For more than three years, I have dedicated myself to charity work, teaching English online to Peruvian children from low-income families. My passion for teaching led me to search for opportunities to teach in-person, which eventually led me to the Niños del Arco Iris foundation in Urubamba, Peru, where I volunteered in July 2022. During my ten-day stay, I employed various teaching methods, such as reading English picture books aloud to Year 4 children. Beyond the classroom, I also contributed to the administrative sector and organized the library’s book collection. One day, while sorting books, I stumbled upon a bilingual picture book with Quechua and Spanish text but none in English and Spanish. This inspired me to write my own bilingual charity books, supporting English language learning through children’s literature and helping students improve their fluency in both their native language and English.

After creating the first book, I realized that the theme wouldn’t necessarily be of interest to every child, leading me to write a second one. My goal was to distribute these books to charities across Latin America and Spanish-speaking communities worldwide. Upon returning to London in September 2022, I began crafting two bilingual picture books with the help of Mary, our Head Girl, an editorial group, and another friend from Peru. To ensure they could serve as valuable learning resources, I needed approval from the National Peruvian Library, prompting me to register as an author, a process facilitated by the editorial group. To self-fund this project, I sold handmade woven tableware products from Peruvian women, specifically from the north of the country, covering the printing costs. After a summer of assessment of need and distribution across 11 countries in South and Central America, I managed to bring back ten copies to London, intending to share them with FHS, KLS, and potentially another Spanish centre. These books now reside in our library, available for anyone to read and enjoy.

Throughout this journey, I not only discovered my passion for crafting meaningful stories but also gained insight into the impact of service on diverse communities. Lastly, I learned the importance of the interplay between images and text. I so grateful for the dedicated volunteers who supported me on this journey. Their selfless service and commitment have been invaluable in order to help others.

Gaia S, Upper Sixth