Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities for You:
ELIM ORPHANAGE

ELIM is an orphanage situated in a poor part of Cusco, Peru. There are 20 orphans in this home ranging in age from 7-18 years old. This orphanage is privately supported and provides a simple home to these children who are orphans due to bad social and economic problems with their families. They are what is called “social orphans” meaning they have biological families living, but unable or unwilling to support these children.

This is a very poor orphange ! They do have 3 old computers and the children make handicrafts that they sell. This home needs help to teach the children English or organize activities for them like theater, sports etc.

REQUIREMENTS: Some Spanish would be very useful here. Not required however. Volunteer Days - Monday through Friday either mornings or afternoons are best.

JUAN PABLO II ORPHANAGE & KINDERGARTEN

This home is supported by the Cusco Regional Government. There are 60 orphans in this home ranging in age from 1-18 years old. 80% of residents are children and 20% are teens. These children are orphans due to bad social and economic problems with their families and were sent by the courts to live here. Again, they are what is called “social orphans” meaning they have biological families living, but unable or unwilling to support these children. The children live in “apartments” in groups of 10, with each group having a house mother who takes care of them.

Work Shops they have now and ongoing, are: bakery, ceramics, clothes making (knitting, sewing, etc.), computers, and they also have a small farm where they raise guinea pigs, rabbits and grow some vegetables.

REQUIREMENTS: Some Spanish would be very useful here too. Volunteers can help the children and the mothers in any of the described workshops. Help is also needed for nannies, nurses, and tutors.

MEDICAL CLINIC

There’s a small and simple clinic located in “Tica Tica”, one of the poorest neighborhoods in Cusco. The clinic rents the facility from the neighborhood, and therefore they work mostly with the neighbors and farmers that come from nearby villages. On average, the clinic sees 50-60 patients per week.

The clinic has 2 doctors, 2 dentists, 1 obstetrician, 3 nurses, 1 chief of laboratory, and 1 secretary; all of whom are volunteers. They are also involved in disaster prevention and other social work.

The clinic performs basic medical procedures, dental work, some obstetrician care, birth control counseling, etc. They send people who need surgeries to the hospitals, as they don’t have the finances or facility to conduct surgeries.

The clinic is in need of doctors, dentists, obstetricians; basically any volunteers who can perform any kind of medical work. The clinic also needs administrative volunteers for the office.

Your Placement Fee of $200 includes:
• Placement for your volunteering duration of one to four weeks. [This is a 'per month' fee]
• Making your arrangements and reservations to get from Lima to Cusco, including making arrangements for you to overnight in Lima if needed (cost of airport pickup and hotel not included).
• Pick up from Cusco airport and city tour. Introduction at your placement and other assistance as you may need from time to time while living in Cusco.
• 4 Hour Spanish introduction course.