Globalteer

Peru Kids

The Peru Kids project is based in the magnificent city of Cusco, the oldest continually inhabited city in South America and the staging post for Machu Picchu.

The project includes orphanages, a free education programme, library, community project and vocational training.

The project focuses on the young and vulnerable to assist them in finding a way out of the trap of poverty and to train them in vocational skills so that they can become contributing members to their families and society.

Orphanages - Provide safe places for the children 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 children 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 children are provided with food and education as well as vocational training to allow them to support themselves in the future.
Volunteers - Assist the local staff to teach Spanish or English. Play sports, arts and fun activities, teach the children vocational skills. Manual work to improve the orphanage, painting, decorating, gardening.

Community library - A place for children, ages 6 and older to come, open the door, and enter the wonderful world of reading.  Each page of a book will be an opening of a door that brings a child to a new place or one they already are familiar with; introduces them to new people, characters, and animals; presents new and fascinating ideas and concepts. The library provides children a safe and quiet place where they can do their homework, with texts, references, tools, and personal warm, and friendly help presented with positive reinforcement. The children are given an opportunity to engage and share with other children while playing learning games that develop thinking skills, such as chess, puzzles, dominoes, drafts and checkers. 
Volunteers - Read with the children, assist with homework, organise games and fun activities for the children, teach, assist local staff, manual work improving the project facilities.

Free Education Programme - English is now the global language, and in a city such as Cusco which sees a million foreign visitors a year, English has never been so important for the children to learn. By speaking English, new opportunities are available to the children that would otherwise be destined to stay in the cycle of poverty.
Volunteers - Teach English, assist the local staff.

Vocational Training - An essential component in the providing the children with a future. We can house the children, feed them, keep them safe, but we wouldn’t be doing our job if they then leave the project in adulthood without the skills to survive. The vocational programme teaches the children the skills they can use to earn a living for themselves and their families in the hope of breaking the cycle of poverty. The children are taught Technical English (job specific), computers, cooking, weaving, ceramics, recycling paper into sellable products and secretarial work.
Volunteers - Teach using their own particular skills.

The location

The project is based in Cusco, Peru. Cusco is undisputed archaeological capital of South America and closest city to the lost Inca city 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.

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 2004, just over 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.

Extra activities

To say that every person visiting Peru has Machu Picchu on their mind would not be an exaggeration given it’s 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 lost city was only re-discovered in 1911. Machu Picchu is now discovered by 1000’s of visitors every year.
There are many of ruins scattered around Cusco that are worth a visit to prepare you for Machu Picchu. 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.

Daily schedule

You can join the project for a minimum of one week up to three months (extensions are sometimes possible). Volunteers take part in various activities from teaching, assisting local staff, sports, games, arts, environmental clean up and vocational training. You will be required to be available for 6 hours per day with 2 days free time per week on Saturday and Sunday. Your specific placement will be decided shortly before arrival at the project, depending upon the needs at the time and your relevant abilities. We aim to keep volunteers at the same location throughout their placement to provide stability and consistency for the children.

Your free time can be spent relaxing, exploring the local area, partying in the city or socializing with the other volunteers.

*A Typical Day may be:

9am to 12pm volunteering at the library with the children.
2pm to 4pm teaching English and assisting the local teaching staff.
or
9am to 12pm assisting with vocational training.
2pm to 4pm playing sports, arts, helping with homework.

If volunteers are also studying Spanish long term then we can place them at a project for half a day.

*These are only examples of what your days activities may be, the projects are continually evolving and their requirements of volunteers may change before your arrival. Rest assured we are very flexible with volunteers personal needs and expect the same flexibility in return.

Required Donation

The required donation to the project is stated in UK £pounds and US $dollars.
Why is a donation required to volunteer?

The donation includes -

Airport pick up from Cusco international airport.
Project and Peru orientation guide and briefing on arrival.
Accommodation for the duration of your stay at the project.
In country support from our project 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).

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.

Further information

Click on the links below for further reading…

Application process & requirements

The minimum age for volunteers is 18 years old. No previous 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.
    1.    Click on the link below to fill out an application form.
    2.    Your application will be reviewed and if accepted you will be notified via E-mail.
    3.    Pay your deposit to secure your place.
    4.    Research your destination, book your flight, inoculations and ask us any                               questions you may have.
    5.    Full amount is to be paid 60 days before the start of your project.
    6.    A comprehensive information folder will be sent to you with all information                            including a packing list, Peru cultural differences, etiquette, project                                        rules, useful phone contacts and full project information.

A background check of applicants may be carried out. This is solely to ensure the safety of the children. Volunteers are also required to read and sign Globalteer's Child Protection Policy before working with the children.