Interview with Jhendy from our Amazon Conservation project

It was great to chat to the lovely Jhendy who works at our Amazon Conservation project in Peru. She has huge passion for her home country of Peru and loves sharing her knowledge of the rainforest with new volunteers who join the research team. 

How long have you been working at the Amazon Conservation project and what’s your role?

I started working here in 2013 as a tour guide down at the jungle project base and in 2019 I started in our Cusco office.  

What do you love most about visiting the rainforest research centre?

I like to meet again with volunteers, interns, tourists who I spoke to before coming to Manu rainforest and I met when they arrived into Cusco and know that this experience changed their way of seeing life and that despite the limitations in terms of access to electricity and internet (only a few hours) they want to stay even longer! 

I love that everyone has get to know each other, they are a FAMILY and when you arrive they always make you feel part of them.

What is your favourite memory from visiting the rainforest? 

Very difficult but I think what I love most is walking through the forest and seeing every detail in the plants such as the shape of their trunk, their leaves, the color, the seeds and fruits and knowing that everything has a reason.

I love the sunsets as well.

What surprises me most is the camouflage of the insects.

What do you think makes the Amazon Conservation project so special?

It’s so special because it's life experiences where we involve all our visitors in the different research, education and work with communities projects that we have been developing over all these years, turning our visitors into family and ambassadors of the Manu Biosphere Reserve. 

Where is your favourite place to visit in Peru?

My favourite place is Manu because it transports me to my childhood, to my school vacation trips with my parents who instilled in me the love of nature. I haven't had the opportunity to travel with my son to Manu yet but we traveled to the forest of Cusco named Quillabamba since he was 9 months old and he really loves it.

What's your favourite local dish that you think others should try? 

My favourite Peruvian dish is called Lomo saltado, it’s a mix between Asian and Peruvian flavours, the ingredients are steak, onion, tomatoes, French fries and rice.

If you would like to join the Amazon Conservation team in Peru you can head to our project page to find out more: https://www.podvolunteer.org/projects/amazon-conservation-peru