Work With Special Needs Children in Peru - Mancora, Peru

  Peru

• All Other Areas in Peru: 
Rural Areas

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: multiple dates year round

Description: We work with the Divino Jesus Association in Mancora, Northern Peru. It was set up in 2003 with the aim of offering therapy to children suffering from blindness, deafness and dumbness as well as mental illnesses like Down's Syndrome. The children are aged between 3 and 19 and have not previously been given any special care or attention. There is a very limited budget to employ permanent staff so volunteers are essential to support the project.

Find out more about i-to-i, watch their short video here: http://video.i-to-i.com/site-videos/video.html

Highlights: The placement is based in the small town of Máncora, which is about an hour away from the Ecuador border on the northern Peru coastline, where it is summer all year round, and surfing is a common sport. It is about 13/14 hours bus ride away from Lima. There are some facilities in the town itself like internet access, pharmacies etc. There are ATM machines for Visa/Mastercard. You will be staying in a family owned guesthouse along with the other volunteers.

Qualifications: Beginner Spanish required. You need to be compassionate, affectionate, patient and you should really enjoy working with children ! It would help if you are reasonably independent as this placement is quite isolated, being a good distance from the capital, Lima.

Cost in US$: $1995 for 4 weeks; $115 each additional week

Before you go, we prepare you with:
- detailed information on your project and country
- fundraising advice and support
- visa instructions and forms
- vaccination and inoculation recommendations
- advice on health, safety and culture shock
- contact details to pass along to those at home

When you arrive, we provide:
- pick-up from the airport on the designated arrival date
- welcome orientation
- survival language lesson
- regularly-inspected accommodation
- well-researched quality placements
- meals or food at your accommodation

At all times, you have:
- access to our emergency support team 24/7
- assistance of the global i-to-i staff
- guidance and advice from experienced i-to-i travelers
- access to our wealth of first-hand knowledge

And more! Call us to speak with a knowledgeable travel advisor and to request a free color catalog.

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: If you are interested in immersing yourself in another culture while giving your time to a worthy cause, then you are a typical i-to-i volunteer. We invite you to join the i-to-i community of dedicated volunteers aged 18-80 who are working on community development, building, teaching, and conservation projects across the globe. Together, we make a lasting impact that changes lives and helps preserve the planet through hundreds of worthwhile projects around the world.

Age Range: 18-80

This Program is open to World Wide Participants.

Participants Travel to Peru Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Phone Interview

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

i-to-i Meaningful Travel's Mission Statement: Founded in 1994, i-to-i is an award-winning organization providing unique opportunities for you to travel, work and live abroad. Thousands of travelers aged 18 to 80 have joined our volunteer vacations and over 15,000 have learned to Teach English as a Foreign Language through our tailor-made TEFL courses. With over 300 projects on 4 continents, you can join the worldwide i-to-i volunteer community on an extended adventure in areas such as teaching, community development, sports coaching, conservation, building or internships in tourism, marketing, journalism, or health.

Year Founded: 1994