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Help Poor Disadvantaged Children in Peru and Improve Your Spanish

Placement number: 0154
Location:   Peru, South America 
Preferred Languages:   Spanish, English
Date:   All year round
Requirements:  Teachers, social workers, psychologists, project co-ordinations, medically trained people, language professionals, marketing and fundraising professionals. To get involved and make a difference,
Minimum Period:  Minimum 1 month preferred, no maximum

With approximately 54% of the population living below the poverty line, there is an increased need to help the most vulnerable people in Peru's society - the children. Many children, between the ages of 6-14 work in the streets or the countryside to help supplement the income of their parents and support their families. From shoe-cleaning in the cities to working in the mines in the countryside, this is a serious issue facing Peru. At Seeds of Hope, we educate the parents about the importance of schooling and the long term benefits that this will bring to their family. We mainly work with children who are at high-risk of dropping out of the educational system. 

We do this by providing a supportive environment in which they can obtain help and encouragement with their homework.  This is crucial as many of them come from families where the parents cannot read or write, or work long hours to feed and clothe their families.  Our main aim is to help the children so that they remain in education until the point of graduation.

This is an ideal opportunity to improve your Spanish - free Spanish tuition available.

We welcome international volunteers from all backgrounds to work in our projects. Our previous international volunteers have come from the United States, Britain, Canada, Fraance, Japan, Belguim, Germany and italy and are often trained in a variety of areas from teaching to engineering. They usually come to us whilst travelling in Peru, on a gap year, during retirement or simply for a working holiday.

Role of Volunteer

We have opportunities working with the children or behind the scenes and currently need teachers, social workers, psychologists, project co-ordinations, medically trained people, language professionals, marketing and fundraising professionals. 

We encourage anyone to volunteer as long as you have a bit of commitment and enthusiasm. We accept all professions and don't discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, religion or sexuality. 

WORKING WITH THE CHILDREN

Some of the daily activities we conduct:

• Work with the children to build up their basic reading, writing and arithmetic to a level appropriate for their age.
• Help the children with their homework and ensure it is completed by the end of the session.
• Ensure all the children understand the importance of personal hygiene, including showering, brushing their teeth, washing their face and hands, especially after using the bathroom.
• Provide food at the end of each session.

From time to time, we also bring in trained professionals for other matters, including:

• Sexual education with the aim of reducing teenage pregnancies and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV and AIDS.
• Legal advice to protect the rights and integrity of the children and their families.
• Psychological support for the children that come from broken families with a high incidence of violence and/or parental negligence, often due to economic conditions or alcoholism.
• Workshops which teach knitting, t-shirt printing, card making and ceramics so that we can start micro-businesses including the exportation of goods, creating jobs and providing income now and in the future

Cost

 

For each month, or part of a month, the cost of volunteering in both theCusco and Huaraz centres is:

Months 1 - 3: US$400

Months 4 - 6:  US$280

Month 7 onwards:  US$150

What is included in the costs?

Huaraz centre

·         Accommodation

·         Breakfast, lunch and dinner from Monday to Friday

·         Free Spanish tuition

·         Free internet access

Cusco centre

·         Accommodation

·         Breakfast, lunch and dinner from Monday to Friday

·         Free Spanish tuition

Please note that no meals are provided at weekends or during school holidays.

 

Travel

Volunteers responsibility to get to Huaraz or Cusco, Peru although we can help with travel arrangements.

Volunteer Comments

 

NADINE BOSSON (USA) 

Volunteered June 2007

It's an amazing moment when you feel all cultural barriers fall as each child approaches you with a smile, a hug, a kiss, and the words "professora". There's so much positive energy flowing through the school and they really appreciate the help and security of Seeds.  As they are successful and encouraged, their concept of their own abilities heightens and they gain more confidence.  It was early on when I felt that my month here would fly by and I would want to return soon to see the kids and their progress, their passion.

The volunteer atmosphere was incredible all the way through. The team is extremely dedicated and passionate about helping children in need and building the organization to help as many children as possible. It's truly an amazing grassroots organization that continues to grow rapidly, containing an amazing network of people who support Seeds here and in several other countries.

 

 



 

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