Peru’s Challenge was set up by Jane Gavel and her husband Selvy Ugaz six years ago with the aim of working with rural indigenous communities near Cusco, Peru to alleviate the acute poverties within these areas. Since then the organisation has grown to employ a team of six dedicated staff and this year received a highly commended in the prestigious tourism awards for Best Volunteering Organisation.

Ms Gavel said she was very proud to have received the award which recognises organisations in the travel industry making a significant commitment to the culture and economies of local communities.

“I was surprised but happy,” she said.

“We were up against more than 580 organisations from around the world, some of which have been going for 20 to 30 years. To be recognised in this way … is a true testament to our work.”

Ms Gavel and Mr Ugaz formed Peru’s Challenge eight years ago and since then they have hosted hundreds of volunteers from across the world who have helped construct four schools and make a difference to the lives of more than 2000 people.

“Selvy had always wanted to help people from his area who live in such poverty and always wanted to start an organisation. His idea was to do project work in the communities and also tie it in with tourism,” Ms Gavel said.

“My background is in marketing tourism and so I help with the promotion and marketing.

“It was a hard slog for the first five years. We were only 23 when we started and at the time nothing could stop us. It took about one and a half years to register the organisation and get everything right … we’re now in our sixth year and have hosted more than 600 volunteers.”

Ms Gavel, who is currently back in Australia awaiting the birth of the couple’s first child, said the organisation made a point of gaining the trust of each community before it began its work.

“We don’t just go in for two weeks and leave - our aim is to stay in a community for a minimum of three years and maximum of five years.”

In that time the group and its volunteers build a school, run a range of programs to teach children about health and nutrition and also work on problems within the home, building new houses, teaching about issues such as domestic violence and family planning and also helping people gain new skills.

To learn more about Peru’s Challenge go to www.peruschallenge.com