Peru Volunteer Day Care Center (Ages 18+)

About the project

This day care center is located in a busy market area of Cuzco and serves 30 children ages 2 to 5. The parents of most of the children work in the market during the day. The day care center is a public institution and lacks many of the modern facilities and resources schools in more affluent areas enjoy.   

Volunteer Responsibilities
Volunteers will work as assistants to the caregivers wherever they are most needed, playing with the children and helping to care fo them. Volunteers are also encouraged to be creative and to bring any of their own personal skills to work with the students. The schedule is Monday through Friday from 8 am to 1 pm.  

Local Support
Greenheart Travel will provide you with a thorough network of support before departure and during your time in Peru. You will be provided with pre-departure orientation materials that will walk you through every step of your program. Your local coordinator, host family, and volunteer site supervisor are more than happy to address questions or difficulties that you may have at anytime during your program.

Upon arrival in Peru, you will be provided with an in country orientation by your local coordinator, as well as a walking tour of Cuzco to help orient you to the city.

Location
Cuzco (or Cusco) is located in the southern Andes in Peru and is one of the highest cities in the world. The former capital of the Incan empire, this city is rich in cultural and archaeological treasures, and is also the gateway to the famed Machu Picchu. Many of Cuzco's inhabitants are bilingual, speaking the indigenous language Quechua at home and learning Spanish in school. In many of the rural areas surrounding Cuzco, Quechua is the predominant language.

Accommodations and Meals
Volunteers will stay with carefully screened host families in Cuzco. The homestays are generally located in areas near shopping centers, internet cafes, banks and restaurants. Half board (two meals daily) is included Monday through Saturday. During busier times volunteers may share a room with another volunteer.

Travel Arrangements and Transportation
All travel arrangements must be booked according to Greenheart Travel instructions. Booking travel is your responsibility, but we are more than happy to help you as needed. You will fly into the airport in Lima, then catch a connecting flight to Cuzco. Most flights to Cuzco are in the morning and early afternoon, so it is best to book an international flight to Lima that arrives in the morning.

Dates, Duration and Application Deadline
The project runs year-round for 2-12 weeks in length. Arrival dates for 2010 are as follows:

January 7, February 4, March 11, April 15, May 20, June 24, July 15, August 5, September 9, October 14, November 18 and December 9.

Applications are due at least 8 weeks prior to departure.

Requirements
Intermediate Spanish skills are required. Experience or education in counseling, and/or teaching is helpful, but not required. Volunteers must love children and enjoy working with them. Spanish lessons are available for an additional fee prior to beginning the project.

 

Included	Not Included
Lodging with half board 6 days per week	Airfare
Full assistance of project staff	In country transportation
Medical/Accident Insurance	Phone cards
24 Emergency Staff	Dinners and meals on Sundays
Pre-departure and arrival Orientation with city tour	Laundry service
Arrival airport pick-up
A donation to the project on your behalf