Programs Abroad

PERU – Volunteer Work in the Health Care Sector

	Project: Volunteer Booking Nº: PE105 Country: Peru + Location: Cusco and surroundings Minimum Stay: 4 weeks Start dates: All year round Price: from 4 weeks, 830 USD
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Task

During your volunteer work, you will assist the doctors in hospitals and clinics, both in Cusco and in the surrounding rural areas. You will work with children with mental or physical difficulties, including Down's syndrome, missing limbs, serious burns, etc. that desperately need your assistance in their everyday lives.

Besides working with children, you will also have the opportunity to support elderly patients in need of medical care. Unfortunately, the majority of the patients come from rural areas where poor living conditions characterize their lives. During your volunteer work you will provide assistance in many different areas to the warm-hearted Peruvian people. Thanks to your help as a volunteer they will be able to enjoy their lives again.

Depending on your previous medical knowledge, you will have the opportunity to apply and improve your medical skills. If you don't have any previous knowledge of medicine, you will be able to closely monitor the nurses' and doctors' duties, especially observing all of the work that they do and assisting when you are needed. As a volunteer in this project you will gain many useful experiences which will broaden your personal horizons.

Accommodation

What could be more appropriate for a volunteer than being accommodated in one of our carefully selected host families? This accommodation arrangement will allow you to immerse yourself into the Peruvian culture and learn more about the country and its people.

You will stay in a private room with access to the common areas and receive all of your meals with the family. These meals are prepared by the host family giving you the opportunity to taste the typical dishes and gain insights into the Peruvian way of life. This unique experience paves the way for you to apply and improve your language skills in order to become a fluent speaker in Spanish.

All of the host families live close to the clinics and medical centers. You can use the public transportation system in order to go to work and to meet other volunteers during your free time.

Requirements

Language:
Spanish skills required (you can book your Spanish course in Peru with us!)

Skills:
No professional skills or experiences required.

Age:
18+ years

Vaccination:
Not required. Please consult us and your doctor for specific recommendations.

Insurance:
Full travel and medical insurance is required. You can purchase a full coverage, no deductible health and travel insurance at a special rate for our participants by contacting your South America Inside representative.

Visa:
Tourist visa valid for 90 days. For further information regarding visa requirements please contact us and the corresponding embassy or consulate in your home country.

Details

As part of the medical volunteer work, you are able to actively and passively participate in various hospitals and clinics in Cusco and the surrounding areas like San Juan de Dios.

In each location, the medical personnel are determined to provide access to comprehensive medical assistance that leads to complete rehabilitation for their patients. The other hospital staff set high standards for the support and care of the patients outside of their medical treatments. They help create an environment that is comfortable and encouraging and always have an open mind towards patients' problems, questions and needs. As a volunteer, you will participate in many different tasks that range from taking care of children, carrying out home visits as well as assisting in kitchen and laundry duties. Your work will be very diverse and interesting changing daily, giving you the satisfaction to encounter happy and thankful people!

The project is directed towards assisting the indigenous and socially ostracized members of the Peruvian society who cannot afford comprehensive medical treatment. The project depends on donations and volunteer workers to be able to function. This is the perfect opportunity for you to contribute your part and to support the project by offering your compassion to those in need.

spanischkurs_cusco

Source: Google Maps

Prices

Duration	Price in USD
4 weeks	830.-
5 weeks	960.-
6 weeks	1,130.-
Additional week	130.-

Registration fee 75 USD.

What’s included:

Accommodation
3 meals / day (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Orientation kit
Local support
24h-Emergency Number
Laundry service (Homestay)
Volunteer Work Placement
Certificate of participation

What’s not included:

Flight
Medical Insurance
Visa (if necesary)
Local Travels

Country

Country information Peru

Peru sits in the vicinity of many countries. To the north is Ecuador and Colombia, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the southeast, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The Andes mountain range runs parallel to the Pacific Ocean, dividing the country into three geographic regions of coastline, Andes highlands and Amazonian jungle. About 60% of the countries territory is rainforest area, which qualifies Peru as the fourth country of great tropical forest expansion after Brazil, Congo and Indonesia.

Peru contains over 20,000 years of cultural reflection. Throughout the country exists historical evidence and traditional ways of life that are still alive today. Visitors often report their amazement of the abundant remains of former cultures, mystic tribes and Inca Empire deposits. A place like Chavín, a former pilgrim center, is where the culture of the Paracas and Pucarás and the gigantic Nazca lines are still all part of the rich culture. Last but not least, Peru is home to both the World Heritage city of Cusco, as well as the world famous Machu Picchu (one of the Seven Wonders of the World). Peru invites travelers to enjoy the country outside of the world of history as well with wonderful beaches, impervious jungles, fascinating Peruvian culture, and traditional Peruvian food and drink.

The three climatic zones of Peru entail three ideal times to visit this country. The average daily temperature of the Andes region is around 50°F with freezing nightly temperatures. Early June through August is the dry season of the mountainous region. Still, during the rainiest months of December through March the rainfall is minimal. The hot months of the highlands are December through March with extreme dry air; this coastal strip sees little rain year round. In the tropical regions, April through November entails humid weather and many picture perfect foggy mornings. The all-around peak season of travel to Peru is between June and August with drier weather and warm beach days! Lastly, the elevation of Peru makes all of these norms unpredictable as you explore higher into the Andes.

The Peruvians in general, are rather reserved and timid, but once you take steps to ¨break the ice,¨ you will discover that they are very warm and friendly people.