Volunteer Impact in Cusco, Peru: People to People by UBELONG

Today UBELONG releases People to People, a documentary highlighting the findings of the January 2011 "Research Methods in International Development" Expedition to Cusco, Peru. The documentary was produced by UBELONG in partnership with Quimera, a leading video consulting and production organization based in Washington, DC.

UBELONG co-founders and Expedition Leaders Cedric Hodgeman and Raul Roman led ten highly-qualified professionals through a rigorous research journey to understand the impact of international volunteers in the most popular volunteer destination in Latin America. Expedition team members included graduate students and alumni of numerous universities, including Cornell, Johns Hopkins and the United States Naval Academy, and professionals with experience working at organizations such as the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, United Nations, Citibank and U.S. military.

For ten days the team travelled to Peru to conduct one of the most ambitious and thorough studies into the role of short-term international volunteers ever conducted. They spoke to hundreds of individuals, including leaders of volunteer hosting and placement organizations, international volunteers, project beneficiaries and university professors. They analyzed the conditions under which international volunteers make an impact, and evaluated the many different types of organizational models through which international volunteers reach the field.

The team's work was rooted in rigorous social science methods. The research design incorporated a variety of qualitative data collection tools, including structured and unstructured interviews and participant observation. With the support of Quimera, the team also used video ethnography to better understand stakeholder motivations, attitudes, perceptions and behaviors.

This Expedition helped fulfill the UBELONG mission as an innovative leader in the field of international volunteering. In a field that is young and evolving quickly, we hope this film will contribute to ensuring international volunteering remains rooted in accountability, transparency and responsibility.

About UBELONG: We offer safe and extremely affordable volunteering opportunities in Asia, Latin America and Africa. We are based in Washington, DC and led by volunteers and leading professors. You will not find a more affordable, professional and supportive volunteering organization. Learn more at http://www.ubelong.org

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• volunteer abroad
• cusco
• peru
• ubelong
• quimera
• volunteer work
• volunteering
• international development