Description

Volunteers live together in a volunteer house and work with two different projects in Arequipa, an orphanage and a community English school.

Volunteering at the orphanage involves assisting with the day-to-day running of the orphanage, helping the children with their homework and general care. You can also teach the children and play all sorts of games with them.

Volunteering at the school involves preparing and teaching both English lessons and different types of games. You can also teach arts and crafts, music, dance, drama etc. There is also a need for volunteers to help with maintenance at the school which involves building and decorating.

A typical day at the Orphanage:

The objective is give give the full time workers a break by undertaking domestic chores although there are also chances to get involved with the care of the children and babies, and have some fun with them too!

Tasks include:
* Washing clothes etc
* Ironing
* Cleaning
* Cooking
* Playing with the children
* Assisting the children with homework
* Teaching the children English, art, music, sports etc (depending on volunteer skills)

Every month or so a "Special Saturday" visit or outing is arranged for the children in which all volunteers are welcome to participate.

A typical day at the Community School:

The basic objective is to improve the lives of the children by spending quality time with them, keeping them off the streets and providing them with a stimulating environment and resources which they can utilise to improve their skills, concentration and confidence. And hopefully to take some of the pressure off their parents as well!

English is taught as the main source of income in Arequipa is tourism and the majority of tourists / travellers here speak English so it is providing them with a very desirable skill.

Tasks include:
* Planning and teaching English lessons
* Playing / teaching sports to the children
* Teaching the children arts and crafts, music, dance, drama, other languages etc.
* Maintenance activities - only if you want to get involved in this aspect of the project

Highlights

* Get involved in local community projects
* Live in the beautiful "white city" of Arequipa
* Join a group of other volunteers
* Explore amazing sights of Peru including the Colca Canyon and Machu Picchu

Peru has become famous for its amazing historic sites and stunning landscapes, but unfortunately, even with all of these advantages, it is still a very poor country and the majority of the population has very little opportunity to make a better life for themselves.

By volunteering on these projects you will be helping make a difference to the lives of disadvantaged children and enabling them to have a better start in life. You will also provide much needed assistance to the local carers and staff who have dedicated their time to these projects.

Qualifications

No previous experience or specific qualifications are required to volunteer on this project.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

2 weeks: GBP 475, extra weeks: GBP 50 per week

Program Fees Include:

* A comprehensive information booklet and pre-departure support
* Travel advice and assistance
* Being met on arrival at Arequipa
* An introduction to the volunteer house and Arequipa
* Introduction to your project
* Accommodation in the volunteer house (shared rooms)
* Ongoing support, help and advice from our local team

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Age Range

18+

This Program is open to

Worldwide, American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi and South African Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Apartment/Flat

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 10-20

Application Process Involves

• Phone/Video Interview
• Letters of Reference
• Written Application

Personal Overseas Development (PoD)'s Mission Statement

PoD is a leading non-profit organization arranging ethical, inspiring and supported volunteering opportunities around the world. Established in 2001, our aim is to support ongoing projects with our partners in Belize, Cambodia, Nepal, Peru, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand and Vietnam by providing passionate and committed volunteers. We work with long term projects that we know personally and where there is genuine benefit to local communities. A placement with PoD will not only develop volunteer's skills and confidence, get them out of their comfort zone and exploring incredible parts of the world but also the ability make a genuine difference. We currently offer gap year, career break, working holiday, volunteer projects and school expeditions from 1 week to 6 months with year round departures. We offer a personal and professional service drawing on years of experience from staff in the UK and overseas. Volunteers are needed to help work with disadvantaged children, communities, animals and conservation projects including: caring for elephants and wild animals; joining an Amazon jungle conservation project; scuba diving and marine conservation; community building projects; volunteering at orphanages and care homes; teaching English and running summer English camps. PoD believes in providing challenging, safe and fun experiences for individuals and groups to enjoy. We are passionate about giving volunteers of all ages the opportunity to use their energy, enthusiasm and personality where it counts.

Year Founded

2001