Opportunities in Peru

SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS

PRONOEI KINDERGARTEN (Social/Education Placement)

History/Purpose: PRONOEIs (Programa No Escolarisado de Educacion Inicial) are government-run nursery schools / kindergartens for the extremely impoverished areas of Cusco. The volunteer placement at a PRONOEI (there are various locations) would include teaching English, helping the teachers in the classroom, and doing special activities with the children. There are about 5 different locations where you might work on the outskirts of the city. Each building holds about 35 children and there are very few resources, so the children lack pens, pencils, paper, etc. Therefore, a volunteer must possess creative skills to compensate for the lack of materials.

Placement: Teacher´s assistant. Volunteers for this placement must be highly motivated “self-starters” who are able to work independently. Also, some of these schools are in the outskirts of Cusco, so there may be some travel involved.

Requirements

Minimum work commitment : 4 weeks
Spanish: High intermediate
Schedule: Monday through Friday from 9:30 - 12:00
Capacity: 1 volunteer
Other: Patience and a willingness to be helpful in all areas of the daycare.

CHILDRENS HOME MARÍA SALOME FERRO (Social/Educational Placement)

History /Purpose: A non - profit organization working with high - risk street children and adolescents. All funding for the project comes from religious organizations and voluntary donations. The children are offered a structured educative, formative program with the aim of identifying and relating with the needs of the individual.

General information: This home functions under the direction of the Social Security and Charity of Cusco. Capacity for 50 children and teenagers in material and moral state of abandonment. The ages of these children vary from 7 to 17 years. They receive attention oriented to form values and to prepare them for the adult life through workshops, lectures and specific training. The courses are: - Woodcarving - Tailoring - Shoe Making.

Activities for the volunteer:

8 - 10 AM: To participate in the workshops collaborating with the personnel to organize the children and to direct them in work. - In this schedule the volunteer can also organize art work art (painting- theater - music).
10 - 12 AM: To help the children in the resolution of school tasks. In this schedule volunteers can help the children with their school classes and assignments (mathematics – English, or other).

Requirements

Minimum Time Commitment: 4 weeks
Spanish Level: Beginner
Schedule: 8 am to 12 am
Capacity: 4 volunteers at one time
Other: Specific interest in children and be willing to help them. Have a great deal of energy and patience. Have organizing capacity and creativity. Some skills or experience in teaching

YOUTH CENTER - MARCAVALLE (Social/Educational placement)

History: The Marcavalle Youth Center, is an official non profit organization, founded on January 17, 1997. The organization is part of the Reform of the Peruvian Social System, which is trying to reintegrate adolescent offenders into the community. This project tries to offer special education in conjunction with spiritual beliefs, moral, and social values.

Description of the center: This is a social reintegration program for children and teenage offenders of the law, ages vary from 12 - 17 years. The activities that are carried out are divided into four areas.

1. Educational Program: Offers an occupational program with the aim of developing personal aptitudes and practical skills including :- carpentry, shoemaking, sewing, handicrafts, farming etc.

2. Educational modules: Offers a formative program with the objective of developing self - esteem and cultural identity. (one of the volunteers is a qualified psychologist.) Also orient the adolescents in personal themes of formation, values, sexual orientation, prevention of alcoholism and other subjects.

3. Modules of Learning: Children and adolescents receive classes of: culture, identity, ecology, health, communication and English.

4. Recreational Activities: Participation in sports activities (soccer, basketball and ping pong), the center has it own sport facilities. Artistic activities (dances, painting, chorus and theater).

Activities: The volunteer can aid in all the areas of work indicated. However teaching English will become the main activity during the time the volunteer is at the center.

Requisite for volunteers: Some teaching experience with children or adolescents. Have a great deal of energy, love and affection for children and willing to help them in every way. Organizational capacity and creativity. Patience and willingness to work with a challenging group of children and adolescents. The understanding and ability to handle conditions of the poor (for example, kids can go for days without a bath and lack many standard social skills).

SAN JUDAS CHICO (Social/Educational placement)

History / purpose: This is a religious non-profit organization directed by the Congregation of the Holy Rosary in Cusco.

Facts about the center:

• The center works with about 45 children and adolescents.
• Offers an educative program which enables preparation and reinforcement of school work and literacy.
• Offers a formative program with the objective of developing self esteem and cultural identity. (one of the volunteers is a qualified psychologist.)
• They receive attention oriented to form their values and to prepare them for the adult life.
• Children prepare their own meals, with the help of staff, which are provided at the end of each session.

Placement: 3.00 to 4.30 pm. During this time the volunteer will help the students in the resolution of their school tasks. The topics a volunteer will help with will relate to the background of the individual. The volunteer will also provide English lessons.

From 4.30 to 6.30 different activities are carried out: handicrafts, sports, recreational or artistic. For this it is necessary that the volunteer show interest in organizing activities (ideally the volunteer will have experience in these areas). For example during the months of November and December the girls prepare Christmas cards. Volunteers that have artistic abilities will direct these activities.

Requirements

Minimum Time Commitment: 4 weeks
Spanish: high level beginner/intermediate
Schedule: Monday to Friday, from 15:00 to 18:30 hours
Other: Show interest in working with girls and to be willing to help them. Have a great deal of energy and patience. To have organizational capacity and creativity. Initiative to organize extra activities.

HOGAR CLINICA SAN JUAN DE DIOS (Social Placement)

History/Purpose: A clinic run by a religious order that offers free treatment (or treatment for a symbolic fee such as a bag of rice or a bag of corn) to mentally and physically disabled children. Due to the present economic situation in Peru, the government has cut funding for institutions like this one. The institute is mostly self-efficient in respect that they grow their own corn, potatoes and vegetables (in greenhouses), and have numerous animals that they keep for their own consumption as well.

FACTS ABOUT THE CLINICA

• 52 children living at the hogar
• 40 come for school or therapy daily
• 72 children attend the school daily
• 4 profesoras
• 3 enfermeras por la mañana
• 2 enfermeras por la tarde
• 3 terapistas
• Normally 5-6 volunteers
• Receive little funding from the government, and are trying to become self-sustaining.

Placement: In this placement there are many different options. Volunteers can work in the clinic feeding, bathing and playing with the children. They can also work as teaching assistants in the school, assisting with art projects and helping the children with their work. There is also the possibility to work in the physical therapy department, assisting with the therapies, in the greenhouse, or in the administrative office.

Requirements

Minimum work commitment: 4 weeks
Spanish: high beginner
Schedule: Flexible, but need a lot of help around lunch and dinnertime, and on weekends.
Capacity: up to 6 volunteers at a time
Other: Volunteers at this site MUST be self motivators. The clinic is SEVERELY understaffed, and often the nurses do not have time to tell you what to do. You MUST take the initiative and ask!
Note: Placements where volunteers work with special/disabled/hearing and/or speech-impaired patients may not be intensive Spanish placements; however, Spanish IS needed to communicate with staff and to get the most out of the placement. Volunteers who want to practice their Spanish must remember to always make an effort to both avoid their native language (or English as it tends to be the common language among world-wide travelers in South America) and to seek opportunities to speak Spanish.

THE SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOL is closed during “summer break”: mid-December though beginning of April and again at the end of July for two weeks.

ASILO DE ANCIANOS ´LA RECOLETA´ (Social Placement)

History/Purpose: This is a home for elderly people. It is run by a Catholic order of nuns. There are four different wards:

• The general women´s ward, with 72 women, run by Madre Soranita.
• The women´s infirmary, with 32 women, run by Madre Mariana.
• The general men´s ward, with 86 men, run by Madre Soledad
• The men´s infirmary, with 33 men, run by Madre Soremilia.

Placement: Various kinds of work related to the care of elderly people, including helping to feed them lunch, bathing them, cutting their fingernails and hair, dressing them, as well as personal attention in recreation, for example, playing ball with them, drawing, walking around with them, games like bingo, dancing, singing, etc. The elderly people like having foreigners around and start smiling once you walk in the door.

For those volunteers with a medical background, a general medical placement is available. You will be shadowing the nurses and doctors until you are comfortable to take on individual patient duties. Patients´ medical needs include: administering of medicine, checking blood pressure, taking blood tests, performing general physicals, counseling on better health maintenance techniques, writing patient histories and updates, etc. It is also possible to work in the physical therapy clinic. Suggestions for contributions to bring to the clinic include: hats, towels, sheets, toilet paper, scarves, knitting equipment, games, cold medications, antibiotics, soap, candy.

Requirements

Minimum Time Commitment: 4 weeks
Spanish Level: High-Intermediate by the time the placement begins
Schedule: Flexible but preferred is 9am to 1pm
Capacity: Maximum 2 volunteers at one time

HIJOS DEL SOL (Social/Educational placement)

History / Purpose: A non profit organization working with high risk street children and adolescents, who for a variety of reasons (they´ve been abandoned/orphaned, have alcoholic parents, etc.) are sleeping/ living rough on the streets of Cusco. All funding for the project comes from voluntary donations and the staff team consists of 11 professionals who volunteer at the center in their spare time. The children are offered a structured educative, formative and occupational program with the aim of identifying and relating with the needs of the individual.

Facts about the center:

• The center works with between 40 and 60 children at a time and offers morning and afternoon sessions.
• Offers an educative program which enables preparation and reinforcement of school work and literacy (first 2 hours of each session is dedicated to the educative part of the program)
• Offers a formative program with the objective of developing self - esteem and cultural identity. (one of the volunteers is a qualified psychologist.)
• Offers an occupational program with the aim of developing personal aptitudes and practical skills including :- carpentry, shoemaking, sewing, handicrafts etc.
• The project is also developing a school for parents of children at risk, working on a variety of relevant topics.
• Children prepare their own meals, with the help of staff, which are provided at the end of each session.

Placement: There are a number of options open to volunteers depending on individual skills, including: helping in the classroom, helping with a variety of occupational activities, etc. Extra help will also be needed to find funding and the marketing of the project (current funding runs out in June). Teaching the children to prepare meals and the cleaning up process afterwards is also a priority of the school.

Requirements

Minimum Time Commitment: 4 weeks
Spanish: high level beginner/intermediate
Schedule: Monday to Friday 10am to 1pm **3pm to 7pm Saturday 3pm to 7pm (**emphasis is on the afternoon shifts as more children attend in the afternoon when they have finished at regular school.)

MARKETING PLACEMENT “2B” (Marketing Placement)

History/Purpose: Located in Cusco, Peru, 2B is a social project with the aim of providing disabled and hearing-impaired and deaf adolescents with specific work and opportunity to learn useful skills. Young women between the ages of 15 and 22 are taught the art of clothes design, production, and sales. In addition, the project incorporates interdisciplinary facets such as speech therapy, psychotherapy, and artistic development. The two Bs are Barbara and Baduc, co-founders (an Austrian-Peruvian couple).

Placement: Work closely with core team marketing the organization in general and its clothing specifically. Working hours are flexible, therefore the activities to carry out should be coordinated previously with the person responsible of the center. Basically the work of the volunteer consists of lending aid in the area of marketing, promoting and diffusing the work of the organization. The second main role will be organizing "fashion shows” once a month to raise proceeds and publicize their products. Marketing and organizational help are needed for these presentations. Administrative help is also needed. In this position, the social aid that can lend the volunteer is indirect, since upon promoting and to sell the clothing is helping the disabled youths so that they have more work. Any contribution of the volunteer concerning production and sales will be greatly appreciated by the organization.

Be prepared for non professional working culture (typical example: you may have an “appointment” to collect 2B´s fabric shipment from Lima, after confirming twice, the vender never appears…) Good opportunity to experience business every day problems first-hand while assisting a very worthy, very needy organization!!

Requirements

Minimum Time Commitment: 4 weeks
Spanish Level: Mid to High-Intermediate by the time the placement begins to communicate with clients.
Schedule: to be arranged upon arrival
Capacity: Maximum 1 volunteer at one time
Other: A genuine interest in the overall project, its purpose and its possibilities!!! A creative person with marketing vision who is able to working independently.
Important things to consider: Volunteers must have patience. New organization with small disorganized staff. This organization is severely under funded and resources are few.
Other comments: The maximum number of volunteers that this organization accepts is 1 at a time.

ASOCIACIÓN KUYCHIWASI (Marketing placement)

History / Purpose: Asociacion Kuychiwasi is a non-profit organization working for the promotion of the coca leaf and coca leaf products. It was founded by Spanish friars in 1999 to sell coca based products in the hope of persuading the coca farmers to sell their crop on a legitimate basis rather than resort to selling to cocaine producers. Virtually all funding comes from the sale of their products in the store as well as from the sale of ceramics/ pottery produced by local youths in the coca producing areas that also comes within the aim of the organization: developing artistic ability and generating employment and a self sustaining way of life. These items are sold, along with coca based products, in their shop situated in the Qorikancha.

Placement: This position is for a volunteer who is interested in promoting and marketing the beneficial uses of coca products and also helping out in their shop. Coca leaves are used in a variety of products including:- tea bags, biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, bread, spaghetti, shampoo, soap, etc. and emphasis is on the nutritional and beneficial value of the coca leaf, something often neglected due to the links with cocaine production.

Requirements

Minimum time commitment: one month
Spanish level: medio- intermedio
Schedule: Mon to Sat (hours changeable)
Capacity: 1 volunteer at a time
Other: A genuine interest in the overall promotion of alternative coca leaf products, bringing new ideas of marketing a product which although has negative connotations, is also of great nutritional and cultural value.

SOUTH AMERICAN EXPLORER´S CLUB INTERNSHIP (Cultural Internship)

History/Purpose: The SAEC is a non-profit, international club for travelers with clubhouses in New York, Quito, Lima and Cusco. The Cusco clubhouse helps members plan trips, has a common area for travelers to commune, posts messages, holds luggage, etc.

Placement: Basic office tasks plus assisting travelers would be the main duties for the volunteer. Good atmosphere, great way to meet people, great book exchange and lots more.!! Good for Business Administration folks looking for international/intercultural experience.

Requirements

Minimum work commitment: 4 weeks
Schedule: Flexible. Open Monday through Saturday: 8am-5:30pm - It is possible to work at the clubhouse in the afternoon while taking classes (or in the morning if you have afternoon classes).
Spanish: beginner
Capacity: 1 volunteer
Other: Enthusiasm and a love for travel. Mostly an English-speaking placement as the clients are travelers who usually speak English as a common language. Not an intensive.

CONDITIONS FOR VOLUNTEER/INTERNS

1. Financing: Volunteers must pay their own expenses, including airfare to Cusco, Peru.

2. Lodging: With host family or at student residence that are shared with other volunteers. Volunteer fees must be paid in advance and are non-refundable. With the participation of 5 non-Peruvian volunteers, a Peruvian person will be able to become a volunteer supported by organization.

3. Health Insurance: Volunteers must have their own health insurance and need to sign a waiver to release from responsibility from any illness or injury incurred in Peru.

4. Duration of internships: The minimum time limit for internships is two weeks. The maximum time limit at any of the options is three months (exceptions can be made in special cases). A special visa is required to remain in Peru more than 90 days.

5. Work Schedules: Volunteers are expected to work 4 hours a day, 20 days per month, from Monday - Friday.

6. Educational Requirements: A good working use of Spanish is required to participate in most of the programs. University study is not a prerequisite to be accepted into the program. Prospective volunteers should have interest in conservation and related human issues.

7. Expectations: Volunteers are not tourists and are expected to work as any other employee of the program. Interns should be able to undertake strenuous, and sometimes tedious labor under primitive conditions.

Requirements:

• Payment of the specific program.
• Application letter indicating: experience, future interests, reasons for applying, preferred organization and participation dates (participation dates are needed to guarantee space availability).
• Curriculum Vitae
• Recent health certificate
• If you have an original project include the work plan (2-5 pages)

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