By NICOLE VALICEK
WHEN Alex and Wil volunteered at an orphanage in Peru last year they had no idea the impact it would have on their lives.
Newport man Wil Jamieson, 20 and partner Alex Teeuwsen, 21 from Altona North ventured to South America last year and decided to do some volunteer work while there.
After doing some research the pair decided to spend a week in Cusco, Peru volunteering at an orphanage through company Maximo Nivel.
The two spent a week volunteering at The Hogar Maria Salome Serro Boys Orphanage.
Alex, who is an advocate for social justice and volunteering, said while over there they discovered funding for the orphanage was sadly lacking and provided mainly from the volunteer visits.
On their return Alex and Wil wanted to make a difference and raise money to send to the orphanage for the kids to go to school.
“At the moment the principal of the orphanage was asking for funding to spend the kids to school,” Alex said.
“The principal is very humble and has never asked the volunteer company for anything, that’s where the idea came from.”
Last week Alex and Wil organised a fund-raiser in the hope of raising more than $7000 for the orphanage.
“For three months of hard work to change these kids’ life, you can’t put a price on that in time and effort,” Alex said.
“100 per cent of the money raised is going to the cause we’re going to make sure of that even if we have to hold onto money for a year so we can go back over there.”
Wil said he was inspired to help after he saw the happiness of the children despite their situation.
“We wanted to help them as much as we could after seeing they were so happy in life. We want to help them as much as we can to send them to school and help them get a job.”
Alex said she wanted other young people to know that you could help if you put your mind to it.
“It doesn’t matter if you’ve seen it or not, you know what’s going on overseas and you can do something to help.”
