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Volunteering in Peru

Volunteering in Peru is a unique experience and an interchange between the volunteer and members of Peruvian society which is greatly advantagous to both. There are many direct and indirect advantages of volunteering in Peru, or anywhere else in the developing world for that matter. Peruvian people are generally very friendly and the country is relatively cheap and it is also safe compared to many other developing countries.

Not only do volunteers have the opportunity to practice their language skills during the day in a practical manner without studying (which is often the best and fastest way to learn), but volunteering is an exchange where volunteers learn from the Peruvians and Peruvians in need get the help they need an gather information about the countries of the volunteers.

Volunteers can gain very helpful life and work experiences that they probably would not find in their own country, bolster their CVs and get to discover more about the rich Peruvian culture in a way that is very different than that learned in a classroom. Anyone of almost any age can participate in a volunteer program but they should obviously be interested and motivated to help the less fortunate of Peru. No previous experience is necessary but a level of Spanish that enables holding a basic conversation would be very useful. Typically, volunteers would take classes in Spanish while volunteering to help them communicate, probably at a local school which may also arrange the volunteering program.

There are many volunteering programs in Peru. A program typically consists of a four-week long study and working period, the study period being one that assists the volunteers in the projects on which they will be working, as we have mentioned. A work permit is not needed to volunteer or study in Peru as technically visitors will be tourists and be given between 60 and 90 days free stay upon entering the country.

There are some medical volunteering opportunities in hospitals but these are only for qualified nurses or medical students undergoing training in their home countries. There are many volunteering projects in centers for children whose goal is to improve nutrition as well as the education level of mainly rural children on a daily basis. There are a number of such projects in the Sacred Valley of the Incas near to Cusco where children attend the center from 9 am until 2 pm and then get a lunch of wholesome food, which may be sadly lacking at home. Volunteers then play with the children, teach them English, organize outdoor activities and help with other projects organized by the center that facilitate the local community, such as building clay ovens, walls, drainage ditches etc.

Other volunteering projects involving children involves teaching them specific technical skills to give them a better chance in the future. Craft workshops are set up for sewing, knitting, weaving, ceramics and other craftwork and children learn these skills and then are able to sell their work to tourists. Children in this type of program go to school in the morning and then work on crafts in the afternoons.

Teaching English in a primary school is another popular volunteering project involving children. Volunteers normally create their own lesson plans for the classes that are 45 minutes long and typically have about 40 students per class. Volunteers have always said that this type of work is extremely stimulating and rewarding as the students are usually fairly well behaved and eager to learn, maybe even more so that western children of the same age!

Other projects are designed to help the elderly, many of whom live in poorly equipped residential care homes in Cusco for example. In one such project there are about 250 people living in the center which is divided into two parts, one for men and the other for women. These elderly people either do not have a family or have been abandoned and have medical or language difficulties, being mostly native Quechua speakers. Volunteering activities include helping the elderly during breakfast and lunch, organizing plays, helping with health campaigns as well as with difficult aspects of their daily lives.

Whatever kind of volunteering you decide to do you will be helping the less fortunate, you will advance your Spanish and learn more about other people and yourself, and carry away experiences and skills that will stay with you the rest of your life.

Author: Gary Sargent - Escaped to Peru / Escaped to Latin America