Religion Over 90% Roman Catholic,
small Protestant population
Climate
Tropical in the east, dry desert in the west; in the highlands
there is a wet season (October to April) and a dry season (May
to September).
Highlights
Lima – Cuzco – Machu Picchu – Huaraz and the
Andes – The Inca Trail- The Uros Islands
Must Try Deep
fried Cuy (Guinea Pig) - specialty of the highland regions of
the Andes
National Day July 28
Festivals Colourful
celebrations, especially in highland Indian villages. Get involved
in the water fights of Carnaval (February-March) or
the lively dances and parades of the Inca festival of Inti
Raymi (24 June). Or help the locals celebrate Peru's
Independence (28 July), All Souls Day (2 November)
and Puno Day(5 November).
How would you like to hear the ancient tongue
of Quechua spoken by the highland Indians in the Peruvian Andes?
Or have you always wanted to explore the Inca Trail? With IEP’s
Volunteer Peru you can discover the layers of civilisation which
have left their mark on this extraordinary country - from the
ancient city of Machu Picchu through to the colonial times of
the Spanish Conquistadors, right up to the vibrant cities of today.
IEP’s Volunteer Peru is designed to give you the best opportunity
for cultural insight and personal growth, while introducing you
to the joys of exploring South America.
VOLUNTEER PERU
1 MONTH PLACEMENT $2275
2 MONTH PLACEMENT $3125
Volunteer Peru is operated in close
collaboration with IEP’s Peruvian partner INTEJ, which provides
local support and organisation of placements. Volunteers may be
placed as anything from counsellors for homeless adolescents to
working in a soup kitchen. General volunteers are needed in local
schools and kindergartens and for manual/unskilled work. There
is also a high demand for specific qualifications in nursing and
IT, although teamwork skills and enthusiasm are just as important
as technical skills and experience.
Placements last for 1 or 2 months
and IEP’s participants become part of a colourful community
of both Peruvian and international volunteers. Accommodation usually
involves staying with a local family, allowing a unique insight
into local custom and culture.
Eligibility
Aged 18 years or over
Conversational level of Spanish (lessons available in Lima)
VISA: Participants do not need a visa; Australian passport
holders will be issued with a 90 day tourist visa on arrival
in Peru.
Applications should be lodged at least 3 months
prior to departure.
Must arrive on either the 2nd or 4th Thursday of the month as this is when orientations begin. Departures in December are discouraged as placements often close down over the Christmas/New Year period.
INCLUSIONS
Before you go:
Personal support and advice from experienced IEP staff
to help organise your trip (including interview to determine suitability)
Placement at a volunteer project appropriate to your skills
and preferences
One or two months comprehensive travel insurance, extendable
up to two years
IEP can direct you to our travel partner for discounted
flights (airfare and taxes extra)
Volunteer Peru participants
can choose from large range of projects, covering areas such as community development, education, medical, and the more specialist
areas of journalism and radio, and archaeological conservation.
A selection of these is listed below - please contact
IEP for a full list of projects available, or for more information.
Below is a summary table of what is involved in each type of placement. Scroll below for more detailed information about each of these and examples of the projects available.
EDUCATION
CHILDCARE
Working as a teacher's assistant in a pre-school, primary or secondary school helping to teach English and other subjects. Also help to organise activities from arts and crafts, to music, dance and sports lessons.
Working in schools, orphanages or day care centres. Helping with basic education, supervising play and meal times.
HEALTH CARE
CONSTRUCTION
Help out in the day to day running of the community health clinic. Educate the local people on diet and general health awareness.
If you fancy a spot of labouring try your hand at manual work. This could involve painting, building or general maintenance.
Medical Centre Location: Flores de Villa, Lima Description: Open from Monday to Saturday, provides
a general medical and dental service to people of the community,
and also has a pharmacy. Work: Volunteers will be part of the centre andwill
help
in all the activities. They will help with all the services the
centre offers, and if proficient in a high level of Spanish, will
be able to prepare orientations on any theme of interest such
as Hepatitis B, AIDS, tuberculosis etc.
Soup
Kitchen Location: Flores de Villa, Lima Description: Partly government funded, the ‘Soup
Kitchen’ is a place where community members can come and
have breakfast and lunch at little cost. Work: Volunteers will help prepare meals involving
cooking, washing, and occasionally working as a cashier. Volunteers
can also help with nutrition tips and new recipes.
CIMA (Street Children) Location: Cieneguilla, Lima Description: Homes for boys between the ages
of eight and eighteen. They have been picked up from the streets,
are homeless and almost all have experienced drug problems. Work: Volunteers can teach English or play music,
and also teach skills such as handcrafts. They will be able to
live in the same home and give guidance as a brother/sister type
mentor.
CIJAC
Juvenile art and culture centre Location: Villa el Salvador, Lima Description: Dedicated to delinquent children
that may have had problems with drugs or gangs. Through the teaching
of art and culture activities, the centre aims to reintegrate
the children back into society. This centre is also used for a
cultural exchange between young people of different origins or
communities. Work: Volunteers can teach skills such as painting,
music, photography, dance and drama. They can also talk about
their own life experiences in their home countries, with reference
to art, culture and customs.
Archaeological Sites Location: Trujillo Description: Different archaeological sites located
in La Libertad, a district in north Peru. The area is home to
some of the largest clay cities in the world, and ‘huacas’
pyramids dating back to the Mochica and Chimu pre-Inca period. Work:
Volunteers will assist with existing projects and will
learn about historical culture, archaeology,
conservation and restoration.
Storytelling in the
Trujillo Community Location: Trujillo Description: A project to encourage reading among
the poorly educated children of the community.
Work: Volunteers will read and tell stories,
helping children to increase their vocabulary. The idea is to
create the need to read and learn.
Please email
us for more information about these Peruvian placements, or
for information about others that are available.
Population
27,925,600 
