Volunteer in Peru

The Global Volunteer Network currently has opportunities to work on a range of projects in Peru. Volunteers can become involved in childcare, teaching, construction, healthcare, cultural, and conservation/wildlife projects.

Peru boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in South America and volunteers will primarily be based in the city of Cusco, the historical capital of the Inca Empire. In contrast to its stunning geography, which attracts growing numbers of international visitors to Peru, poverty and unemployment remain high throughout rural regions and more than half of the population live below the poverty line.

The Program

Volunteers may choose to work in the following areas:

Childcare: At childcare placements volunteers assist the children with their homework, organise educational activities and provide the children with love and attention. There are many different childcare placements available in Cusco, including working at orphanages, homes for abused children, daycares for babies, community centres and working with street children at shelters. There is also the possibility to work at a boarding school for deaf children and at a school for children and young adults with Down syndrome. If you have an area which you are particularly interested in please let us know, although it will depend on availability as to which project you will be placed.

Teaching English: At teaching English placements volunteers assist the full time teacher with speaking, listening, writing, reading, grammar, and vocabulary lessons. Volunteers may also be asked to help with specific learners in terms of their pronunciation and for one-on-one tutoring.

Construction: At construction projects volunteers assist with construction and/or renovation usually at a childcare project. Construction projects change all the time, but our partner organization is currently helping to build a new orphanage in Oropesa, near Cusco. Tasks on the construction program may include: renovation, labouring, painting, decorating and carpentry. Volunteers will assist with cement mixing, sand sifting, cutting wood and transporting building materials. The building projects are to help the community improve their schools and community centres. Be prepared to be very patient and flexible, and to get your hands and clothes very dirty.

Healthcare: There are two options for this program: the first is to work at a clinic for mentally and physically disabled children. This project does not require any qualification or experience. It is in a clinical setting but volunteers essentially help to look after the children, organizing activities and helping at meal times. There are options at this project to assist in physiotherapy and to shadow a doctor as well. The second option is to work at a clinic for low-income families. This project is for pre-med students (with relevant first aid or experience working in a clinic or hospital), med students or qualified nurses or doctors. Volunteers for these projects require at least basic Spanish as the staff they will work with have limited English.

Conservation/Wildlife: There are two options for this program. The first is to volunteer at a zoo in Cusco, assisting with cleaning and feeding. This is a small zoo which also houses injured animals. These are taken in and rehabilitated to go back into the wild. The second option is to work at the Manu National Park in the jungle region of Peru in the Sacred Valley. At the jungle project, volunteers may assist in orchid planting, bamboo removal, teaching at the local school, and creating an inventory of species. Please note that for the Jungle project volunteers will complete one week of Spanish lessons in Cusco before heading to Sacred Valley for the remainder of their stay.

Andean Cultural Immersion: At the Andean project, volunteers live with a host family in the mountains in the Sacred Valley. They assist their family with agriculture and textiles practices. They will also provide some workshops to members of the local community, for example teaching English or reading and writing. Please note that for this program volunteers will complete one week of Spanish lessons in Cusco before heading to their host family in the Sacred Valley for the remainder of their stay.

Program Location

Volunteers will primarily be based in Cusco, but may also participate in projects in Arequipa. Cusco is a city in south-eastern Peru, near the Sacred Valley of the Andes mountain range. Cusco is at an altitude of around 3,500m (11,500 ft). Volunteers on the Jungle and the Andean projects will spend their first week in Cusco attending the Spanish lessons before being taken to the Sacred Valley for the remainder of their placement. The Sacred Valley, known as the Urubamba Valley, is a valley in the Andes close to Cusco. The accommodation for these programs will be more basic than for the other programs.

Program Schedule

Volunteers start on either the first or third Monday of every month, and must arrive in Cusco on the Sunday before this in order to attend the orientation session on Monday. All international travellers must fly into Lima before catching a connecting flight to Cusco.

Spanish Lessons

All volunteers will participate in one week of Spanish lessons with professional teachers provided by our partner organisation. In this way volunteers will typically study Spanish in the mornings and volunteer at their placement in the afternoons. After their first week volunteers will participate in a language exchange program, where they will be paired with a Peruvian student studying English for one hour's conversation practise per day. The exchange program will continue throughout the volunteer's stay. The language exchange program is not available for the Jungle and Andean projects.

Program Requirements

As a volunteer in Peru you must:

• be at least 18 years of age
• have no health problems
• for the Healthcare Program volunteers must have a minimum basic level of Spanish
• for the Construction and Conservation/Wildlife programs volunteers must be physically fit

Program Cost

A US$350 application fee (fully refundable if you decide not to go) will secure your place on the program, with your program fee due for payment eight weeks before you begin your placement. You only pay your application fee once and then you can access any of GVN's volunteer programs over the next 5 years.

Your application fee includes the following benefits:

• Personal Staff Support
• Your Peru Program Guide
• Your Fundraising Guide and Software
• Access to Your Own Online Journal
• Online Video - Preparing For Your Trip
• Opportunities for Discounts on Airfares

Once your application fee is paid the remainder of the cost for your time in the Peru program is:

• Cost for 1 week - US $472
• Cost for 2 weeks - US $712
• Cost for 3 weeks - US $852
• Cost for 4 weeks - US $997
• Cost for 6 weeks - US $1277
• Cost for 8 weeks - US $1557
• Cost for 10 weeks - US $1837
• Cost for 12 weeks - US $2117
• Cost for 16 weeks - US $2677
• Cost for 20 weeks - US $3237
• Cost for 24 weeks - US $3797

The in-country fee covers your breakfast, lunch and dinner, accommodation, orientation session, airport pick-up, Spanish lessons and on-going support from our partner organisation. Included in this are weekly Salsa lessons, unlimited internet usage at our partner's headquarters, a monthly volunteer party and a certificate of completion from our partner organisation. The other costs you will need to meet are your flights, tourist visa (if applicable), shots, travel insurance, and departure tax. You will also need to cater for other expenses including transport to your project each day (approx. US $0.40 per day by bus), bottled water, personal costs, beverages, and entertainment. Your program fee also includes a donation used to support orphans in Peru.

Your program fee includes the following benefits:

• Your In-Country Fee
• In-Country Support
• 24hr Emergency Line
• Membership To The Change Makers Club
• International Travel Advice
• Letter Of Completion

Apply for the Peru Program

Your application process is free and seamless and if you are successful we will provide you with a choice of application fee payment options that include a secure online service. We also are one of the few organizations that offer a full money back guarantee on your application fee if you decide not to go.
Click here to apply for the Peru program.

Frequently Asked Questions

We have put together the following page, which answers the majority of questions people have.
Click here

Online Spanish Lessons

Global Volunteer Network has established a partnership with the Spanish school Instituto Exclusivo, which offers GVN volunteers a 5% discount off their online Spanish lessons. This is not like other courses which give you pages of web material or recordings of various phrases to repeat. You will speak to, and see your instructor as he/she is giving you a private lesson, tailored to your level of Spanish.
Click here

Volunteer Journals

If you would like to read about the experiences of some of our volunteers who are currently volunteering, you can do so here. This journal service is provided free to all our volunteers.
Click here

Application Process

All applicants will be notified by email as to whether their application has been successful.

(1) Complete the Application Form: Fill out the application form below. Upon receipt of the form we will assess your suitability for the program within two working days.

(2) Contact You: If you are successful we will then email you a letter of acceptance.

(3) Decision Point: Once you have read through the letter of acceptance and we have answered any questions or concerns that you might have, it is time to pay your US $350 application fee to secure your place on the program. Please note that we will fully refund your application fee if you decide not to go.

(4) Confirmation: Once the application fee is paid, our volunteer partner will contact you to ensure everything is organized. We will also send you the link to our program guide which covers topics such as country information, travel links, visa application process, fundraising ideas and much more!

(5) Communication & Support: Throughout the application process, we are committed to working with you to answer any of your questions or concerns. During your placement we are also available as a form of support to you as a volunteer and will email you while in country to discuss how the program is going.

To apply for this program, click here