Volunteer Abroad In Peru

  Peru

• Cusco: 
Cusco

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks

Description:
Volunteer in a variety of different locations while immersing yourself in Peruvian culture. United Planet (UP) offers 12 different volunteer opportunities in Peru through its Quest program. As the birthplace of many ancient empires, many beautiful monuments and traditions remain from those times. Projects are from 1-12 weeks and volunteers will live in a highland city that was once the seat of the Inca Empire. United Planet offers lots of volunteer work in Peru. Volunteers can work with street children at an After School Program or empower women and children at a local orphanage or shelter. Volunteers teach English, organize crafts and sports activities, and spend time giving children the individual attention they lack.

Highlights:
Peru Community Development Quests
- After School Programs for Street Children Quest: Work with a local Peruvian organization by helping kids with their homework, teaching English (which is an essential work skill in Cusco), and organizing activities for the children.
- Women's Shelter Quest: Volunteers work with teenage mothers (from 12 to 18 years old) and their children in a home designed especially for them. They are needed to help in the nursery and also help the older children with their homework, as well as support the mothers when needed.
- Orphanage Quest: Work at a state orphanage for kids between the ages of 1 and 18. Volunteers assist the substitute mothers in taking care of the household, helping the children with their homework, and organizing workshops and recreational activities.
- Juvenile Detention Center: You will have a chance to be a mentor for boys who have committed acts of violence, theft, or assault.
" Enriching the Lives of the Elderly: This is a house for elderly in extreme poverty, a lot of them without any family to take care of them. Volunteer service consists of feeding, helping with bathing, organizing group dynamics activities as well as recreation.
- Enriching the Lives of the Disabled: You will be working with children and women with physical and mental disabilities. Volunteers normally assist with classes.
" Special Option Quest to Cai Cay: The volunteer work here includes working with the children between the ages of 5 until 12 years old. You will be helping the children with their homework, giving lessons in English, and playing with them. You will also be teaching them to cultivate agriculturally in a sustainable way.

Healthcare Quests
- Women's Shelter Quest: Volunteers work with teenage mothers (from 12 to 18 years old) and their children in a home designed especially for them. Volunteers are needed to help in the nursery and also help the older children with their homework, as well as support the mothers when needed.
- Orphanage Quest: Work at a state orphanage for kids between the ages of 1 and 18. Volunteers assist the substitute mothers in taking care of the household, helping the children with their homework, and organizing workshops and recreational activities.
- State Hospital Quest: This is a great program for nurses and other healthcare professionals. Patients who are insured can get help here. The hospital has 200 staff members and the capacity to accommodate 150 patients. As a volunteer you can work in the mornings, afternoons or evenings.
- Psychiatric Clinic Quest: This clinic really needs all the help it can get. The main activities for volunteers without relevant experience are playing games and offering assistance with activities such as sports (they have their own gymnasium), dancing, arts and crafts and various other creative activities. Volunteers with a professional psychology, medical or social work background can help the patients in their specific fields.
- Children's Clinic Quest: As a volunteer you can help these children even by basic things such as feeding them, brushing their teeth, playing with them, and taking them outside. Paramedics, pre-med/dental, medical/dental students can assist and observe and become part of the clinics team, however, professional skills are not necessary!

Peru Quests run year-round and begin every Sunday.

Qualifications:
- Desire to contribute to communities in need
- Compassion, cross cultural understanding, open-mindedness, courage, flexibility, tolerance
- For some programs there might be Spanish language requirements

Cost in US$: Starting from 1445 USD

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: - Desire to contribute to communities in need - Compassion, cross cultural understanding, open-mindedness, courage, flexibility, tolerance - For some programs there might be Spanish language requirements

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Phone Interview

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

United Planet's Mission Statement: As an international non-profit organization, United Planet (UP) strives to create a world in which all people understand, respect, and support one another. United Planet's global network of leaders and volunteers fosters cross-cultural understanding and addresses shared challenges to unite the world in a community beyond borders. In 2008, United Planet was one of only ten organizations selected by CNN to be part of its "Be the Change" initiative.

Year Founded: 2001