What do volunteers do?
Volunteers work at either a local organization that supports different communities in traditional textile production through training and marketing services, or at a cultural center featuring local art, music and theater. There may also be opportunities to work on projects with rural farmers. Volunteers assist local staff in the creation of marketing materials and on administrative work, for example client service and conducting research. Additionally, a wide variety of other activities may come up and volunteers may have the opportunity to help there too.
 
Requirements to participate:
-At least an intermediate level of Spanish.
-The flexibility to participate in many different tasks depending on the ever-changing needs of the organization.
-The creativity and initiative to work in an environment with limited resources.
-The cultural sensitivity to engage visitors and clients in a professional manner.
-Education and/or professional experience in a relevant field like business, marketing or public relations.
 
Minimum time commitment:
12 weeks.
 
Project schedule:
The project starts every Monday and runs year-round.

Please note:
1. In their application, volunteers must provide their resume/CV.
2. Depending on the needs of the organization and motivations and qualifications of volunteers, volunteers may have the opportunity to spend time in the field. However, like any high-skilled, post, this opportunity requires that volunteers spend a significant amount of time in the office, especially when they begin and are getting up the learning curve. Additionally, remember that volunteers are not interns—while guidance is provided, there is no formal training and volunteers are ultimately responsible for being very proactive in finding ways to contribute.

What do volunteers do?
Volunteers work at a geriatric center that is home to about 200 elderly people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Many of them are from rural areas and only speak Quechua. Volunteers work with the aim of providing emotional support and promoting a fun and uplifting environment. Volunteers help in different tasks, including housekeeping, serving meals and assisting the elders in their daily routines. They also participate in workshops on painting and making handicrafts to stimulate creativity and a sense of community at the center. As the center has limited resources, including local personnel, volunteers operate with a high degree of independence.
 
Requirements to participate:
-The patience and sensitivity to connect with senior citizens.
-A very caring and open attitude.
-Spanish is not required, although at least a basic level is helpful.
-Education and/or professional experience in a caregiving-related field is not required.
 
Minimum time commitment:
1 week.
 
Project schedule:
The project starts every Monday and runs year-round.

Please note:
1. Prior to arrival, volunteers must provide a police background check. Without it, volunteers will not be allowed on the project.

What do volunteers do?
Volunteers work four to five hours a day in a local orphanage in or around Cusco. The children range from 6 to 16 years old. Volunteers help with homework and partake in activities like cooking, dancing, making art and sports. Depending on the need, volunteers may also have the opportunity to lead workshops on topics interesting for the children, for example about music, sports or the culture of the country where volunteers are from.
 
Requirements to participate:
-The energy to keep children stimulated.
-A very caring and open attitude.
-English is not required, although at least a basic level is helpful.
-Education and/or professional experience in a caregiving-related field is not required.

Minimum time commitment:
2 weeks.
 
Project schedule:
The project starts every Monday and runs year-round.
 
Please note:
1. Prior to arrival, volunteers must provide a police background check. Without it, volunteers will not be allowed on the project.

What do volunteers do?
Volunteers work with children ages 4 to 16. The children come from disadvantaged families and the center offers them a positive and safe environment to come to after school. Volunteers collaborate in a program aimed at meeting the educational, physical, psychological and social needs of the children. Volunteer activities include demonstrating good health and hygiene habits like hand-washing and taking vitamins; helping the children with English, math and other homework; and leading discussions about topics like the environment and self-esteem. Volunteers also lead activities that include making handicrafts, playing sports and putting on plays to encourage collaboration and self-expression.
 
Requirements to participate:
-The energy to keep children stimulated.
-A very caring and open attitude.
-Spanish is not required, although at least a basic level is helpful.
-Education and/or professional experience in a caregiving-related field is not required.
 
Minimum time commitment:
1 week.
 
Project schedule:
The project starts every Monday and runs year-round.

Please note:
1. Prior to arrival, volunteers must provide a police background check. Without it, volunteers will not be allowed on the project.

What do volunteers do?
Volunteers work at a center dedicated to the nutritional rehabilitation of malnourished and undernourished children. Most of the children are 6 moths to 3 years old and come from poor families living in the outskirts of Cusco. The center has classrooms where the children receive preparatory education for grade school. Volunteers work four hours a day assisting children and their teachers in daily caregiving and educational tasks. Volunteers organize recreational activities and play with the children, and assist the local staff in checking the children’s nutritional status and preparing meals for them. The parents of certain children also attend and take part in the activities.
 
Requirements to participate:
-The energy to keep children stimulated. 
-A very caring and open attitude.
-Spanish is not required, although at least a basic level is helpful.
-Education and/or professional experience in a caregiving-related field is not required.
 
Minimum time commitment:
1 week.
 
Project schedule:
The project starts every Monday and runs year-round.

Please note:
1. Prior to arrival, volunteers must provide a police background check. Without it, volunteers will not be allowed on the project.

What do volunteers do?
The project supports a school that offers special education for children with disabilities at primary and elementary school levels, and vocational training for older children and adults in areas such as carpentry and tailoring. Volunteers work with children who are deaf or have other mental or physical disabilities. They help develop educational materials; assist in practical workshops about daily activities such as washing clothes, cooking and grocery shopping; and organize recreational activities for the students. Volunteers with the adequate professional or educational background can assist in physiotherapy and speech therapy sessions.  
 
Requirements to participate:
-The energy to keep children stimulated. 
-A very caring and open attitude.
-Spanish is not required, although at least a basic level is helpful.
-Education and/or professional experience in a caregiving-related field is not required.
 
Minimum time commitment:
3 weeks.
 
Project schedule:
The project starts every Monday and runs from mid-April to mid-December.

Please note:
1. Prior to arrival, volunteers must provide a police background check. Without it, volunteers will not be allowed on the project.

What do volunteers do?
Volunteers work in a shelter housing girls under 18 who have been abused, including girls who were forced into prostitution and victims of human trafficking. The shelter is a safe and peaceful place where the girls heal and gain confidence to lead healthy lives. There are small classrooms that are used for sewing, yarning and making different artisan products to sell in the city. Volunteers work with the aim of promoting the girls’ self-esteem and assisting them in different activities. Activities range from leading small classes with other volunteers on topics like English, geography and math to partaking in creative and vocational training workshops. 
  
Requirements to participate:
-At least an intermediate level of Spanish.
-The energy to keep children stimulated.
-A very caring and open attitude.
-Education and/or professional experience in a caregiving-related field is not required.
  
Minimum time commitment:
4 weeks.
  
Project schedule:
The project starts every Monday and runs year-round.

Please note:
1. Prior to arrival, volunteers must provide a police background check. Without it, volunteers will not be allowed on the project.

What do volunteers do?
Volunteers work with local teachers to help plan and lead classes for children 3 to 5 years old. The classes introduce the children to basic concepts in topics like language and math, and stimulate the children’s emotional, personal and social development through discussions and playtime. The classes be can overcrowded, so volunteers are important in maintaining classroom order and providing the children more individualized attention. 
 
Requirements to participate:
-At least a basic level of Spanish.
-The energy to keep young children stimulated.
- The creativity and initiative to lead classes with limited resources.
-Teaching experience and/or certifications are not required.
 
Minimum time commitment:
2 weeks.
 
Project schedule:
The project starts every Monday and runs March through December. 

Please note:
1. Prior to arrival, volunteers must provide a police background check. Without it, volunteers will not be allowed on the project.

What do volunteers do?
Volunteers assist local teachers teach children ages 6 to 11. Volunteers work closely with teachers to create lesson plans, lead classes and provide individualized attention to students falling behind. Volunteers can work in one of the following classroom topics: art, computer, English, language and reading, math, music and physical education. 
 
Requirements to participate:
-At least an intermediate level of Spanish.
-Native English speaker (only for English teaching).
-The creativity and initiative to lead classes with limited resources.
-Education and/or professional experience in a field related to the classroom topic.
-Teaching experience and/or certifications are not required.
 
Minimum time commitment: 
2 weeks.
 
Project schedule:
The project starts every Monday and runs March through December. 

Please note:
1. Prior to arrival, volunteers must provide a police background check. Without it, volunteers will not be allowed on the project.

What do volunteers do?
Volunteers work four to five hours a day with children aged 6 to 16 years old. They work in a public school where most of the children come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Many of their parents work in the markets or peddle goods in Cusco’s streets. Volunteers lead workshops on French culture and, if volunteers are native French speakers, teach beginner to intermediate French. As most of the local teachers do not speak French or have little familiarity with the country, volunteers organize activities and lead classes on their own. As the need arises, volunteers also help the local teachers with their daily routines, which may include helping and teaching in other areas.
 
Requirements to participate:
-At least an intermediate level of French (to teach French, being a native French speaker)
-The creativity and initiative to lead classes with limited resources.
-Teaching experience and/or certifications are not required.
 
Minimum time commitment:
2 weeks.
 
Project schedule:
The project starts every Monday and runs March through December.
 
Please note:
1. Prior to arrival, volunteers must provide a police background check. Without it, volunteers will not be allowed on the project.

What do volunteers do?
Volunteers work in a health center. They work under the direction of local doctors and nurses and, depending on their qualifications, can contribute to a variety of medical areas including dentistry, diagnostic tests, emergency medicine, infectious diseases, OB/GYN and primary care. The doctors and nurses determine the level of responsibility delegated to volunteers, but activities may include assisting in the emergency room, conducting patient exams, helping patients with their rehabilitation and therapy exercises and suturing wounds. Additionally, volunteers work with patients to educate them on topics like dental care, early childhood development, nutrition, personal hygiene and reproductive health. 
 
Requirements to participate:
-At least an intermediate level of Spanish. 
-Must be at least 22 years old.
-The flexibility to participate in many different activities depending on the ever-changing local needs.
-At least a first-year masters student in medical or nursing school.
 
Minimum time commitment: 
3 weeks.
 
Project schedule:
The project starts every Monday and runs year-round.

Please note:
1. Volunteers must bring their own basic medical equipment, including doctor coats, eye protection, stethoscopes and rubber gloves.
2. Volunteers must bring to Cusco an official transcript from their university showing their coursework and/or a certificate proving they are a medical professional.
3. Prior to arrival, volunteers must provide a police background check. Without it, volunteers will not be allowed on the project.

What do volunteers do?
Volunteers work at a center for mental health patients. The patients live in the center and while they have different mental health problems all come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Volunteers work under the guidance of local psychologists and mental health specialists to assist in individual and group therapy sessions and counseling. They also participate in creative workshops like painting, pottery-making and drama, and collaborate in other programs designed to help patients develop new skills.
 
Requirements to participate:
-At least an intermediate level of Spanish.
-Must be at least 22 years old.
-The creativity and initiative to work in an environment with limited resources.
-Education and/or professional experience in psychology, social work or related fields.
 
Minimum time commitment:
4 weeks.
 
Project schedule:
The project starts every Monday and runs year-round.

Please note:
1. Volunteers must bring to Cusco an official transcript from their university showing their coursework and/or a certificate proving they are a professional in psychology.
2. Prior to arrival, volunteers must provide a police background check. Without it, volunteers will not be allowed on the project.

What do volunteers do?
Volunteers work at a center offering sports training and facilities to children ages 8-17 from underprivileged backgrounds. The center focuses on the following sports: athletics, basketball, boxing, gymnastics, martial arts, soccer, table tennis and weightlifting. For approximately four hours a day, volunteers assist local staff in training and coaching groups of children in a specific sport of their choice. They also help organize tournaments for the children from the different schools who are invited to take part in the activities of the center.
 
Requirements to participate:
-The health and physical capability to play sports on a daily basis.
-At least a basic level of Spanish.
-The creativity and initiative to work in an environment with limited resources.
-Education and/or professional experience in a sports-relevant field is not required.
 
Minimum time commitment:
3 weeks.
 
Project schedule:
The project starts every Monday and runs year-round.
 
Please note:
1. Prior to arrival, volunteers must provide a police background check. Without it, volunteers will not be allowed on the project.