A four week volunteer, Ben Tse-Laurence, reflects on the people he’s met in the remote Peruvian Amazon: a group as diverse as the rainforest theyre living in.
One of the greatest discoveries Ive made since volunteering with Crees is about the diversity not only of the Manu rainforest, but also of those who work and volunteer here.
The best pub quiz team in all of Peru
The extent of expertise of the staff here is phenomenal. You find yourself chatting away to one of one them and end up learning things youd never even dreamt of.
Whether you have a query about the life cycle of a particular sub species of butterfly or youre wanting to know how to make the perfect aji (a traditional tomato and onion based relish) someone is always ready to jump at the opportunity to answer or at least point you in the right direction of someone who can.
This endless enthusiasm is infectious. You find yourself waking up and wanting to head straight into the jungle; to go and find out more about the environment youre living in. Because the Manu Learning Centre (MLC) is in the heart of the rainforest, you are immersed in the environment youre learning about, and working in the field every day means this new knowledge can be put to use straight away.
A motley crew of volunteers
Its rare that a group of people, from tens of thousands of miles away from one another, can be put together and still get on like a house on fire. But when it happens you know its special.
This is definitely true with our volunteer group. We come from all across the world – France, Belgium, New Zealand, Turkey and the UK – and all have totally different backgrounds, cultures and experiences. But regardless of this (or maybe because of it), everyone is sincerely curious about each others perspectives, which has definitely brought the group closer together.
As well as this, no matter what their previous experience in conservation is (or lack thereof), everyone has thrown themselves at every opportunity to get involved, either in the field or back at camp. Its truly heartwarming to find that people from completely unrelated backgrounds find the work and the whole experience equally stimulating and meaningful.
Those shut-up and look moments
Although Ive only been here for two out of my four volunteer weeks, Ive had the privilege of experiencing truly special encounters with the rainforest and the species it provides a home for. Its genuinely humbling seeing everyone just shut up and be collectively in awe of the wildness of the jungle. Even staff members who have been living and working in the forest every day for more than a year still seem to wholeheartedly sink into these amazing little interactions we have with the indigenous wildlife.
As cheesy as it sounds, the look of pure glee on everyones faces after youve just seen a troop of squirrel monkeys or found a rare species of frog in a pitfall trap makes you realise the shared love everyone has for this place.
So whilst the people at the MLC are diverse in terms of their backgrounds, motivations, cultures and interests, there is one thing that brings them together: their appreciation of the natural world and passion to make a positive impact towards its conservation.
Its been an absolute pleasure to learn from and about them, and I feel unbelievably lucky to be part of the Crees family.
To see more from life at the MLC, our research base in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Or to discover our volunteering experience, like the one-month programme Ben has completed.