The real man, does take care as a real Dad, brother and amigo! Andrea, you are a very special person and do a great job over there! Manfred also thanks, for everything and my stay in the grounds!  I really like to stay in contact, and want to0 come back, anytimes to feel the energy of nature in the gran Sabana! See you all soon! Lots of Love Xxxx Roos

Matthew Garber, Carr Road Walkley Sheffield, UK
As I write this I’m hung-over (possibly still drunk), very tired and have about 10 minutes before I go to get my bus. Despite these drawbacks, I will have no problem mustering the enthusiasm to describe my experience here in Santa Elena due to the immense regard with which I hold them. I've had an excellent 10 weeks here with PVF, working in Tucosito, The Grounds and the wider community. The huge range of experiences have given me an invaluable insight into so many aspects of volunteer work and much more beyond. These, I’m sure, will be with me for a long time.
I´d like to thank everyone who contributed to my experience: Manfred, Andrea, Angela and Marina, Jose, Kelvin and Jorge. All of your work has been much appreciated. Especial thanks go to Jorge my host pana for keeping entertained for the duration of my stay and tolerating my rather slack cleaning regime. Also thanks to the lovely volunteers past and present…... Anyway, bus time! All the best, lots of love Matthew (Mabeito, Mateo, Matty)

Sandy Lord, Commonwealth, Brighton, MA, USA
The rain is falling hard on this, a Saturday my final day at Peace Villages. Rain is always cathartic for bringing about memories, I’m visualizing the 10,000 things, people, places, concepts ideas that I’ve come to know here. The first that always comes to mind is the feeling of comraderie felt instantly here. Not only amongst the volunteers who I’ve had the fortune to be with (ahem… Anthea, Joe, Jess, Emily, Stefani, David, Erika, Ben, Paul, Felipe, David and Sarah (congratulations!) Catherine, Daniella, Mateito, Natahsa, Lorraine and Mariana – forgive me please if I’ve forgotten anyone!) or with the staff (Andreita! Jorgito! Manfredo!), but most importantly with the community with whom we interact. Principally, they are the kids and staff at Tucusito, the students in the language classes, Jose (y Heluin) up at the foundation grounds working for future generations of volunteers. Working with all of them, some to grater or lesser extents, has been in honesty a privilege. Here, living in a society quite different than my own, I have felt accepted, both in deed and ideal. Though things change slowly, I know that PVF will be there to help foment this because the mission here is simple: promote a culture based on patience, acceptance and kindness and the rest will fall beautifully into place. That being said, we, living in world still dominated by capitalism, must recognize the pragmatic side of running an organization based on these concepts, and that is the importance of fiscal conservatism. Obviously I don’t mean conservative in the modern socio-political sense, but rather the knowledge that all resources, including money, must be well looked after and accounted for in order for sustainability to occur. Y esto es la razon porque necesitamos reconocer a Jorgito, pana mio, as a principle force that will keep this beautiful organization afloat for years to come. Jorge thank you for coming to el culo del mundo and bringing not only love and respect, but dedication to and recognition of the necessity for keeping good books! Graciah, el mio, y noh vemoh pronto, paki o paýa! Y, a la mia, meine dud, Andrea, I’m really going to miss you. Du bist so susse (spelling?) and kind – who else but a true genuine human being waits with you in the hospital for hours and hours, or washes your Roraima dishes (again, SORRY!) or works so hard everyday on PVF emails, etc… And you’re a great conversationalist and a dog-lover to boot! Tu vas me monquer, cherie, mais a bientot! Manfredo, gracias por tu visión y tus ideales. Sabemos todos que esta organización no podría exister sin el fuego de tu fósforo. Gracias por todo, tu torta de chocolate incluida! To everybody else, Richard, Danny, Saidy, Maria, Maria, la gente de Hong Kong, Lucy and Socks and the crazy Brazilian-Columbian lady next door, he sido muy genial, and thanks for just being yourselves. Thanks, everybody, for a beautiful three months, and I hope to see you all soon, here in Santa Elena de Uairen, Boston, or wherever! PAX ET FELICITAS, SEMPER OMNIBUS - Love Sandy

Natasha Drewnicki, Killigrew, Falmouth, Cornwall, England
For everyone involved in Peace Villages, thank you so much for offering such an amazing experience to me. I have had the most wonderful time here and can say I will leave felling total positivity towards your work with those in Santa Elena. Your approach towards the community and the work you have put into Tucusito especially has inspired me; there should be more people like you in the world! My only regret is not having the time to stay longer. Everything about these short two weeks has been so wholesome and enjoyable.
Thank you Andrea, Jorge and Manfred, Richard especially an, and volunteers Sandy and Matt for some great memories. Chao for now! Tasha xxx (Natachita)

Dave Abbott, West Vancouver, BC, Canada
Well...Life in Santa Elena is anything but routine by my standards. I guess that's why the time has flown by. So many unbelievably wonderful and life changing experiences, from tours with Richard, to planting trees at the grounds, to camping, to swimming, to working with the kids at Tucusito, to hanging out with everyone in the kitchen and having a chat and a laugh. Thanks so much to everyone in and around Peace Villages that have made this time unforgettable and wonderful. Somehow in just a month I feel like I have friends in Santa Elena, and not only those involved with the foundation. PVF couldn't have found a better place to set up shop; everyone is friendly (and patient with my crap Spanish), from the doctors at the hospital (both when I was observing and when I was a patient), to the ladies at the lavanderia. Again...thank you to everyone who has made this experience what it was. Volunteers: Sandy, Catherine, Daniella, Phillipe, and Matthew; Staff: Andrea, Jorge, and Manfred; other wonderful people: Richard and so many others I don't know the names of. Keep in touch everyone and drop a line if you're ever on the west coast of Canada. Cheers, Dave Abbott

Sarah Young, West Vancouver, BC Canada V6R 2K3,
Our month here in Santa Elena... it seemed like we had an eternity on the day we arrived, but now that it's over , it seems to have passed in a heartbeat. I've had a great time here on the whole, meeting and getting to know the PVF staff and others volunteers, working with the kids at Tucusito, taking Spanish lessons with Yari, running on the top of the ridge behind the house, camping at Agua caliente, and so much more. While things were a little slow to get rolling on the actual work front, the work i did do was interesting. I'm sure as PVF continues to establish itself the existing projects will flourish and infrastructure for others projects (such as the hospital) will began to establish themselves. Jorge has lots of ideas for new projects and collaborations which I'm sure will benefit PVF. He is a real asset to the PVF team. Andrea is also so important to PVF - she's an excellent ambassador for the foundation. So anyway, we're off to Argentina tonight. The adventure begins anew. Thanks so much to our fellow volunteers... Sandy, Daniella, Felipe, Catherine, and Matthew - I hope to keep in touch with you all and to meet again soon. And of course, Thanks also to Andrea, Jorge, Richard and Manfred for your help, guidance and open mindedness. xoxox Sarah.

Philipp Christian Marśanić, Munich, Germany
Dear Peacevillagers, First two general things I wanna say are: Everybody who is reading this, come or came to St. Elena for helping the community in some way, is someone special(!), driven by reasons to do something good & meaningful is very important & there should be more people on world like we or you are. The second thing to say is THANKYOU. This goes out to Family Mata, allowing us, tolerantly to use the kitchen & supported us & helping us. Also thanks to the Peacevillages team - Jorgito you cared so nice about us. Sweet!  Okay, and now something for new volunteers - in someway tips: For being well involved in the community, it is quite important to find out as much as possible about the Pemon Indian Community. The Nature & ENVIRONMENT. The different cultures in St. Elena. What is their way of living, working & communication to each other? And where are their "roots", trying to find out about what they are interested about and much more... About working: trying to focus on peoples/kids interests. Going to Tucusito & working with children is very nice, but it is probably nicer when you have concrete ideas before, what to play & do. So I think what I missed is to get concrete information about kids, games & ideas what to do with them. Now I'd like to say something about the time I had here: I think I used my 4 weeks holidays as good as possible. Coming to St. Elena was in every way the right decision. Sure, there had possibly more be done, more work & more help be given. But "bad" experiences are good experiences too & we can learn from it so good. And dudes, I am really happy I met you guys here. You are so nice people & a "magical meeting" is absolutely necessary in the future! (I can just say, that Daniela is absolutely right two pages before) Also, I would like to see Andrea, Richard, Jorge & Manfred again - Maybe in Germany?! - Munich! Just the best wishes for every one of you! Regards Philipp (Felipe)

Daniela Joffe, Glencoe Road, Cape Town 8001, South Africa
I would like to denote my space in this book to my fellow volunteers. In just two weeks or less, each of you has touched my life and opened my mind and heart to countless different lessons, insights, experiences, ideas, struggles, possibilities... In our small group, nestled in the green-ness and beauty that is Santa Elena, united by more things than words can capture, I found a true sense of warmth, sharing, bliss and more one-ness. Without trying, without even being consciously aware, you were all constantly giving. And so I leave having gained so much, and certainly having gained the most (despite my preconceived notions) from you, the legendary group at Peace Villages.
A few words about each individual companion (in no order - in fact, according to the lodging arrangements)
Catherine - all that I could possibly say to you that could capture all that we have shared in words, is this: I love you, and Thank you. I am counting the days until we meet again... Together forever.
Sarah - you have really inspired me. Your calmness and humility is something I will never forget. Thank you for all our conversations - each one enlightening - and for being there whenever I needed a friend.
David - you are truly a legend! Your sense of humor combined with so much knowledge and passion makes you both interesting and so entertaining! Thank you for all the laughs. Sarah and David - we'll see each other again really soon; I know it.
Philipp - I don't think you have an unkind bone in your body. I appreciate deeply your smiling face, your interest concern for others, your honesty and open-ness, and the fact that you are from CROATIA! A land of undiscovered beauty.
Sandy - dude. From the moment I heard mention of this mysterious guy across the corridor who speaks 12 languages, I knew I had entered the realms of an exteremely unique individual. You proved to be so much more than that. Thank you for being all that you are - compassionate, courageous and wise - and if I end up in Boston, we will be meeting up regularly. Just some advanced warning!
Matthew - you are probably one of the funniest people I know. I so enjoyed being in your company, albeit for a limited amount of time. When I was listening to you expressing yourself in the meeting tonight, I really had a vision of you addressing parliament - and doing very well! So, goodluck with politics and all that's in between. Thank you for everything.
Please, lets keep in touch. Would it not be magical to meet up again in who knows how long - the croation, the luxembougishian (???), the american, the canadians, the south african and the englishman - to share and build once more? Ah, that thought is rewarding enough...
I just came across this passage in the book I'm reading: "The ideal life is in our blood and will never be still. Sad will be the day for any man when he becomes contented with the thoughts he is thinking and the deeds he is doing, Where there is not forever beating at the doors of his soul some great desire to do something larger, which he knows that he is meant and made to do." Jah bless. And with much love from my heart. Daniela

Prasanga “Manoj” Abeysekera. Washington DC, USA
I’m not much of a writer. But I will try to put something on this book. As you may find, the experience you are going to have in Santa Elena is quite unexplainable. What a two weeks!! When I came to Santa Elena, I didn’t have any fixed volunteer schedule but it was a very well placed two weeks for me. Mostly, I worked on the grounds to help and build the new roof. Work was very tiring and hard yet fulfilling and satisfying to me. I hope there will be many volunteers who are enthusiastic enough to devote their time in the grounds to make it a very well built center for children. I’m sure in a few months it will be a state of the art, multipurpose center, for peace loving people. Volunteering…Volunteering is a wonderful thing that many people in the capitalist world find hard to understand. But for those of you who know that they can be a part of a noble cause which eventually makes a big difference in so many lives, and are willing to go that extra mile to do the job I’m glad I was a part of another volunteer mission to do what is meaningful. In conclusion, I see the future of PVF through Manfred’s vision. I see the dedication through Eduardo’s work. I see the devotion through Andreas emails. And I see the “HOPE” through Children’s eyes. All this and more. I’m glad to be a part of Peace Villages Foundation. A very short time well spent.

Frederic Heine, 79395 Neuenburg, Germany
I’m going to write this in English, so please don’t blame me for mistakes. It is hard to compress two months so full of ups, some downs, and so many experiences, to a small page in this book. And even more as now everything seems to be so far away already as if what is actually happening at the moment would only be a lived through again memory- because I’m already in the process of saying goodbye. Saying goodbye to santa Elena, the Gran Sabana, the work, the people. Almost like saying goodbye to a second home. I remember the day I arrived here. As this was my first real traveling, spending two months so far from home, I was all excited and all worried. But from the first moment on, when Erika shared her breakfast with me, I knew I was welcome. The next-first working day-this feeling even increased, when I saw this for European eyes not imaginable place in the “grounds’, full of sustainability and natural beautyness (ok, right now, it looks more like a construction place). I knew this was the right place for me and my idealistic heart. But reality got me soon, as working in the grounds means lots of sweat, lots of puri-puri. Reality has the PVF in her arms, as well- and I learnt, what it means to keep going a small beneficiary foundation, in such an uninfluencable surrounding. My full hearted respects for you at this point. I was very happy with my fellow volunteers, Erika and Paul. And slowly started to develop a sense of community here. Then the girls arrived, Mariel, Kelsey and Karla, the community grew and grew and grew on me as well. Just then I left for Chrikayen. With all my little Spanish. Chirikayen was a great experience for me too. But I regret to have to say that my time there was too limited. Just when I felt like I was starting to get into the Indian way of life, I had to leave again. But still I think I can say that my time there got me rid of many illusions about Indian community life, and yet gave me some understanding of original contentness and happiness I will keep all my life. After that, I only spent one day in Santa Elena and left to climb Roraima. I really recommend you do that too. If you have the money-and the muscles. Roraima is just the most beautiful example of the amazing landscape of the Gran Sabana. My last two weeks here then, were rather calm. As most of my fellow volunteers had left (except for Erika, she will be part of my Santa Elena adventure from the very beginning to the very end!). There was something missing already- I had grown close to all of them very much. Luckily this gap was filled soon by Kiren and Veerle- good luck to you in your future time here! Now I am very sad to leave this place, but keeping in mind all these valued memories all my life. I wish the best for you in the future shop. Eduardo, Manfred, Andrea- thank you for everything.

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