When I first arrived in Tenguel, I seriously thought to myself how am I going to stay here for 3 weeks and I questioned what I was doing here, but after two days and meeting the children and locals I started to adjust to the surroundings and have fun.

I was excited for each new day as in Tenguel every day was different and brought along a new experience for me. Thursday afternoon was a last afternoon at the centre with the teenagers, we cooked some traditional Spanish food for them. It was a very quite afternoon because we all knew at the end of the day we would have to say our final goodbyes.

I have to admit my Spanish is not brilliant but it did not stop me bonding with the children, the verbal communication was basic but there was so much emotional communication between us. When it came to our goodbyes the children were more emotional than us, some of them sobbing, they have told us the time they have had with us has been some of the best in the lives. I have been in Quito now for two days and still have a feeling of emptiness, and writing this now is making me emotional.

On Friday morning we went to escuela Saraguro for our final goodbyes there, some of the teenagers from the college also came to see us there. The children were clinging on to me more so than normal, telling me please dont leave, please dont leave, and it wasn´t just the children the teachers also. The director of the school has asked me to come back and work with them and without a doubt I will.

Everyone here has so much love and affection to give, why can´t it be the same at home? I have made some real good friends here. My final goodbyes came with a lot of tears, I have loved this experience so much and it has really given me a different outlook to life and it has made me rethink my future in terms or doing similar projects.

Thank you so much o2 and Telefonica for allowing me to do this, It is the best thing I have ever done in my life and will never ever forget it.
Until next time…

Aisha is one of our Pronino volunteers and is blogging from Latin America. To find out more about Proniño, head to http://dnc.o2.co.uk/home/Pronino.

Journalists can contact the Virgin Media O2 press office on:
press@virginmediao2.co.uk 01753 565656
Virgin Media
press enquiries
press@virginmedia.co.uk
O2
press enquiries
pressoffice@o2.com