Peru

Trujillo, Peru

     The Peru volunteer program will take place in Trujillo.  The three main focuses of the program are education, health, and architecture.  Students in the education group will be working as English tutors at local schools. Volunteers in the health group will be helping at local clinics or orphanages. Students in the architecture part of the program will complete various sustainable projects for the community. For instance, they might be involved in building staircases or kindergartens for neighborhoods that have little infrastructure. 

     Similarly to the other IVI internship, students have a great deal of autonomy in determining how they can help and connect to the local community. They might choose to teach subjects other than English depending on their interests and skills or they may organize classes for adults.  Alternatively, students interested in the health professions may shadow a doctor for a day and thus get experience working in the field.  Once the volunteers form relationships with the volunteer coordinators, they may choose to explore other ways to help the community.

     IVI offers homestay and service options. Students will be paying $380 for their living expenses (food and homestay).   Moreover, they will have to pay for the plane tickets to Lima and their transportation from Lima to Trujillo.  Two-way plane tickets to Peru range from $400 to $800 depending on when they are purchased, while two-way bus tickets from Lima to Trujillo cost about $20, plus $35 for a pick-up guide.

     The Trujillo internship program is three weeks long roughly from Aug 29th to  Sep 16th. Students may explore Peru and its culture during the weekends. They may also plan a visit to one of the wonders of the world, Machu Picchu, or to other points of significance, such as the ancient Incan capital of Cuzco.  Furthermore, since the internship is located in a Spanish-speaking country, students may apply for a FLAG grant.  This would give them an opportunity to improve their Spanish skills and volunteer, while cutting down on their cost of living.  The Trujillo internship is also a great opportunity for students with no Spanish skills, who are passionate about community service and exploring other cultures.  As the other IVI internship, the Trujillo program will be a great experience for all the students who want to make a change!