Community EducationPeru

Volunteers support 50 children aged 6-18 years old at a community centre in the mountain city of Huaraz.

The centre aims to help educate young children deemed ‘at risk’ of dropping out of the school system due to poverty or lack of family support. It provides a free care service where children can access much needed academic and welfare assistance in a safe and family orientated environment.

Each day will differ and volunteers provide additional support including:

• Helping with homework; Spanish, English, maths and other subjects
• Assisting with individual learning and working with children to build confidence
• Leading activities: music, arts and crafts, active games and sports
• Helping on the nutrition awareness programme, healthy living and hygiene education
• Preparing and serving meals
• General maintenance / cleaning at the school
• Fundraising / awareness and engagement activities

Volunteers are encouraged to use their imagination to come up with activities to engage the children. If you have any specific skills or interests then the team are always eager for you to share these with the staff and children.

Most of the children come from families where the parents have to work long hours to support the family and/or cannot read or write. The centre also tries to educate the children’s parents about the importance and benefit of them staying in school.

Evening classes 

In evenings, volunteers also have the option to work with the volunteer coordinator in providing informal teaching sessions for adults in the local community looking to practice their conversational English. These relaxed sessions are a fun way to help participants to improve their English skills, and for you to build on your own Spanish in the process!

“Our volunteers are the lifeblood to our organization - they bring new ideas, energy and creative projects to our classroom. Most importantly, they offer support, encouragement and knowledge to our students whom are our top priority.”
Yuri, Project Director

Typical day

On arrival you will have your induction where you will learn more about Huaraz and receive an introduction to your role at the project.

Volunteers work five days per week, Monday to Friday. The day is split into 2 sessions:

• 9am - 12pm - sessions for older secondary level students, before they attend public school in the afternoon
• 3pm - 6pm - sessions for younger primary level students, following their morning at public school
• 6:30pm - 8pm - sessions for adults within the local community to improve their conversational English (Monday to Thursday)

Friday is generally the sports, arts or games day, so if you have a particular passion or workshop you would like to do, this is the best day for it!

During school holidays (January - March and the first two weeks of August), the team run lessons for the children from 9am to 1pm each day. These lessons focus on subjects such as literacy and maths skills, computer workshops and life skills. There are extra classes in the afternoons for the older children which may include watching an educational film, a maths lesson, or playing games.

On your days off you can enjoy free time activities in and around Huaraz.

Other volunteers

There are generally between 1-6 volunteers with a maximum of 10 who work alongside a local coordinator and full-time teacher.

Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award

This placement has been approved by the DofE as meeting the requirements for the Residential section of the Gold Award.

Child Protection

Pod is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults - please see our Child and Vulnerable Adults Protection Policy. All volunteers are required to have a criminal records check, which we will arrange with you.

Local support

You will be supported by the local team led by Yuri, the founder and school director. Yuri is a qualified music teacher and accountant and has devoted his life to improving the education levels in his home town of Huaraz.

The volunteer apartment is basic but in a great central location. It is adjacent to the project and a short walk to the city centre. Bedrooms are shared with up to 6 volunteers per room and there are shared bathrooms.

The apartment has a fully equipped kitchen, living area, roof terrace and there is WIFI. 

Volunteers may choose to stay in either a private double or twin room which are nice options for those wanting more privacy, or couples or friends travelling together. There is a weekly supplement for these options.

Meals

Meals are not included in this placement so volunteers can choose to prepare their meals in the volunteer apartment or eat out at one of the many cafes or restaurants. Here are typical examples of meals: 

• Breakfast – fruit, cereal, toast, porridge
• Lunch – sandwiches, salad, pasta, ceviche, soups
• Dinner –  pizza, burger, chips, meat dishes, beans, stews, rice, pasta

There are vegetarians and vegans options available. 

Purified drinking water is available at the volunteer apartment or you can choose to buy water at local supermarkets.

Located in northern Peru, Huaraz is the provincial capital of the Ancash Region and is at the foot of the spectacular Cordillera Blanca Mountain Range. Huascaran, the highest mountain in Peru, is frequently visible from the city centre from behind the clouds! 

Huaraz is a small but lively city, filled with thriving markets, cafés and restaurants and a hub for the outdoor tourist industry. In Huaraz Just about everything you need is on or near the main street - Calle Luzuriaga – which is a short walk from the volunteer accommodation.

Surrounding the city, there are lots of outdoor activities including day walks, trekking, mountain climbing and mountain biking. Further into the Callejón de Huaylas (or ‘Peruvian Switzerland’) there are beautiful glacial lakes and some of the most remote areas of the Andes.

Your weekends will be free for you to enjoy the local area. A graduate of the community school is training to be a tour guide so he can advise you on the best places to explore. These activities are best booked locally once you are at the project.

Travelling in Peru before or after your placement

Peru is famous for Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail, however there is so much more to this truly diverse South American country from the snow-capped Andes Mountains to giant sand dunes in Huacachina. Popular things to do in Peru that you might like to combine with your project are:

• Visiting the Machu Picchu on a mountain hike along Inca Trail or on a day trip from Cusco
• Exploring the colonial cities of Lima 
• Hiking the Colca Canyon or Sacred Valley

For more information on Peru and some of the things we loved when we visited there please see our Peru country page. This also features all our other Peru volunteering projects as you might like to consider combining this project with one of the others we offer to make a trip of a lifetime!

Climate

Huaraz has a consistent climate with highs of around 23°C and lows of around 9°C each month. It is typically dry throughout the year but there is slightly more rainfall from January to March. Huaraz sits 3,005 metres (10,100 feet) above sea level so the sun is stronger in this region and some may experience mild affects due to the altitude.

Chloe - 2019

"My three weeks at the Community Education project were fantastic, and the only thing I regret is not staying longer. I could have easily stayed for at least a couple of months. The children are incredibly sweet and accepting of new volunteers, and they all have a special place in my heart. 

In the mornings, you will help the older children with their work which can be quite complicated, but you know that you are being a real help to the students. For three hours at lunchtime, you have free time to do whatever you like. Later in the afternoon, the younger children arrive and bring a lot of energy and playfulness with them. During the evenings, you can help with the adults' English class, giving you the chance to meet some lovely Peruvian locals, or you can learn some Spanish or go out to one of the many restaurants.

The director and international coordinator make sure that you are happy and will help you settle into the lovely city of Huaraz - a lively little city, full of Peruvian culture, parades and friendly people. Hiking at the weekends is a big plus."

Anna - 2018

“I had a wonderful time working with the Community Education project for the past two months. The kids were all so welcoming and getting to know each of them throughout my time in Huaraz was really rewarding. They are all incredibly kind, happy, smart and hilarious! I miss them so much already and will definitely cherish the time that I had with them.

Yuri and the local volunteers at the project are all great and will help you with any questions or concerns that you have. Also, the city of Huaraz is absolutely stunning with lots of amazing day hikes nearby that I would highly recommend."

Kamaldeep – 2017

“The project itself is very rewarding, with helping the children and lots of opportunities to play sports. Yuri the Director of the project has fantastic knolwegde of the area and is really helpful as is the overseas coordinator. A brilliant overall experience......I wish I could have stayed longer!!"

Summer - 2017

“Volunteering was the best experience I have had. I stayed for 3 and a half months and wish that there was a way I could stay for longer. Teaching the kids is so rewarding and all the Peruvian volunteers at the school are very welcoming. I have gotten close with all the other volunteers in the apartment and have plans to see some of them again."

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