In Lima, Peru, my favorite people live, my family. Ever since I was 3 months old I have traveled to Peru as often as I can.

On one trip in 2019 my little cousin and I became inseparable. Despite our eight year age gap, we would play games, watch movies, and bawl our eyes out wishing we lived in the same country. When the pandemic hit, our yearly visits became impossible. So, we turned to Facebook Messenger video chats where we would laugh at the silly filters and talk until her mom needed her phone back. Every call she would ask me how to say a word in English. Every call I would teach her more English.

At the time I didn’t think knowing English was important to her, but as she started sending me videos of her speaking in English I realized it was much more valuable than I had initially thought.

At her age I had no interest in learning another language. I was surprised when she was. To her, knowing English meant being able to win a scholarship in school and to be closer to me. Something I found shocking as she was only 8 years old.

In Peru, it is much more difficult to succeed, I came to realize was that language is much more than a way of communicating with one another.

Language is the basis of culture, provides a way of expression, and opens doors to opportunities.

In a third-world country like Peru, knowing English is an asset, a sign of value. As I began to understand this I could only think of the children in Peru who were not as fortunate as my cousin to have someone who could teach them. The children who did not have the means to pay for classes.

For this reason, I started my non-profit, Hablamos English, where my ultimate goal is to help children in Peru have the advantage of learning English for a better chance at success and economic development.

Amanda Campos
Founder