Peru – Children and Education Projects

Volunteers can work at either at a child care center, daycare, or after school program. On this Quest, you’ll work with abused, abandoned, or orphaned children who need attention, mental stimulation, and assistance in developing healthy social skills and self-confidence. Possible tasks for volunteers include helping with homework, teaching English, playing with the children, and organizing activities such as sports, crafts, reading, dancing, singing, or charades.

Available Dates: Quests start every Sunday, year-round
Minimum Stay: 1 week
Requirements: Basic Spanish, at least 15 years old

Recommended for volunteers who are studying psychology, social work or women’s studies. Female volunteers have the opportunity to work at a shelter with young mothers and children who have been victims of abuse and violence. The shelter also houses a nursery and a kindergarten, which is open to the women of the neighborhood. Possible tasks for volunteers include helping in the nursery, helping children with their homework, supporting mothers when needed, organizing activities for mothers and children (dancing, art lessons, games, charades, handicrafts, etc.), cleaning, teaching English, and more.

Available Dates: Quests start every Sunday, year-round
Minimum Stay: 4 weeks
Requirements: At least 18 years old, intermediate to advanced Spanish

Volunteers will work in public, state-funded schools that are free for the students, assisting teachers in classes such as English, math, sports, music and the arts, and more. Advanced Spanish speakers may be able to teach smaller groups of students independently.

Available Dates: Quests start every Sunday, March – mid-December
Minimum Stay: 4 weeks
Requirements: Intermediate to advanced Spanish, at least 15 years old

• Lodging at a local homestay
• Two home-cooked meals per day
• 8+ hours of Spanish or Quechua lessons
• Cultural activities and excursions
• Online pre-departure training with our Boston staff
• In-country airport transportation
• Emergency medical and travel insurance
• 24/7 in-country support and supervision
• A United Planet t-shirt

United Planet provides emergency travel and medical insurance for all volunteers. All Peru staff members participate in extensive health and safety training, and are available at all times by 24-hour phone line. Upon enrollment, you will receive a full emergency contact list. In addition, we register all of our volunteers with US Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). We recommend booking a doctor’s appointment or visiting a travel health clinic a few months out to update your vaccinations.  Read more about health and safety.

Due to varying airline prices, United Planet does not arrange or cover the cost of flights to and from Peru. However, we arrange all ground transportation to and from the airport in Peru and will ensure that you arrive safely at your host house in Cusco. Public transportation to and from your project is cheap and easy with Cusco’s public transportation system or by taxi. Daily commuting costs are covered by volunteers.