Help in a Drug and Alcohol Abuse House in Peru

  Peru

• Cusco: 
Cusco

Durations of Program: 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks

Description: This project started in Cusco. In the drug and alcohol abuse house there are 15 patients, far too many for this facility. The patients have numerous health and psychotic problems. Health problems may be AIDS or due to their drug and alcohol abuse periods. There are some patients who are schizophrenic or see themselves as a cause for problems. You can work here in the mornings and afternoons for a minimum period of 4 weeks.

Special Option
Those who wish to stay more than 10 days can volunteer for a week in Cai Cay, a remote village an hour outside of Cuzco. The locals dress in traditional clothing and uphold much of the ancient culture. If you are looking to experience the rural culture of Peru this is a great opportunity. The volunteer work here includes working with the children between the ages of 5 and 12 years old. You will be helping the children with their homework, giving them lessons in English, and playing with them. You will also be teaching them to cultivate the ground in a sustainable way. There is a small scale gardening project there to teach that cultivating the ground can be self-sustaining. Volunteers can stay 5 days and return for the weekend to Cuzco.

Highlights: Volunteers will live in Cuzco, the old Incan capital, which is surrounded by the Andes Mountains. The stone buildings left from the Incas are filled with shops displaying beautiful artisan work and a variety of cafes and restaurants. Also, included is a trip to the gorgeous Machu Picchu, the ancient mountain city of the Incas!

Qualifications: Wanted : psychologists, doctors, social workers, or those who can be English teachers.

An advanced level of Spanish is required.

Cost in US$: 1 week $1395

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: United Planet requests five things of you: Flexibility, Courage, Open-mindedness, Tolerance and Compassion. Volunteer and educational travel around the world is often filled with unpredictable surprises, such as transportation delays, local holidays, etc. Cultures vary greatly. Some things may appear shocking and you might feel outside of your comfort zone in some situations. You might also experience disturbing poverty or suffering in certain areas. People, including the local population and fellow Quest participants, might have vastly different religious, ideological, racial, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds. In short, you will be challenged and stimulated in ways that you may not be able to currently imagine. If you remember the UP code and maintain flexibility, courage, open-mindedness, tolerance, and compassion, you will build greater bonds with the people around you, attain a rich cultural understanding, and truly experience the ultimate educational adventure of a United Planet Quest, while having lots of fun along the way.

Age Range: All Ages

This Program is open to World Wide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Peru Independently Or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Phone Interview
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Job and Internship Network

United Planet's Mission Statement: United Planet (UP) is a leading international, educational, humanitarian, and peace-building non-profit organization with members and volunteers in over 150 countries devoted to fostering cross-cultural understanding and friendship and supporting communities in need in order to unite the world in a community beyond borders. United Planet utilizes a wide range of local, online, and international programs to achieve this essential mission. The underlying principle of our programs is the concept of Relational Diplomacy, in which we recognize that the relationship between two people of diverse backgrounds is the basic building block for uniting the world in a community beyond borders. United Planets innovative programs are designed to expose our common human bonds and foster respect and appreciation for our cultural, racial, and religious diversity, while improving and enriching lives worldwide. All the people of the world are invited to join United Planet's membership in "a community beyond borders."

Year Founded: 2001