Description:
Be part of it with i-to-i!
Our goal is to achieve 400 years of combined volunteering all over the world by the end of 2008.
So far we have achieved 325 years which when broken down means we achieved the following:
- Over 5500 children cared for on our community projects around the world
- A minimum of 13,000 children and adults taught English in schools and community centers
- Hundreds of animals protected including Turtles, Pandas, Elephants, Monkeys and more
- At least 80 homes and structures built for families and communities in need
- More than 8000 trees planted which are enough trees to offset the CO2 emissions of over 2,000 cars
Want to teach English in the heart of Inca country?
Beautiful Peru attracts as many people for its cultural history as it does for its natural beauty, mainly because the sites of most historical significance seem to be perched on top of the tallest mountains around. The Incas must have had strong legs. But if you don't fancy the hike you can still find a wealth of traditional culture in far more knee-friendly terrain. Our partner project in Pomacanchis is in the heart of the ancient Inca civilization and offers shelter, food, health care and education to local children. In your time off you can visit the Inca ruins, meet the indigenous people who still live in the area and build up those muscles on the famous Inca Trail. We also include our TEFL certification to get you in the swing of things.
Find out more about i-to-i, watch their short video here: http://video.i-to-i.com/site-videos/video.html
Highlights:
Working in one of two centers either at Casa Acogida Virgen de la Natividad or Hatun Sonqo you will be working with children who need a better start in life.
Casa Acogida Virgen de la Natividad, located in the historic city of Cusco, opened in 2005 offers shelter and protection to teenagers who have been victims of commercial sexual exploitation. They aim to provide care and education to be rehabilitated into society. The home currently lodges up to 15 girls between the ages of 13 and 17.
Hatun Sonqo (big heart in Quechua) is a sheltered home for between 30 and 40 children. Most of the children are bilingual, speaking Spanish and Quechua. It is located in the district of Pomacanchi, a small village in the province of Acomayo, department of Cusco, which is 2 and a half hours away from the city of Cusco.
This home offers shelter, food, clothing, health care and educational support to the children, whose ages range from 3 to 17 years old. All of the children are from vulnerable backgrounds and if they did not come to the center would be left to their own devises or be expected to work long hours caring for animal stock in the fields or caring for younger siblings. The majority of the children have only a single parent who work themselves long hours in the fields. Some children are from the immediate local area, and some of them come from neighboring communities. Most of the children make their way to the center after midday, some coming when they have finished school.
Hatun Sonqo currently operates in a rented building, however funds have been raised to purchase a more purpose built property with land for play and activity for the children as well as land to develop for sustainable agriculture and self sufficiency. As this is a community-based project, activities are flexible. However, we can say that during the mornings the volunteers will help with the maintenance of the Center and in the afternoons, when the children arrive, you will organize and participate in workshops with them, teach English to children and join in general activities.
Qualifications / Skills Needed:
You need to really enjoy working with children, be patient, determined, imaginative and compassionate! It would help if you are reasonably independent as this project is quite isolated, being a good distance from Cusco and conditions are basic. Also, the more Spanish you know, the better you will get on, as the children do not speak English.
Language:
English
Cost in US$: US$ 1590.00 for 3 weeks, US$ 200.00 for every week thereafter
Cost Includes:
Food,
Housing,
In-country orientation/Training,
In-country staff support
and Written materials pre-departure
* Accommodation: Dependent on location; dormitory room at project or shared room in homestay
* Food: Breakfast and dinner
* Airport Pick-up: Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you're arriving early!
* Training: In-country orientation and Online TEFL course
* Support: In-country orientation and Online TEFL course
Experience Required: no
Typical Volunteer Projects:
childcare/children
and community development
Typical Volunteer: Both projects lack the funds to hire staff and buy resources, so volunteers play an important role in brightening and improving the lives of some of the most vulnerable Peruvians imaginable.
Age Range: 18 years old and up
This Program is open to
World Wide
Participants.
.
Typical Living Arrangement:
Group living
Post Services Include:
Alumni Network
i-to-i Meaningful Travel's Mission Statement: Founded in 1994, i-to-i is an award-winning organization providing unique opportunities for you to travel, work and live abroad. Thousands of travelers aged 18 to 80 have joined our volunteer vacations and over 15,000 have learned to Teach English as a Foreign Language through our tailor-made TEFL courses.
With over 300 projects on 4 continents, you can join the worldwide i-to-i volunteer community on an extended adventure in areas such as teaching, community development, sports coaching, conservation, building or internships in tourism, marketing, journalism, or health.
Year Founded: 1994