Overview
We support a community education programme based in Huaycan, which is in the district Lima. The fundamental aim of this programme is to offer the local people the chance to learn English. Volunteers lead and teach their own English classes, usually in pairs, to children and adults in various parts of Huaycan. It is not a requirement for you to speak Spanish in order to join this programme, as our aim is to teach all classes in English – however, it is helpful if you can pick up as much Spanish as you can.
Huaycan is a vast shantytown on the outskirts of Lima. The local people are originally migrants from rural parts of Peru who have settled in Huaycan to seek work in Lima. The people are generally miners and agricultural workers who do not place a high emphasis on education. Most children attend school irregularly and when at school they learn very little as Peruvian public schools are typically under resourced and overcrowded.
The community education classes give community members the chance to learn English from native English speakers – something they could never afford. For the younger generation, the classes supplement what they are learning in school as well as providing them with a safe and educational place to go rather than wandering the streets. Volunteers act as positive role models and give the children the chance to learn about international cultures.
Lessons with the younger children will require more instruction and your technique will need to be visual and very hands-on. However, when working with the adult classes, as many of the adults have a good foundation of English, you need to adopt a more laid back approach initiating debates and other group discussions, largely focusing on pronunciation and grammar. It is very important that you prepare thoroughly for each lesson. We have a number of resources at our Volunteer House for you to draw inspiration from and a teaching guide for you to follow.
Volunteers with a high level of Spanish proficiency can teach Maths, Art, French (if you can speak French) and even chess! We also run a number of sports and games classes for the young children that you can get involved in – these are always great fun!
Please note that there is no volunteer work from mid-December to early January.
Huaycan is a vast shantytown on the outskirts of Lima. The local people are originally migrants from rural parts of Peru who have settled in Huaycan to seek work in Lima. The people are generally miners and agricultural workers who do not place a high emphasis on education. Most children attend school irregularly and when at school they learn very little as Peruvian public schools are typically under resourced and overcrowded.
The community education classes give community members the chance to learn English from native English speakers – something they could never afford. For the younger generation, the classes supplement what they are learning in school as well as providing them with a safe and educational place to go rather than wandering the streets. Volunteers act as positive role models and give the children the chance to learn about international cultures.
Lessons with the younger children will require more instruction and your technique will need to be visual and very hands-on. However, when working with the adult classes, as many of the adults have a good foundation of English, you need to adopt a more laid back approach initiating debates and other group discussions, largely focusing on pronunciation and grammar. It is very important that you prepare thoroughly for each lesson. We have a number of resources at our Volunteer House for you to draw inspiration from and a teaching guide for you to follow.
Volunteers with a high level of Spanish proficiency can teach Maths, Art, French (if you can speak French) and even chess! We also run a number of sports and games classes for the young children that you can get involved in – these are always great fun!
Please note that there is no volunteer work from mid-December to early January.
Itinerary
Please make sure you arrive into Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM) on Wednesday. If you cannot find a suitable flight for Wednesday you should look to arrive a day later.
Day 1 (Wednesday) Arrival Day
¡Bienvenido! You will be met at Jorge Chavez International Airport by one of our friendly coordinators. We will drive you to our Volunteer House in Huaycan where you can meet your fellow volunteers and get some rest.
Your first day is always the most daunting but being in a house full of other international volunteers really helps you settle in.
Day 2 (Thursday) Orientation Course
Your orientation will start on Thursday morning. We will give you an introduction to the programme, a tour of the local area and a rundown of all the important info you need to know for your time in Peru.
After your induction we’ll talk about your weekly volunteer schedule so you know what classes you will be teaching.
Day 2 (Friday to Tuesday) Volunteering Begins
It’s time to start volunteering! Friday is the start of our volunteer week and your first day of teaching. Your first day is all about getting to know the children you’ll be working with, observing your fellow volunteers lessons, and figuring out the unique skills and ideas you can contribute.
During your first week you will always be paired up with at least one other volunteer so you can learn how to get to and from the project site, how to round up the children and where all the teaching materials are etc. Volunteers always help each other out so even if this is your first time volunteering there is no need to worry. Living and volunteering together, volunteers form strong and supportive relationships which really makes the whole experience all the more amazing!
Day 3-4 (Wednesday & Thursday) Weekends
No it is not a typing error, our volunteers’ days off are on Wednesday and Thursday! The teaching programme works around the schedule of the local people, so weekends (Saturday & Sunday) and evenings are the times when many of our classes take place.
Having your weekends during the traditional working week does mean you get to avoid the crowds of locals on their days off! There isn’t too much to do in Huaycan so most volunteers travel during their time off.
Just some of the awesome weekend activities you can be getting up to include: checking out the Huaycan ruins, exploring Lima, shopping at the local markets or hiking in Matucana and Pachacamac.
Volunteering Week
Your volunteering week is Friday to Tuesday. Lessons are spread out throughout the day so you will not be working a typical 9-5. In general, you will teach for around 4 hours per day. Most of the time you will be teaching in pairs but once you become more confident you will be able to teach classes by yourself.
Last day (Wednesday)
Ciao mi amigo! Wednesday is your last day in Peru. We’ll help you get to your next destination. A taxi back to Lima Airport is around £20 which we can arrange on your behalf.
Day 1 (Wednesday) Arrival Day
¡Bienvenido! You will be met at Jorge Chavez International Airport by one of our friendly coordinators. We will drive you to our Volunteer House in Huaycan where you can meet your fellow volunteers and get some rest.
Your first day is always the most daunting but being in a house full of other international volunteers really helps you settle in.
Day 2 (Thursday) Orientation Course
Your orientation will start on Thursday morning. We will give you an introduction to the programme, a tour of the local area and a rundown of all the important info you need to know for your time in Peru.
After your induction we’ll talk about your weekly volunteer schedule so you know what classes you will be teaching.
Day 2 (Friday to Tuesday) Volunteering Begins
It’s time to start volunteering! Friday is the start of our volunteer week and your first day of teaching. Your first day is all about getting to know the children you’ll be working with, observing your fellow volunteers lessons, and figuring out the unique skills and ideas you can contribute.
During your first week you will always be paired up with at least one other volunteer so you can learn how to get to and from the project site, how to round up the children and where all the teaching materials are etc. Volunteers always help each other out so even if this is your first time volunteering there is no need to worry. Living and volunteering together, volunteers form strong and supportive relationships which really makes the whole experience all the more amazing!
Day 3-4 (Wednesday & Thursday) Weekends
No it is not a typing error, our volunteers’ days off are on Wednesday and Thursday! The teaching programme works around the schedule of the local people, so weekends (Saturday & Sunday) and evenings are the times when many of our classes take place.
Having your weekends during the traditional working week does mean you get to avoid the crowds of locals on their days off! There isn’t too much to do in Huaycan so most volunteers travel during their time off.
Just some of the awesome weekend activities you can be getting up to include: checking out the Huaycan ruins, exploring Lima, shopping at the local markets or hiking in Matucana and Pachacamac.
Volunteering Week
Your volunteering week is Friday to Tuesday. Lessons are spread out throughout the day so you will not be working a typical 9-5. In general, you will teach for around 4 hours per day. Most of the time you will be teaching in pairs but once you become more confident you will be able to teach classes by yourself.
Last day (Wednesday)
Ciao mi amigo! Wednesday is your last day in Peru. We’ll help you get to your next destination. A taxi back to Lima Airport is around £20 which we can arrange on your behalf.
Accommodation and Meals
Volunteer House
All volunteers live at our Volunteer House in Huaycan which is a comfortable property close to the town centre. We can house up to 12 volunteers at any one time. Volunteers share rooms – we always try to have separate rooms for males and females but this cannot always be guaranteed. Volunteers sleep in bunk-beds, with up to six people per room.
The house has Wi-Fi and a communal computer for volunteers to use. There is also a dining area, kitchen, and lounge with a TV & DVD player. The house is cleaned six times a week – as it does get very dusty in Huaycan! A laundry service is available for a small charge, or alternatively you can choose to wash your own clothes.
The house is guarded at night by a security guard.
Meals
You are provided with three meals a day. Breakfast typically consists of cereal, toast and porridge – volunteers usually serve themselves. Our local cook prepares lunch and dinner. Meals are extremely delicious, healthy and varied.
There is a fridge in the kitchen which you can se to store special foods for yourself – there is a supermarket only a 15-minute drive from the house. Bottled drinking water is provided free of charge,
Peruvian cuisine is among the most varied and best in the world. Peruvian dishes are diverse and unexpected. The food is rooted in Incan origins, which are still evident today. Potatoes and rice are served with almost every meal. The most common meats are chicken, pork and lamb.
* Please inform us in your application if you have a preference of accommodation type and any dietary requirements. Couples, families and older volunteers will be accommodated to suit their needs.
All volunteers live at our Volunteer House in Huaycan which is a comfortable property close to the town centre. We can house up to 12 volunteers at any one time. Volunteers share rooms – we always try to have separate rooms for males and females but this cannot always be guaranteed. Volunteers sleep in bunk-beds, with up to six people per room.
The house has Wi-Fi and a communal computer for volunteers to use. There is also a dining area, kitchen, and lounge with a TV & DVD player. The house is cleaned six times a week – as it does get very dusty in Huaycan! A laundry service is available for a small charge, or alternatively you can choose to wash your own clothes.
The house is guarded at night by a security guard.
Meals
You are provided with three meals a day. Breakfast typically consists of cereal, toast and porridge – volunteers usually serve themselves. Our local cook prepares lunch and dinner. Meals are extremely delicious, healthy and varied.
There is a fridge in the kitchen which you can se to store special foods for yourself – there is a supermarket only a 15-minute drive from the house. Bottled drinking water is provided free of charge,
Peruvian cuisine is among the most varied and best in the world. Peruvian dishes are diverse and unexpected. The food is rooted in Incan origins, which are still evident today. Potatoes and rice are served with almost every meal. The most common meats are chicken, pork and lamb.
* Please inform us in your application if you have a preference of accommodation type and any dietary requirements. Couples, families and older volunteers will be accommodated to suit their needs.
Volunteer Fees
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What's Included?
- Accommodation - Meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Mon-Sat) - Airport pick up - In-country orientation - 24 hour in-country support Registration Fee: - 24 hour UK based support - Volunteer Handbook - 100% Financial Protection - Regular programme inspection |
What's Not Included?
- Local transport to/from project (£0-£2 per day) - Flights (£600-£800) - Insurance (£12 per week) - Return airport transfer (£20) - Visa (Free) - Criminal Background Check (£25) |