Fully supported by Projects Abroad on a Care and Community Placement you will either be working in an orphanage or a kindergarten in the Sacred Valley. Work in the kindergarten involves assisting local teachers looking after classes of up to 40 young children, many of whom have had no educational input or encouragement from their parents. You will be helping them with important development skills as well as playing with and looking after them.

It can be hard work looking after so many children, so expect a challenge!

Alternatively, you may be working in an orphanage, assisting local staff when the children are out of school. Although the orphanages are relatively well equipped in terms of books, toys and clothes, this is no substitute for the affection and support that children receive from the family environment. You can use your own skills and hobbies as tools for interacting with the children, playing games, doing sport, art, music or drama - recent volunteers even started a basic cookery class!

You will find that most of the children are already bilingual, speaking Spanish and Quechua, so the level of English is basic, given that it is their third language. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn some Spanish, as you will be living with a local host family who are unlikely to speak any English! All volunteers are allocated a supervisor at the kindergarten or orphanage, and in addition you will have support from the local Projects Abroad team.

Peru is a wonderful country of contrasts. With spectacular mountain ranges, desert regions as well as the Amazon rainforest, there are tremendous possibilities for travel. Peru has a fascinating history and culture which you can immerse yourself in, visiting ancient inca ruins such as Machu Picchu, tasting the local delicacy 'cuy' (guinea pig) and by learning Spanish or Quechua.

Most volunteers take the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Peru as well as other countries in South America. You will find there are lots of other volunteers to meet up with socially, travel with at weekends and during independent travelling time either during or after your placement.

"Through Projects Abroad I met the family I lived with and the children I worked for. Without them my life wouldn't be as complete as it feels now... I now look back and see how far I've come; the independence and tolerances you learn are all skills to be appreciated." - Joanna King

0845 344 7562

Help, Learn, Explore. You can do all of these with Projects Abroad. We organise flexible volunteering programmes in the developing world. We have sent 20,000 volunteers away to 23 different countries since 1992. We offer projects such as Teaching, Care, Conservation, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Journalism, Business, Law and Human Rights amongst others.