Volunteer Peru Community Project
The Volunteer Peru Project is based in the magnificent city of Cusco, the oldest continually inhabited city in South America and the staging post for Machu Picchu.
Globalteer is a UK registered charity providing volunteer placements working with
orphanages, schools and community projects in South America and Asia.
Peru is one of Latin America's most visited countries, and without doubt Machu Picchu, which is located very close to our project is one of every traveller's must-sees in Latin America, if not the world.
The Peru volunteer project includes a free education programme, library, community development and vulnerable children support.
The project focuses on the young and vulnerable to assist them in finding a way out of the trap of poverty and to support them in their education so that they can become contributing members to their families and society.
| Duration: 1 to 12 weeks
Hours: Mon to Fri, 5 to 6 hours per day
Activities: Community project, library & vulnerable children support
Location: Peru
City info: Cusco, Peru, South America
Accommodation: private room in 3* Hotel, or private room in homestay
Requirements: Aged 18+
Donation: From UK£495/US$740 |
Volunteer Peru Community Programme
Globalteer's '
Picaflor House volunteer community project' is based in Oropesa village outside of Cusco. The focus is on taking the children off the streets and on providing them with a safe place outside of government school hours. Once at Picaflor House, they are provided with education and fun activities such as English classes, reading, arts, sports & excursions.
Many of those attending the school in Oropesa come from surrounding villages and walk up to 4 hours per day to attend school. Some live away from their families to be closer to the school. Many are required to work for their lodgings away from home.
Volunteers
Assist the local staff to teach English, play sports, arts, reading and fun activities. Manual work to improve the location, painting, decorating, gardening, cooking.
Got a question about volunteering in Peru? Try our
Frequently Asked Questions about Volunteering in Peru.
Lively Children's Library
A library, bustling with energy and chatter (unlike the quiet of most libraries), for children six and older that opens the door to the wonderful and amazing world of reading. Through reading and play; and the warmth of our teachers and volunteers, at the library children realise their potential and gain all the opportunities they deserve, in school and in life.
The library offers a safe alternative to the streets for children to gather and make friends through literacy. It is where they can read on their own, with friends, teachers, or volunteers; and do their homework in a positive and friendly atmosphere. When the reading's done, there is fun in the library's game room, filled with the latest educational games, puzzles, and their friends!
Volunteers
Make a difference to these children. Read, play, inspire, and do fun activities, assist with homework, and assist local staff.
Orphanages and vulnerable children
The orphanages provide safe places for local orphans to live, learn and play. More than 70 children are provided with a home in two locations, one for boys and one for girls.
The orphans are 4 to 18 years old and either have no family or come from high risk families that are unable to care for them. The kids at the orphanage are provided with food and education as well as vocational training to allow them to support themselves in the future. Volunteers
Volunteers are not currently attending the orphanage but we plan to invite the children to the community project where better services are available. Free Education Programme
English is now a global language and Cusco is the main tourist destination in South America. English has never been so important for the next generation to learn.
By speaking English, new opportunities are available to those that would otherwise be destined to stay in the cycle of poverty.
The Globalteer Difference
There are many volunteering opportunities in Cusco, but unfortunately not all volunteering organisations are equal, so who you decide to volunteer with is a decision that should not be taken lightly. The most expensive volunteer placements are not necessarily the best, and if you find an organisation that promises to find you a placement for free, you will probably get just what you pay for. When you choose to volunteer in Peru with Globalteer you can feel confident in your choice. | Globalteer | The Difference |
| We employ full time local and western staff in Cusco and at the project where you will be volunteering. There is always someone who works directly for Globalteer available to help - from your arrival, supporting you through your placement to helping you out should anything go wrong. | Many organisations will pass you onto third party once you arrive in Cusco. This is often a Spanish school whose main focus and expertise is not in volunteering or the needs of the charity sector.
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| The Globalteer community project where most will be volunteering is run by Globalteer and was set up by Globalteer to answer a real educational and welfare need for local village children. Our placements are not afterthoughts or cheap, optional add-ons to a Spanish study trip or internship. 100% of our focus is on our community project and our project partners. You will always be busy and you will never be faced with an empty classroom or school yard! | Many agencies or Spanish schools will just pass volunteers onto local charities who are unable to cater for volunteers. They do not have the resources or staff to make use of volunteers and the experience is often disappointing for both the volunteer and the charity.
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| Your wellbeing is important to us – if you are not feeling at your best we know you will not get the most out of your placement – and where you live is one of the most important aspects of your trip. That’s why we offer you a choice of hotel or home stay, but always with the essential option of your very own private room. | If you chose to volunteer for free in Peru then bear in mind that you will still need to pay your own way in Cusco. Globalteer has discounted private room accommodation as part of your package or you can live at a home stay which will include a private room and meals. If you volunteer for free then bear in mind that you are likely to have limited or no resources to use and no support or guidance during your placement. |
| Globalteer is a registered UK charity. We are not a business, we are not a travel company or Spanish school and we do not make a profit. Every penny and every cent that we make has to be used to help achieve our charitable aims – that’s the law. No shareholders, no bonuses and no dividends. Whilst a small share of what you pay goes towards our running costs, over 80% of what we spend goes directly towards achieving our charitable goals. | Globalteer's focus is on the charity and achieving our legal requirements and objectives. We make sure that all volunteers are useful in helping us achieve our objectives and all donations are used in the charity and not for profit.
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Find out what
previous volunteers have to say about volunteering with our Peru Community Project.
Why we need volunteers
Despite the wealth of tourist money that enters the country (particularly Cusco), very little of this money filters down to the average Peruvian.
Peru faces high levels of poverty and inequality. In 2007, just under half of Peru’s population was in poverty and about 20 percent were in extreme poverty. Poverty levels are significantly higher in rural areas, while urban areas are the most unequal. This means a lack of education, healthcare and nutrition effects the poorest the hardest. With volunteers we hope to help the least fortunate live healthily, with dignity and with a future.
Funds are used to: - Run the Picaflor House volunteer community project.
- Provide access to decent health care for the communities.
- Providing additional nutritional needs.
- Provide educational materials.
- Supplement the running costs.
- Provide sports equipment.
- Our work is not possible without the invaluable assistance of volunteers and the donations generously provided.
The Location
The project is based in Cusco, Peru. Cusco is undisputed archaeological capital of South America and the closest city to the lost Incan ruins of Machu Picchu.
Full of beautiful plazas, cobbled streets, massive Inca walls, colonial architecture and surrounded by the amazing Andes, Cusco is known as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Machu Picchu was voted the best place in the world to visit by a survey of worldwide travellers.
Due to the number of tourists visiting each year, Cusco caters to all tastes and has everything a foreign traveller may need. There are many restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs as well as museums, plazas and ancient ruins.
To find out more about Peru and Cusco, visit our Volunteering in Peru Fact File.
Accommodation
We have two types of accommodation for this project, private hotel or homestay.
Hotel
Volunteers can stay in a comfortable hotel. The hotel is well situated about a 10 minute walk from the main square of Cusco. Rooms are single occupancy or can be shared if volunteers are travelling together.
The rooms are clean and comfortable, each with private toilet, shower or bath tub. The facilities include hot water, cable TV, free basic breakfast and Wi-Fi.
Homestay
In the homestays, you will live with and be part of a Peruvian family. The homestays are in safe areas with middle class families that are screened by Globalteer. Your room will be private with a shared bathroom. This is a wonderful experience to immerse yourself in the Peruvian culture and a great way to practice your Spanish skills. Volunteers eat with the family when not volunteering at the project.
Daily Volunteer Schedule
You can volunteer for a minimum of one week up to three months (extensions are sometimes possible). Volunteers can choose to join the 'community' or the 'library' volunteer programmes as described below.
Volunteers take part in various activities from teaching, assisting local staff, sports, games, arts, cooking and reading with the children. You will be required to be available for 5 hours per day with 2 days free time per week on Saturday and Sunday.
Your free time can be spent relaxing, exploring the local area, partying in the city or socializing with the other volunteers.
Community Volunteer Programme
This programme is suitable for volunteers who wish to immerse themselves in a broad range of activities. This volunteering project is called Picaflor House based in Oropesa village.
Volunteers will assist Globalteer staff in their daily tasks. This programme requires maximum flexibility but is very rewarding for those interested in the Peruvian culture as a whole and is ideal for volunteers wishing to take Spanish classes in the mornings. A typical week may be:
Monday to Friday:
2pm-5pm - Class time with the kids in Oropesa village including teaching basic English, sports and games, reading with the children, arts and crafts.
11am to 1pm - Mornings are used to improve the facilities at the location and prepare for the afternoon activities.
*These are only examples of what your daily activities may be, the programmes are continually evolving and their requirements may change before your arrival. Rest assured we are very flexible with volunteers personal needs and expect the same flexibility in return.
Library Volunteer Programme
This programme is suitable for volunteers who like to work directly with children and who wish to work intensively in one project while developing their social skills.
This project is ideal for those taking Spanish classes in the mornings. Ideal for volunteers able to work independently.
Monday to Friday:
16.00 to 19.00 - Volunteering at the library, reading with the children, playing educational games and helping with homework. Extra activities in Peru and South America
To say that every person visiting Peru has Machu Picchu on their mind would not be an exaggeration given its reputation amongst travellers of being the best place to visit in the world.
You can go there by train, trek the amazing Inca trail high in the Andes or take any other number of routes all ending with lost city itself. Built, but never completed by the Incas around 1450 the Inca capital was only re-discovered in 1911. The lost city of the Incas is now discovered by 1000’s of visitors every day.
There are many Incan ruins scattered around Cusco that are worth a visit. The Sacred valley of the Incas is a magnificent drive from Cusco and has many small villages with bustling indigenous markets as well as rafting and paragliding for the adrenaline junkies.
For long weekends or those travelling through, Lake Titicaca is 6 hours from Cusco. For an amazing experience you can also visit the Amazon Rainforest in Manu or Puerto Maldonado.
Globalteer works closely with a well respected agency in Cusco which can arrange services such as visits to Machu Picchu, Amazon trips, Lake Titicaca as well as many other amazing trips in Peru and South America.
Southern Crossings, South American AdventuresNo. of weeks
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve | GB Pounds
£505
£640
£780
£910
£1,045
£1,180
£1,310
£1,450
£1,580
£1,715
£1,850
£1,980
| $USD
$760
$960
$1,165
$1,365
$1,565
$1,765
$1,965
$2,170
$2,370
$2,570
$2,770
$2,970
|
Required Donation
The required donation for a volunteer placement is stated in UK £pounds and US $dollars.
The donation includes -
- Project donation.
- Airport pick up from Cusco international airport.
- Peru orientation guide and induction on arrival.
- Cusco town tour.
- Accommodation for the duration of your volunteer placement with basic breakfast.
- 24 hour In country support from our volunteer co-ordinator.
The donation does not include flights, visas or insurance although we can provide information as required.
The volunteers are required to pay for their own daily transportation to the projects (Between £0.20 to £0.70 / $0.40 to US$1.50).
Application process & requirements
The minimum age for volunteers is 18 years old. No previous volunteering experience or qualifications are necessary but we do require volunteers to be respectful and open minded to the cultural differences they will encounter in Peru.
- Click on the link below to fill out an application form.
- Add "@globalteer.org" to your E-mail safe list to ensure that you receive a response.
- Your application will be reviewed and if accepted you will be notified via E-mail within one week.
- Pay your deposit to secure your placement within one week of acceptance.
- Undergo your background check for the safety of the children.
- Research your destination, book your flight, inoculations and ask us any questions you may have.
- Full amount is to be paid 10 weeks before the start of your volunteer placement.
- A comprehensive information folder will be sent to you with all information including a packing list, Peru cultural differences, etiquette, useful language phrases, volunteer placement rules, useful phone contacts and full project information.