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PERU 109 Staff
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The founders of Peru 109, Anne and Juan Carlos, represent the languages, cultures, and perspectives of both Peru and the United States. They have been designing and supervising volunteer and internship opportunities in various locations in Peru since 2004, and have a combined total of more than 10 years working in education, social work and tourism.
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Juan Carlos Olivo
Co-Founder/Director
Hometown: Chimbote, Peru
Nobody knows Peru and its people better than Juan Carlos, a Peruvian who grew up in a hardworking middle class neighborhood in Chimbote. Although Chimbote is one of the less touristy cities in Peru, he has had the opportunity to live in different cities and has witnessed first hand the Peruvian reality of many people in need.
After graduating from high school, Juan Carlos left his hometown and spent over 6 and a half years traveling, living, working, and volunteering all around his country (Lima, Ica, Cusco, Ayacucho, Huancayo, Trujillo, Chiclayo, Piura, etc.). During this time, he developed a strong interest in volunteerism and
tourism promotion, and how these factors impact local and global
development.
In 1999, Juan Carlos began to visit more than 100 Peruvian high schools
and universities to promote sandboarding as a tourist resource in
Peru. In addition, he filled various other roles, including photographer,
preschool teacher, tourist guide, and manager of the first local tourism
office in his hometown.
Juan Carlos emigrated to the US in August of 2005. He landed in the Boston area, where he continued to volunteer for different non-profit agencies and improve his English skills in the process. Juan Carlos moved to Vermont in 2008, the offical home of Peru 109!
As the Director of Peru 109, Juan Carlos designs all independent, college, and family volunteering options, and personally leads the group community projects. He also arranges staff and volunteer travel, as well as coordinates our host families, language classes, and tourism activities. JC is proud to be considered Peru 109's unofficial videographer! His interests include travel, cooking, website design and adventure sports.
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Anne and Juan Carlos met in Huancayo, Peru in January 2003. Soon after meeting each other,
they began to volunteer together with the children who lived in an orphanage, leading arts
and crafts activities and outdoor games. In 2004, while living in Chimbote, Anne and Juan Carlos
volunteered with women who were homeless, providing a program that focused on literacy and
small motor skills. During that time, they also volunteered at a hospital with homeless infants and toddlers.
In 2006, the Olivos moved to Great Barrington, MA, where Anne and Juan Carlos became a part of the
community of Bard College at Simon's Rock as a Residence Directors. During the next two years in
the Berkshires, Juan Carlos led the Spanish Conversation Club, and got his winter exercise by
heading up the Ski and Snowboard Club. In the meantime, Anne coordinated the college's Social
Action and Service programs. The Olivos worked together to create and lead Alternative Spring Break
programs in New York City and Mexico, as well as summer programs in Peru. In May 2008, the Olivos
moved to Vermont to be able to devote their full energies to volunteer programs with Peru 109.
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Anne E.S. Olivo
Co-Founder/Program Manager
Hometown: New Fairfield, CT, USA
Anne grew up in southwestern Connecticut and graduated from Washington and Lee University in Virginia with a BA in Sociology/Anthropology and her teacher's certification. Since finishing her undergraduate studies, she has worked and volunteered in education and social work fields in a variety of settings in the US and Peru: hospitals, schools, domestic violence shelters, adult education programs, childcare centers, swim teams, preschools, orphanages, maternity hospitals, women's shelters, language institutes, universities, and early childhood education centers.
Anne fell in love with Peru upon her arrival in July 2002 while embarking on a two week tourism trip with her cousin. After returning to the US from this first trip, she decided that it was the right time to take a leap -- and commit to at least two months of volunteering in Peru. In January 2003, Anne found a home in the mountainous city of Huancayo, where she learned Spanish while volunteering at an elementary school and an orphanage.
In January 2004, Anne once again packed up her bags. This time, she was heading to Chimbote to live, teach, and spend an entire year getting to know Juan Carlos's family and home city while volunteering. During this year, they were both able to create and supervise a Poverty Studies Program internship for students from Washington and Lee University. "Peru 109" was on its way!
Anne says: "Now, each time we travel with a group through Peru, I remember what it was like to be the "gringa" in the neighborhood for the first time. There is no other experience in my life that has had as much impact on me personally than traveling abroad. The self-adaptation, the constant challenge, the examination of personal boundaries, the introspection, the insights -- these are my motivations for working with Peru 109".
As Peru 109's Program Manager, Anne's primary responsibilities include processing pre-departure and post-program documents, maintaining program archives, and authoring the organization's written materials. In her spare time, Anne likes to dance, swim, bake, read, box, and windsurf.
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