Dave Ruckman's Peru Experience

Dave Ruckman, one of the board members of AaVI had the opportunity in June to lead a group of students from Doherty High School on a trip to Peru. In a recent conversation, he talked about his experiences.

Dave has seen firsthand how poverty can affect the lives of an entire nation after working with Adopt-a-Village International for the past three years. AaVI’s mission is to “provide a hand up, not a hand out to break the cycle of poverty.” All of the villages they have been working in lack the resources to meet basic human needs. Mr. Ruckman states these villages “touch my heart strings,” he also mentions that “it is our responsibility to provide a ‘hand up to these people who are most in need”.

No words can describe the intense feeling and raw emotions of saving a life. During the latest trip to Peru, the team saw two patients who were in critical need of medical help. Without the medical attention they received, these patients may not have survived. One of those patients, a child no more than a few months old, was severely burned. The volunteers treated the burns, rehydrated him and administered the needed antibiotics that helped him turn a corner on his way to recovery. Experiences like this one keep AaVI volunteers motivated.

Even though the AaVI experience is a lot of work, it is also a lot of fun. Dave says his favorite moments in Peru are the times he “gets to experience the jungle and the clinics through the eyes of the students who come.” During their recent trip, Dave says the student and other volunteers had the opportunity see fresh-water dolphins, a sloth, tarantulas, piranhas, and even hold a boa and anaconda!

Anyone can have this great experience to volunteer for Adopt-a-Village International. When asked if he had any advice for future volunteers, Dave states to “Go expecting to not only make a difference and see lives changed, but go expecting your life to never be the same – This trip will change you forever.”

Hannah Ruckman's Experience in Peru

Volunteering in a developing country after studying the native language for only two years was an exceptionally rewarding experience in more ways than one. Hannah Ruckman, a student at Rampart High School, recently returned from a two-week medical trip to Peru, which proved to be an exciting learning experience. Hannah decided to volunteer with Adopt-A-Village International because her father has volunteered with the organization for three years. Hannah is very thankful to have volunteered with AAVI; in fact, she said, “If I was given the chance to do this again, I would do it in a heart-beat!”.

Mother Teresa once said, “Peace begins with a smile”. Hannah mentioned that the most notable moments during her trip to Peru were when she made her patients smile. She developed friendly relationships with many of the people whom she helped – especially the children. Hannah described one of her first days of the clinic where she met a little girl that she spent a lot of the day with. This little girl became best of friends with Hannah; in fact, Hannah said that saying good bye to her was one of the most emotional days of the trip.

Making new friends was not the only thing Hannah took away from this experience of a lifetime; she learned a lot about the Spanish culture and language as well! Before leaving Colorado Springs, Hannah spent lots of time preparing for her trip by practicing conversations with her Spanish teacher. This proved to be of great help on the trip. Hannah also took away a new sense of Peruvian culture. “One of the biggest culture shocks for me while in Peru was all of the poverty.” Hannah mentions, “A lot of the people live in one-room houses”. Her biggest piece of advice to anyone planning on doing an AAVI trip in the future is to be prepared to see some things that you have never seen before, but it will all be worth it in the long run because you will know that you are making a significant difference in somebody’s life.

2nd Annual Adopt-a-Village International Humanitarian Run

from Dave Ruckman:

Our 2nd annual, Adopt-a-Village International Humanitarian run was held on May 8th in Palmer Park. It was a blustery spring morning, but runners and walkers came out with warm enthusiasm. This year’s race included a 5K, 10K and Kid’s Fun Run. The event raised over $2,000 to provide pharmaceutical supplies for our June medical excursion to remote villages in Peru .

This year’s top runners in the 10K were: Joel Hawkins – 44:50 & Krista Roy - 52:07

This year’s top runners in the 5K were: Aaron Reistad - 22:03 & Sarah Farmer – 28:15

Special thanks to Spanish teacher Mike Verderaime and his team of Doherty High School students for all their hard work helping organize and staff this event. The Board of AaVI sincerely thanks all the supporters of the run – sponsors, walkers, runners, fundraisers and volunteers – for making this event such a success!

Mark Backlin

Mark Backlin is a frequent volunteer in the Adopt-A-Village International (AaVI) trips to Ecuador. He has traveled with AaVI three times as well as volunteering with his own organization (JLMF) numerous more times. Needless to say, he is very committed to helping the people of Ecuador.
As a doctor, Mark states that the people of Ecuador are in dire need of medical attention. He mentions that “on an average day, an AaVI clinic can get anywhere between 60 to 75 patients”; most of whom need dental help or suffer from malnutrition.
Mark says that AaVI's main goal is to give an Ecuador Community a push in order to become a self-sustaining society in five years time. It's not Adopt-A-Village’s goal to be a source of dependence. However, in order to help the Ecuadorian people the best ways possible while keeping with the mission, Mark states that he leaves the dental records of procedures he has done in Ecuador so that future volunteers can see what treatments the patients have gone through.
Ecuador has a very different culture and atmosphere that most people in America aren’t accustomed to. Mark says one interesting fact about Ecuadorian culture is that the people often eat Guinea Pigs. He advises volunteers to “bring a variety of clothes. Ecuador has many climates as well as a broad variation of temperatures.” It would also be a good idea to bring bug spray and don't forget your medication. “Ecuador can be a beautiful place; while there, be sure to view the country, experience the culture, and take a look at the nature”, Mark suggests.

Ann Owen

Ann Owen, a Pediatric Nurse, has volunteered several times in Peru for the past 8 years; 2 of which were with Adopt-A-Village International. While in Peru, She helps the villages improve in terms of sanitation, health, and overall well-being. To do this, she implements “Sustainable Clinics” – meaning she helps cure the patient, and then teaches the patient techniques to prevent the problem from occurring again. In these clinics, she also educates the villagers about first aid, proper hydration, and dental care to prevent infections or illnesses from developing.

These trips have impacted her life immensely. Ann says, “Its always wonderful and brings tears to my eyes”. One of her most memorable moments when volunteering with Adopt-A-Village occurred when she gave one of the patients reading glasses; these reading glasses allowed the patient to read a bible for the first time. “Since religion is so heavily influenced in these regions, it was quite a big deal to her”, Ann states. When asked what inspired her to volunteer abroad, Ann states that her kids “were always volunteers and participated in the community and Cub Scouts”, and she saw how happy her daughter was when she came back from her first Volunteer Abroad trip at 15 years of age. “I wish I had an opportunity when I was young,” Ann also mentions.

One of the most pertinent issues in Peru is the contamination and scarcity of water. “Most every person in the village I help out with has at least one worm in their system,” Ann includes. The villagers often must go to the Amazon River to get water, and that water is heavily contaminated; therefore, wells or a sanitation system are critically needed. The rainforest is very helpful at times for providing clean water to the villagers, some families even place buckets on their rooftops to collect water; however, these buckets are often contaminated as well. Ann states, “I try to bring lots of plastic buckets for them to collect water with.”

Some villagers feel bad for taking all of this help for free, for this reason, Ann tells the patients ahead of time (and if possible) to donate a fruit or something considerably inexpensive so the villagers do not feel bad for receiving Ann’s help. “The medicine provided only lasts for three months,” Ann clarifies; this puts her in a tough position because giving an extra supply of medicine could develop a sense of dependence. She includes that it is very important for the villagers not to grow dependent on Adopt-A-Village; however, it is pertinent that these villages develop a sense of independence over time with the help of Adopt-A-Village. To continue helping the villagers, she leaves a supply of medicine to a responsible teacher of the village to give to whom he or she feels fit.

“I would like more people to come down [to Peru]. I am just trying to figure out a way for more people to go,” Ann says. There are veterinary clinics, and places to help special needs children as well. There is something for everyone to help out in. She feels one of the biggest reasons people do not go to Peru are the generalizations of third world countries such as the crime rate and diseases that could possibly be encountered. “Most people say it’s the most memorable experience in their life. My kids have gone back 4 or 5 times.” Ann mentions that she has not taken any Spanish classes, but has learned a considerable amount after immersing herself in the Spanish Culture. Spanish is not needed for one to volunteer in Peru. Although the villagers do not speak English (they are eager to learn though!), there are always translators there to help out.

If you have any questions for Ann Owen, feel free to E-Mail her at ano88@comcast.net

Scott and Linda Perry will lead a dental team to Ecuador August 18-28, 2010. Roger Allan will be the lead dentist. They will operate a four day dental clinic in the Pedro Moncayo region which is located about an hour and a half north of Quito.

Located at an elevation of about 10,500 feet, the terrain there is mountainous (green and beautiful) and the weather is cool and comfortable. The region is known for its huge cut-flower industry and in fact Ecuador supplies about one third of our nation’s roses. (They love Valentine’s Day down there!) They will also spend about four days at a jungle lodge exploring all the things this unique region has to offer. The cost of this trip is $3,100 and is inclusive of travel (from the Colorado Springs, CO area), hotels, food, etc. (All you’ll need to bring along is some cash for shopping.) There are four spots left.


It is difficult to convey the satisfaction and enjoyment that we have received on these trips. The Ecuadorian people are wonderful and are so appreciative of our efforts. For many participants, these trips are life changing experiences. The pictures shown were taken during their last trip so that you may have an idea of what you can expect.

Adopt-a-Village International is a 501 (c) 3 public charity, so the majority of the expense of this trip is tax deductible. We have no paid staff and welcome new volunteers who wish to help in various activities here in Colorado Springs or in Peru and Ecuador where we adopt villages for a period of five years. Our model is based on sustainability – we provide a hand up rather than a hand out. Please visit our website at www.adoptavillageinternational.org for more information.

Darrell Fleck on Adopt-a-Village International

Comcast Newsmakers featuring Chairman Darrell Fleck on Adopt-a-Village International, 1 December 2009.