Description

Teach vocational skills such as cooking, business management, computers, mechanics, crafts, etc. according to your skill sets and experience. This will be done through workshops, that you will prepare and deliver. Volunteers are welcome to propose suggestions in advance for workshops based on their interests and abilities.

Typically, the start of your day will involve planning and preparing the day's workshops. This includes: brainstorming the topic, gathering necessary supplies, preparing presentation materials such as posters and flip charts,(if applicable), and creating interactive worksheets for the boys. Three afternoons a week, after the boys have returned from school, you will conduct the workshops, which will be approximately an hour in length. These may be split into two groups, one for the younger boys and one for the teens, thus you will be giving two workshops back to back.

Volunteers may be asked to play games, help with homework or do chores and/or mix socially, (while in the home), with the boys; thus providing a positive role model, by example.

Highlights

AIDENICA, or Asociacion para la Atencion Integral de Niños de la Calle (Association for the Comprehensive Care of Street Children), is an organization dedicated to improving the lives of street children. They run a home, called Casa Hogar AIDENICA, which has accommodations for up to forty children. While on the streets, most of these boys were involved with drugs and delinquent behaviour. The boys live at the house and do chores, attend high school, get help with their homework, learn vocational skills, and ideally by the age of 18 the boys will have learned enough to become self-sufficient.

AIDENICA was founded in 1996 by three street educators with many years of experience working with street children. They began by providing food to the boys and doing some educational work with them in the streets. The youth workers then received a donation of a house from a local lawyer and were able to house the boys in this building.

The Association for the Comprehensive Care of Street Children provides these former street boys an education, daily meals, clothing, vocational training, and a safe place to live. In the first few months at the home, the primary goal is social and psychological rehabilitation of the boys, as well as assistance to give up drugs. They attempt to reconcile the boys with their families so they can return home, but if that is not possible due to extreme poverty or past abuse, the boys remain at AIDENICA.

There are many thousands of street children in Lima, most of whom are boys. They end up on the streets mainly as a result of poverty in their homes, with parents unable to provide for them, and sometimes to escape family violence, neglect, or abuse. In the streets they often must work to earn very little money, missing out on the opportunity to attend school, or end up in gangs for protection. The Peruvian government does run programs to care for such children and youth, but the funding is very limited, leaving a large gap for private organizations to fill. AIDENICA is one such organization that is trying to provide for the needs of children that live and work in the streets.

In all of Peru, there are about three million children working in the streets. They are usually driven there by poverty and/or to escape family violence; forcing them to help themselves and/or their families earn a living by selling and begging. Once in the streets, they are often subject to abuse from older children and also usually forced to drop out of school. Some end up in gangs and/or become addicted to sniffing glue in order to survive the streets.

A vocational instructor is important for this organization in order to teach the boys employable skills and thus become productive and contributing members of their community. Educational activities/knowledge to enhance their future can greatly vary: cooking, mechanics, computer repair, basic web design, handicrafts, business management, plus numerous others. Skills that will allow the boys to seek and obtain work and/or become entrepreneurs in the future.

The main goal of AIDENICA is to guide and provide for the boys until adulthood. At that time, when they leave AIDENICA, they should be well-adjusted, fully functional adults with an education and practical life skills. The volunteers role is to actively help achieve that goal for these boys. Providing them with the opportunity to learn employable skills, you will be supplying them with the tools to raise themselves out of poverty, otherwise they may end up in a life of street vending or other types of inconsistent, low-paying work.

Qualifications

Education or experience in whatever topics you plan to deliver for the vocational workshops. For example, if you plan to teach workshops on business management, you will need an educational background in business/marketing. For computer workshops, a working knowledge of both basic and advanced computer operations is necessary.

Minimum Education

High School

Intern Types

• Education
• Psychology
• Social Work
• Sociology

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

USD 3,245 for 8 weeks; USD 250 each additional wk.

Cost Includes:

• Emergency evacuation services
• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Language instruction
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

Upon arrival in country our staff will pick you up at the airport and return you to our Orientation Center for a safety briefing and general country orientation. For this program you are required to complete one - 4 weeks of language training and orientation which is included in the cost of the program. At the end of that week you will transfer to your placement to begin volunteering. Our staff are available to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week should you require help of any kind.

Experience Required

yes

The volunteer should be prepared to deal with sensitive issues like abuse, neglect and drug addiction. Flexibility is also essential, as the workshops may not always go according to plan and you will need to adjust your time and your topics accordingly.

Volunteer Types

• Education
• Social Services, Social Work
• Youth
• Youth Development
• Youth Ministry

Typical Volunteer

We believe everyone can contribute by volunteering. Recent graduates from high school, college or university, professionals taking a career break, recent retirees, individuals or groups who are interested in a change and the chance to enrich their own life and the lives of others. If you are 18 years or older you can apply for any of the placements available. If you are from 16-18 years old you may apply for placements near our Volunteer Abroad Office and Residence, so that we are able to give you more support. Both students and professionals are needed for placements in all our countries.

Age Range

18+

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Dormitory
• Group living
• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups of Depends on the placement

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Resume

Typically The Application Process Time is

24-48 hrs

Basecamp International Centers's Mission Statement

We believe international volunteering promotes cross-cultural learning that helps create global awareness, understanding between cultures and provides the platform for positive change. Our volunteers have taught in schools, provided disaster relief support for the International Red Cross, conducted essential research to improve the management strategies of threatened environments, built homes for impoverished people, provided vocational training and programs for street kids and have worked in co-operation with hundreds of local organizations to distribute aid and improve the quality of life for people throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Year Founded

1998