Recently, I embarked on a journey to Peru as part of an experiment for Empower Her English.
The goal was to immerse myself in an unfamiliar country with limited language knowledge, relying solely on a school I was to attend and a host family for support. I wanted to experience firsthand the challenges of navigating a new environment so that I could better serve our clients.

I have previously been without hot water, food and sleep, but for me, the real challenge was not being able to communicate effectively, and after a week this impacted my studies and productivity.

Water in Peru for native people is scarce and warm water wasn’t accessible. I was lacking sleep and because the water in the area didn’t agree with us, we could not keep food in.

The lack of sleep made it difficult to focus on my studies. My productivity suffered significantly. This experience gave me a better understanding of the hurdles faced by those in similar situations.

The area was not safe and we were told we were not allowed out for a walk alone so there wasn’t an opportunity for exercise and a limited chance to make the next right move.

After a conversation with my incredible, very kind and patient, business mentor Janine Crombie, I knew I needed to move. I had waited almost 10 years to be in Peru and I wanted to be present.

I made a change, I found a little family-run hostel in an area where there was hot and cold water running 24 hours, there was a small and comfortable bed, I could go for walks in the evening safely and by doing this I found places I could eat well.

I was able to concentrate on speaking Spanish because I wasn’t tired, unwashed and distracted. It changed everything.

While my experiment was temporary, it provided insights into the vulnerabilities faced by refugees.

Imagine enduring these conditions daily, compounded by a language barrier, an unfamiliar and often unsafe environment, and constant concern for the safety of loved ones.

For refugees, these struggles are not just temporary inconveniences—they are daily realities that can have long-lasting impacts. The language barrier complicates communication and access to resources, while an unfamiliar environment can feel hostile and isolating.

Let’s work together to make a difference, to ensure people have their basic needs met and the opportunity to thrive.
As an end note, it was lovely to have a little reminder of Yorkshire as I had my morning glass of water.