PERU

• Population 27,925,600
• Capital City Lima (6.9 mil)
• Currency Nuevo Sol (PEN)
• Languages Spanish, Quechua, Aymara, others
• 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.

Download the full placement notes for Volunteer Peru
Apply for Volunteer Peru

VOLUNTEER PERU
1 MONTH PLACEMENT $2067
2 MONTH PLACEMENT $2745

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 or teaching in journalism and radio. 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)
• Lonely Planet Guide to Peru
• Phone card with US$5 credit
• Volunteer Peru Handbook

While you’re there:

• Meet and greet by INTEJ at Lima airport
• Airport transfer to homestay
• 1 or 2 months accommodation
• Comprehensive arrival orientation
  

PROJECTS AVAILABLE - Download the full placement notes for Peru

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.

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.

Journalism & Radio
Location: Villa el Salvador, Lima
Description: A group of school students who study journalism. Students research stories, publish their own magazine and run their own radio program. 
Work: Volunteers can help students in developing their projects and also teach them skills in writing, photography and magazine presentation. (limited working hours)

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.

Download the full placement notes for Volunteer Peru
Apply for Volunteer Peru