We just returned from two weeks with Global Volunteers at Ciudad de los Niños in Lima. For our family of five, it was our first experience with a volunteer vacation. Like another volunteers earlier this year, I too feel compelled to write you to offer my praise for our team leader. Global Volunteers has an absolute gem in Edith Rodriquez Preciado. She is a master at managing group dynamics and in building interpersonal relationships. She was especially effective at keeping all nine volunteers apprised of and sensitive to realities of life within the host organizatiion, and always had an exceptionally pleasant disposition.

A typical day was meeting at 7:45am, shuttling to work by 9:00, returning home by 5:30pm, and then dining together until 9:00pm. She was there for us every minute explaining how things worked at Ciudad de los Niños, about life in Lima and Peru, sharing with us about her own life, and always with a laugh and a smile. I marveled at how she would arrive at breakfast each morning fully prepared to discuss the previous day and expectations for the current day. She was obviously up later and up earlier than the rest of us to consider these daily remarks. Global Volunteers was the backdrop, Ciudad de los Niños the stage, and Edith was the star of the show. Our family had a most fulfilling two weeks in Lima and it was in largest measure due to the tireless, thoughtful and cheery efforts of Edith. Our two weeks there left an indelible impression and it is very likely that members of our family will want to return to Peru or pick up at another Global Volunteer location.

Charley Dickey, Peru Volunteer