Carmel Sixth Form students and staff have completed an inspiring and transformative mission to Peru as part of Project Peru 2026.
Travelling from the UK to the Amazonian city of Iquitos via São Paulo and Lima, the group embarked on an unforgettable journey centred on service, faith, cultural exchange and personal development. Over the course of the trip, students embraced opportunities to support local communities, experience a new culture and live out the values at the heart of Catholic education.
The group's primary focus was supporting a building project that will provide vital educational facilities for children within the local community. After receiving a heartwarming welcome from local nursery children, Carmel Sixth Form students immediately got to work. From shovelling sand and mixing cement to preparing plaster and helping construct concrete pillars, they demonstrated remarkable commitment and determination from day one.
As the week progressed, students continued to make significant progress on the site. Working alongside staff and local partners, they plastered walls, painted newly completed areas and helped bring the project closer to completion. Despite challenging conditions and demanding physical work, they approached every task with enthusiasm, resilience and teamwork.
By the end of the project, the team had successfully plastered and decorated five external panels and ten internal panels. Their efforts have helped create a facility that will soon provide four classrooms, a kitchen, toilet facilities, a play area and a headteacher's office for the local community.
The experience extended far beyond construction work. Each afternoon, students visited a local girls' home that provides care and support for vulnerable young people, including girls who have been orphaned, experienced challenging home circumstances or live too far away in remote jungle communities to travel home each day. Carmel Sixth Form students designed and delivered a range of enrichment activities including English lessons, sports sessions, dance workshops and traditional artisan crafts. Through kindness, creativity and shared experiences, friendships quickly formed despite differences in language and culture.
The trip also offered opportunities to experience the unique environment and culture of Peru. Students explored the Amazon rainforest, encountered local wildlife and took part in traditional cultural activities. These experiences broadened their understanding of the world while creating memories that will remain with them for years to come.
Throughout the project, students embodied the values of service, compassion, solidarity and faith. They demonstrated exceptional leadership, resilience and generosity, representing Carmel College and Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust with distinction at every stage of the journey.
Project Peru 2026 has left a lasting legacy both within the Peruvian community and among the young people who participated. Through service, friendship and cultural exchange, Carmel Sixth Form students have shown what can be achieved when faith is put into action.
Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust is delighted to confirm that the Project Peru initiative will continue in 2027, when the next mission will take place in partnership with St John's Sixth Form in Bishop Auckland, providing another group of young people with the opportunity to serve, learn and make a meaningful difference within communities in Peru.
