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Peru is located in the continent of South America. Peru is bordered to the west by the Pacific Ocean, to the north by Ecuador and Colombia, to the east by Brazil and to the south east by Chile and Bolivia. The capital city is Lima, which has a population of 30 million people. The official language in Peru is Spanish.
Peru has a specific and diverse topography, which means its climate differs from other equatorial countries. While most of the country stands high above sea level, certain parts of Peru have diverse altitudes. Its territory largely consists of huge flat plains and the high peaks of the Andes.
There are three main climate types in Peru. Peru’s coastal areas are subject to an arid sub-tropical climate, where it is hot and rarely rains. In the Andes, the temperatures are very low. Here, rainfalls are common during summer months. The eastern area, meanwhile, consisting of the Peruvian Amazon, is characterised by a very humid and hot climate, as this rainforest is renowned for.
Peru operates in the Peru Time Zone (PET), which is equivalent to Eastern Standard Time (EST) and is 5 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-5:00). Importantly, Peru does not observe daylight saving time, so its time remains constant throughout the year.
The sol is the country’s official currency, with 1 Peruvian sol equating to approximately 0.27 euros.
The volunteer program is held in Huanchaco and Cusco
The stay begins as soon as the volunteer is picked up at the destination.
The meals included in the project/destination will be provided at the accommodation. Meals will not be included for the journeys to the destination, the excursions undertaken by volunteers, etc.
The stipulated pick-up times for each destination/project must be respected. Volunteers who arrive outside of this day/window will have to pay an additional cost, depending on the destination.
The volunteer program is held in Huanchaco, a coastal village located 30 minutes outside of Trujillo: Peru’s third largest city and the capital of the La Libertad region.
Huanchaco has 5000 inhabitants. Just outside the village, there are several ‘young towns’ that are largely populated by migrants from the Sierra. Many of the migrants came to the coast in 1997/1998 when the El Niño phenomenon caused serious flooding in their region, destroying their houses. For this reason, there’s a significant socio-economic difference between Huanchaco and its ‘young towns’. During your volunteer program you will live in Huanchaco. However, most of our projects are developed in the ‘young towns’ or involve working with individuals from these communities in public schools and community centres in Huanchaco.
In terms of culture, Huanchaco is renowned for its long-standing fishing tradition of sailing in reed watercrafts known as Caballitos de Totora. Local fishermen have been using Caballitos de Totora for the last 3000 years. In this village, fishermen are often seen surfing the waves to shore with their daily catch on board. This was the origin of Huanchaco’s surfing tradition. This village offers excellent year-round surfing conditions.
The climate in Huanchaco varies slightly from season-to-season. The hottest months (summer) are between December and April; however, the temperatures are hardly freezing in winter. It is often cloudy between June and October, with occasional rain spells. If you’re coming in winter, we recommend taking trousers and long-sleeve shirts. You should also take some things to wear on the warmer days.
The Cusco projects are located close to the country’s main tourist attraction (and one of the biggest tourist attractions on the planet), offering volunteers, in a unique and spectacular way, a rich historic and monumental legacy, nestled between mountains and multi-coloured valleys of lush rainforests and jungles, beautiful lakes and rushing rivers. The department of Cusco has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its main attraction is the Natural Sanctuary and Citadel of Machu Picchu, which is one of the seven wonders of the modern world.
REQUIREMENTS
COSTS
Volunteers assigned to Huanchaco should arrive at Capitán FAP Carlos Martínez de Pinillos International Airport (airport code TRU) or in Lima at Jorge Chávez International Airport (airport code LIM), where they will be picked up by local staff and subsequently transported to their accommodation.
*If the volunteer is applying for the Huanchaco program and wishes to arrive at Lima airport, they can be guided and advised by the local team to reach their final destination in Huanchaco.
Volunteers assigned to Cusco should arrive at Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport (airport code CUZ). Pickup days in Cusco will be on Sundays.
Visitors can sample a wide range of traditional Peruvian dishes. Peruvian cuisine is one of the country’s biggest attractions. Ceviche is one of the most famous Peruvian dishes; however, the most popular dish is grilled chicken.
Guinea pigs—also known as “cuyos”—are used as a main ingredient in several Peruvian dishes, with this animal being found in the Andes.
If you’re looking to get from one place to another in Peru, your best bet is to travel by road. In this country, the rail network is primarily used for industrial purposes. Peruvian roads are generally in a good condition. However, given the long distances between cities, we don’t recommend going by car. Buses are reasonably priced and connect almost all parts of the country.
Peru also has a well developed internal flight network, with air travel being the easiest and quickest way of getting from one place to another. That being said, it’s much more expensive that travelling by bus.
During the program, volunteers are able to walk from the accommodation to the project site, with these being located close to the volunteer residence or the house of the host family.
Peru has many tourist attractions of an archaeological nature. Being the cradle of the Inca civilisation, Peru is home to such iconic locations as Cusco, Machu Picchu and Arequipa. The historic centre of its capital city is another popular tourist attraction.
Tourism is very important for Peru. Its natural landscapes and impressive diversity are further attractions. The Andes and the Peruvian Amazon are two magnificent natural areas which are well worth visiting.
The objective of the project is to train young people to be social leaders. The volunteers live in a multicultural environment, work as a team to develop tasks or institutional projects, accompany the beneficiaries in their daily lives or through workshops, and collaborate with the needs of the centers and homes.
Social Inclusion of children, young people and grandparents in situations of social risk.
Attention to Centers and Homes for the protection and restitution of rights of socially vulnerable children, adolescents and older adults.
Social Action The volunteers committed to the project will work alongside the community, involving different actors in society and allowing the full fulfillment of the rights of all people.
This educational program is mainly developed in the community recreational center where we work teaching English, environment, literature, women/girl empowerment, sport, science, etc. The program is aimed at providing a safe space for children and teenagers from the community who come to the centre, offering them support in their homework and activities to learn and enjoy when they leave school. It is also a space for the mothers and their daughters to work on issues such as self-esteem, empowerment, emotions, etc. Furthermore, there are workshops and recreational activities for the women of the community to spend time away from their daily chores. It is a wonderful project and offers an unforgettable experience for all participants. English classes are also given in other educational institutions, such as the local public schools if the volunteer prefers. We offer positions in the different institutions depending on the availability of the projects during the requested dates. Tasks to be performed:
Availability Trujillo: During holidays the program is closed, volunteers can join local celebrations and/or rest.
Minimum stay: 2 weeks.
Our Medical Volunteer Program focuses on supporting different local clinics. The health problems faced by these care centres, often overcrowded due to lack of infrastructure, are sometimes caused by a lack of resources or basic health information.
With the help of volunteers, we aim to reach a larger population and have greater contact with the community through family visits, outreach work and public campaigns. Volunteers will be involved in helping to promote and maintain the effective, warm and efficient services provided by the Health Centre.
For certified doctors/nurses: we can develop specific roles and tasks depending on the skills and experience of each volunteer and the needs of the clinics, health clinics and local communities.
Minimum Stay: 2 weeks.
Social project that provides attention to children with different mental and physical abilities, carrying out recreational and teaching activities.
Activities to carry out:
The project is open all year round.
Logistics: Bus (0,30€/each trip) – 40-minute trip
Program schedule: L-V from 9 am to 1 pm
Minimum stay: 1 week
Dynamic classes to educate in an alternative way but within the educational system 60 children from infants to 5 years old using active Peruvian-European methodology. It re-evaluates functional Peruvian educational methodologies and incorporates the European cradle model in which the infant is the builder of his own learning through early stimulation, routines and play.
Activities to carry out:
The project closes during school holidays, from 15 December to 15 March.
Minimum stay: 1 week.
Logistics: Bus, (€0.30/each trip) – 15 minutes travel time.
Program schedule: L-V from 9 am to 1 pm
his is a social project focused on providing school reinforcement activities for children in primary and secondary education. Tasks to be undertaken:
Please note that the project is closed during the holidays, specifically from January to February. Logistics: Bus transportation is available at a cost of €0.30 per trip, with a travel time of approximately 40 minutes.
Program hours: M-F from 2 pm to 6 pm.
Minimum stay: 1 week.
It is a social project that serves around 20,000 beneficiaries from the surrounding population. It is a medical establishment where primary care and routine check-ups of community members are carried out. It is also known as a family health centre.
The areas of work are:
– General medicine, nutrition, psychology, dentistry, nursing, obstetrics, laboratory.
– Accompaniment in the activities of the areas: maternity, children, laboratory, psychology.
– Supporting staff in filling out medical records and registering patients.
– Accompanying doctors on duty in the different areas of the centre (by speciality).
Open all year round except national holidays.
Logistics: Bus, (€0.30/each trip) – 45 minutes travel time.
Timetable of the program: M-F from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Minimum stay Cusco: 2 weeks.
Social project that provides support and accompaniment to mothers in the preparation of food (lunch) in the peri-urban area of the city.
This food is provided to the population living around the community, at low cost and in some cases free of charge (social cases).
The beneficiaries are around 90 people, including pregnant women, children, the elderly, abandoned mothers and people with disabilities.
Where do the resources for food preparation come from? The municipal entity of the district provides monthly support (menestras) and an NGO provides non-perishable food from time to time. In general, food is provided with the minimum income they earn from the daily sales of lunch.
Activities to carry out:
The project is open all year round
Logistics: Bus, (€0.30/each trip) – 40 minutes travel time.
Timetable of the program: M-F from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Minimum stay: 1 week.
In this program you will work in a local shelter, which houses around 40 dogs previously living on the streets of Huanchaco and its surroundings.
The project aims to give a new opportunity to the dogs in the area, that’s why veterinarians and volunteers with previous experience in animal shelters are of great help, even though it is not necessary to have previous experience in order to help in this project.
Activities to develop:
In Huanchaco (Trujillo) the volunteers will stay in a family home.
The volunteer will have hot water, electricity, a living room and a garden among other things. It is a very comfortable space where we hope you will feel at home.
You will also enjoy 3 meals a day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be the meals you will enjoy. Vegetables, fruits, meats, legumes, among others, make up the typical Peruvian food.
In Cusco the volunteers will stay in a volunteer house. It is a volunteer house with kitchen and dining area and has several rooms with bunk beds (towels not included).
Meals are not included in the programs in Cusco. Volunteers usually have lunch and dinner outside the accommodation and spend around 25 euros between these two meals during the week. Upon arrival at the accommodation, you can consult with the local team in case you prefer to have lunch and dinner at the accommodation itself.
The total cost of the volunteer program is divided into two parts. The registration fee, paid to book your placement in the program, costs €210 (approx. 253 USD), with the program fee being paid afterward. The following list gives a breakdown of the program fee costs for each project.
| PERIOD OF THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM | PROGRAM FEE (EUROS, €) | PROGRAM FEE (USD, $)* |
|---|---|---|
| 2 WEEKS | 575€ |
649$ |
| 3 WEEKS | 730€ |
824$ |
| 1 MONTH (4 WEEKS) | 885€ |
1000$ |
| 5 WEEKS | 1040€ |
1175$ |
| 2 MONTHS (8 WEEKS) | 1505€ |
1700$ |
| 3 MONTHS (12 WEEKS) | 2125€ |
2401$ |
| 6 MONTHS (24 WEEKS) | 3985€ |
4503$ |
| PERIOD OF THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM | PROGRAM FEE (EUROS, €) | PROGRAM FEE (USD, $)* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 WEEK | 295€ |
333$ |
| 2 WEEKS | 395€ |
446$ |
| 3 WEEKS | 530€ |
598$ |
| 1 MONTH (4 WEEKS) | 665€ |
751$ |
| ADITIONAL WEEK | 135€ |
152$ |
Visa, flights, travel insurance (obligatory), vaccines, return to the airport, transport from the volunteer house to the project (€3 a week) and other personal expenses.
(*** Volunteers in Peru will generally find that €18 (approx. 25 USD) is enough to cover basic weekly expenses.) In Cusco, volunteers will usually spend around €25 a week on lunch and dinner.
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Our volunteers will be able to validate university credits with the aim of traveling in a more responsible and economical way.
What does volunteering focused on university practices involve?
At Cooperating Volunteers, we make agreements with different universities to validate university credits with the aim of traveling in a more responsible and economical way.
The specialties we work with are extensive: medical volunteering, nursing, education, social work, psychology, physiotherapy, engineering, architecture…
The practices can be carried out in our designated destinations for this purpose, as well as in Spain.
If you choose an international destination, it’s a unique way to live an unforgettable and enriching experience, as you will have the opportunity to continue your education in another country, with a completely different culture.
Stepping out of our comfort zone and being part of the various projects at the destination will allow us to grow both personally and professionally, creating a more extensive curriculum.
And we are fully convinced that this experience will accompany you throughout your life.
You will be able to visit hospitals, schools, centers, orphanages, and participate directly and actively in the daily lives of all those people at the destination, always accompanied by other professionals willing to collaborate hand in hand with you and guide you in daily tasks.
If your university is not part of the agreement with Cooperating Volunteers, you can contact cristina@cooperatingvolunteers.com so that we can get in touch and make this experience a reality.
Corporate volunteering consists of tailored programs for your company, designed to develop teamwork skills.
It is proven that teamwork directly impacts productivity.
Collective effort surpasses individual capabilities, promotes diversity of skills, stimulates creativity, and facilitates problem-solving in the face of various challenges.
Therefore, it not only maximizes efficiency but also enriches the work environment.
We conduct corporate volunteering programs that consist of customized programs for your company, designed to develop teamwork skills, improve performance, and foster unity among employees.
We tailor projects to the corporate identity and size of the company, and we can adjust them to any destination and time of the year.
The advantages of corporate volunteering include:
The future is aligned with a more responsible society, and participating in social projects positions our company among the list of revolutionary businesses that want to be part of the change.
If you resonate with this message, corporate volunteering is a unique experience both individually and collectively, and at Cooperating Volunteers, we accompany you throughout the process to make it a unique journey.
Quality time spent with family strengthens emotional bonds, promotes communication, and contributes to the emotional well-being of its members.
Spending quality time with family and being able to disconnect from our hectic routines is not only enriching but also necessary.
Sometimes we forget to communicate, connect, and dedicate time to each other. Each one of us lives focused on our jobs, schools… And it’s necessary to find the opportunity to pause and take care of ourselves.
Quality time spent with family strengthens emotional bonds, promotes communication, and contributes to the emotional well-being of its members. And of course, it creates lifelong positive memories.
At Cooperating Volunteers, we suggest moving away from those ‘more superficial’ trips (which can also be fantastic), but we invite you to live this experience to bring out our most empathetic and humanitarian side.
Family volunteering gives us the opportunity to be part of a positive impact, promoting values of solidarity and social responsibility.
There are many families who choose to experience these trips focused on cooperation and direct involvement with different communities around the world, where living conditions are very different and sometimes entirely precarious.
Projects are tailored to different ages, allowing us to work together.
An incredible way to fill our suitcase with memories, learning, and knowledge.
And although stepping out of our comfort zone often feels daunting, we assure you firsthand that it’s worth it.
At Cooperating Volunteers, we accompany you throughout the entire experience, from start to finish, to make it unforgettable.
At Cooperating Volunteers, we believe it’s never too late for anything, especially for volunteering and living a unique and unforgettable experience.
There are many people, increasingly so, who opt for responsible travel that involves social work.
Accustomed to organized and mostly touristic trips, at Cooperating Volunteers, we want to advocate for a more enriching experience, one that transforms us from within and allows us to be part of the change the world needs to see.
We can adapt both the destination and the duration of our projects to fit your needs.
It’s an opportunity full of emotions that allows us to significantly contribute to different communities and their evolution. And you can participate in different areas such as education, social support, or assistance in different centers.
Some of the benefits include:
Living this experience will undoubtedly be a before and after.
A volunteering initiative with leadership and impact through the educational action program.
When we talk about social volunteering, we refer to all those actions and activities carried out altruistically, selflessly, and with the aim of addressing multiple problems and needs of different communities, always focused on education and self-sufficiency.
Education is essential because it provides the tools and knowledge necessary for personal, social, and economic development.
Our goal is to create self-sufficient communities and provide opportunities for the future personal development of each member. The message is not to ‘give’, but to accompany in the process of training for self-managed provision.
At Cooperating Volunteers, many of our destinations and projects embrace this type of volunteering. Some of our projects include: community programs, education, women’s empowerment…
And although they are completely different from each other, they share a single objective: progress towards a society that can embrace us all in the same way.
If you are someone who is restless, who needs to see a change in the future, volunteering is an experience tailor-made for you.