Affordable Volunteer Opportunities Abroad
Africa, Latin America, Asia

Our teaching projects available in Peru are for those volunteers interested in working with teenagers and adults to help them learn and improve their English skills. Teaching projects are available in the surrounding areas of Lima and Cusco. Placements will either be in English schools assisting teachers or at local community centers leading lessons.

The schools and communities seeking volunteer English teachers are severely under funded and welcome the volunteer's skills and help. All of the English teachers at the schools are Peruvian. Volunteers not only help the students get a chance to hear how the English language is spoken by native English speakers, but they help the teachers improve their English skills as well. Students at the community centers are often too poor to afford formal English education. Our volunteers on this program give students opportunities to learn skills they normally cannot afford, and to use these skills to obtain better jobs.

The project is not available from July 25 to August 14 due to school holidays.

Minimum Program Length: 2 weeks
Start Date: Every Monday
Arrival Date: 3 days prior to your Start Date (Friday)
Minimum Age: 18 years old
Volunteer Gender: Male and Female

Accommodation:
You will be placed with either a homestay family or in a shared apartment with other volunteers.

Food:
Three meals will be provided each day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Meals will usually be local Peruvian dishes, which are very tasty! You will be fed every day except Sunday.

Pick-up Info:
A Volunteer Visions representative will be waiting for you at your arrival point and guide you to your accommodation and project location.

Project Schedule:
During term time you will typically be teaching Monday to Friday for 3-5 hours a day. These classes will either be in the mornings, afternoons or both. Some community classes might be held in the afternoon or at night. The project is not available from July 25 to August 14 due to school holidays.

Suggested Donations
Any stationary, books, sports equipment, board games and any other educational materials are welcome. Again depending on the type of project, some resources will be more beneficial. We will provide a detailed list of suggested resources for donation with your program information.

You will have the choice of either leading your own class or assisting another teacher with their daily lessons. Your placement is completely dependent upon your level of comfort within the classroom. Depending on your level of Spanish and your educational background, you may be able to take on more responsibilities.

Suggested Skills and Interests

All Teaching English volunteers should be outgoing, caring, and interested education. Creativity, the ability to think on one's toes, and resourcefulness are pluses.

Suggested Language Level

For volunteers assisting English teachers, beginner level Spanish is sufficient. For volunteers leading classes, an intermediate level of Spanish is required.

Supplementary Spanish language classes are offered at the local language school for volunteers interested in practicing and learning Spanish. The classes are run by certified ESL teachers and the groups are no typically no larger than 8 students.

Although these classes are not mandatory, we suggest that you take these classes if you have little or no background in Spanish. Classes are available for $240 for 20 hours per week. Classes are held four hours a day from Monday to Friday and accommodation and 3 meals a day are included in the program fee.

Additional Activities offered by the school
The Peruvian Andes are alive with cultural activities. The school offers opportunities to learn skills from our local artisans. The course includes the following cultural courses for those students seeking a genuine experience:

WEAVING COURSES:
Learn to use traditional backstrap looms from Pre-Hispanic times, or a pedal loom, to create your own special pieces. There are over 50 different types of weaving in the Highlands, and our teachers can teach you many different designs.

SPINNING AND NATURAL DYES:
This course is a great complement to the weaving course. Natural dyes have been used in our Valley for thousands of years. Visit us and explore the countryside with our local people, collecting plants and herbs to create your own special dyes.

COOKING COURSES:
Cook delicious and healthy Peruvian dishes, using our special cookbook compiled by Beverley. This course includes the fun of shopping at the colorful local market, selecting your own ingredients and sampling our exotic and ethnic flavors.

MUSIC COURSES:
Andean music makes every fiesta come alive! Learn to play a variety of instruments such as the Andean flute, pan flute, charango (small guitar) and guitar. Our methods are simple and practical, with one on one instruction.

DANCING COURSES:
Learn many of the local folkloric dances from experienced dancers. Listen to the histories of each dance, and study the different costumes of each. Visit the villages where these dances are performed. Modern dances can also be taught.

JEWELLERY MAKING:
Silverwork is a colonial art that is still alive in the villages of Peru. Using traditional methods, our local artisans can teach you the art of creating beautiful silver works.

The projects are located in the cities of Lima and Cusco, and neighbouring cities and towns.

Cusco is an an ancient Inca city in the Andes of southern Peru. Famous for the tenderness of its people and its perfect location for travel to Chile, Bolivia and Peru attractions outside the city (inclduing the incredible Machu Picchu), Cusco is an ideal place both to volunteer and to familiarize oneself with Peru's history and culture. Cusco itself is rich in culture and history, with several intruiging historic sites.

Lima is the largest city and capital of Peru. Lima is Peru's industrial and cultural nucleus. Nonetheless, visitors remark on the small town feel that is perhaps produced by the friendly attitude and leisurely pace of Lima's inhabitants. Renowned dining, open-air markets, globally famous museums and a variety of stunning white beaches nearby embellish this metropolis.Note: Lima is suited for independent volunteers who do not mind working by themselves and experienced travelers.