Art classes in the after-school reading project

 

Since a year and a half the after-school reading project is up and running. We are receiving support from The Ubuntu Family Initiative. After visiting the project, we worked out a collaboration. The Ubuntu Family supports the after-school reading project with materials. But also with very helpful tutorials of how to make cool drawings. By following their tutorials, the kids can make great looking art works, which makes them feel proud and happy 🙂

 

 

The art classes take place once per week. We are always looking for the help of volunteers for this project. Help the children with the their drawings and compliment and encourage them. It really makes a lot of difference for the kids. The volunteers who have been helping out all love the project 🙂

We have now accomplished 3 terms of art and are onto our fourth! The children have created some exceptional work inspired by artists such as Picasso for portraits, Magritte for education, Warhol on the theme of food and others such as Klimt, Klee, Miro and many more! Its has been an absolute joy working with you ! Art should be accessible to all, no matter their circumstances. Next to their help in Peru, the Ubuntu Family has expanded their work to India, Africa and South East Asia. And they are looking forward to continuing our collaboration in the next year!

 

 

We would really like to bring this project to another market in Cusco. But we need the help of volunteers to achieve this. In this project there is a lot of space to experiment with your own ideas. Next to the reading and the art classes, we are always open to new ideas and initiatives. You can learn new skills or expand your current skills, while making an active and fun contribution to the learning path of Peruvian kids. We would be happy with your help 🙂

The power of reading books

 

In December 2021, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, our Spanish teacher Libia started the wonderful after-school reading project in Cusco. On a local market she is reaching out to the children from families in need. The parents are working on the market, and their children don’t have a suitable place to make their homework or read a book. On weekday afternoons the kids are welcome in a room inside the market where their parents work. There they receive educational assistance from local and international volunteers. Reading books together, make homework or participate in creative classes are the possibilities.

 

small groups art classes

 

The advantages of reading books

Reading a book or making your homework is a lot easier in a quiet environment. To be able to read you need access to a book, and possibly someone helping you out to make some progress. This project is reaching out to children from families who are economically not in the position to buy books. No access to books, or the time sit down and read with a child, is a key factor in the slow development of the reading skills. A book can bring a kid into another world, which can be adventurous, joyful and exiting. Reading stimulates the imagination and fantasy. A child can get lost in a story and develop beautiful daydreams. Reading brings children into closer contact with their fantasies, and it improves imagination and creativity. Through these qualities they can discover a magical world, which is the essence of this project.

 

By reading books, the children develop lots of useful skills for their daily lives. The after-school reading project, with encouragement and the explanation of words and sentences, is essential for a lot of kids. It can be very difficult to learn how to read by yourself. Next to the reading we organize art classes, to enhance the creative development of the children. These lessons spark the creative part of the brain, and increase the vocabulary and the joy to read and use a language.

 

 

Visit from the Ubuntu Family

The after-school reading project has found a partner and sponsor in July 2022. The Ubuntu Family Initiative is a platform that supports non-profit projects and sustainable travel. They recently visited the project in Cusco, where they gave a very fun Art class on how to paint the face of your friend. The kids really enjoyed it, and after the activity they received coloured pencils and a skipping-rope. The Ubuntu Family Initiative also donated some English children’s books to support the build-up of our own library. The kids are super enthusiastic to start reading books in English 😊

The cooperation between the after-school reading project, Peru Volunteer and the Ubuntu Family Initiative is to be continued in the near future. The platform wants to start offering online Art classes for the project in the local market in Cusco. Also assisting in buying materials for the creative classes, and continue to donate books for our library is on their planning.

Creative classes

 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the schools were closed for two full years. Young children fell enormously behind in the development of their reading skills and general education. By reading books and participating in art classes, this project helps children in their educational development. And it will give them the chance to develop a lifelong passion for reading books. Our dream and ambition for the future is to run this project in various markets in Cusco. Therefor we really need your help. Contact us and come to Peru to volunteer in our after-school reading project.

When is the best time to travel to Peru?

 

The best time to travel to Peru is between May and September, during the dry season. During the day there is a lot of sun and a bright blue sky in the Andean mountains. But that doesn’t automatically mean that the other months are not good for visiting Peru.

 

The distinction between the dry season and the raining season has become more blurred during the last two decades. The raining season is between November and March, with January and February as the wettest months. The farmers used to be able to count on the rain during those months. But, as everywhere across the globe, the climate has become less predictable in Peru.

 

High season in Peru is between June and August. Prices can be higher for flights and hotels. The “shoulder months”, the travel period between high season and low season, are April and October. Those months are fantastic to visit Peru. With the ever more unpredictable climate, also March and November could be a good time to visit Peru.

 

 

The advantage of the “raining season” is a greener scenery, with less tourists and better deals for your flight, tours and accommodation. Both the Christmas and New Year celebrations and of course the world-famous Carnival (February) are in this time slot. The nights in the Andean mountains are less cold, which can be pleasant in a country without heating. The intense rains are generally in the afternoon, with sunny mornings. As it is the meteorological summer in Peru, December till February are the best times to visit the beach.

 

April and May are beautiful months, and also October is a great time to visit Peru. The very popular Easter celebrations in Cusco can make it pretty busy. The busiest month in Cusco however is June, with the “Fiestas de Cusco”. So, when is the best time to travel to Peru? Every time slot has its unique advantages. Weather, prices, scenery and festivities are all to be taken into account. Peru has something to offer in all the calendar months of the year.

VACANCY

Marketing & Social Projects in Peru

 Cusco, Peru
As soon as possible

 

We are looking for Marketing and Social Project assistance

You are motivated and creative and know how to attract engaged volunteers who are dedicated to continue and extend our work within the volunteer projects. The job is fun, versatile, exciting and a great cultural experience. We look for an independent, creative and adventurous marketeer, with social entrepreneur affinity and skills. PV is looking for a constant stream of engaged volunteers, so all activities can be as continuously as possible. The long-term goal of PV is stability and quality, and not to grow into a big organization. You will set up a balanced Marketing campaign for these goals. Ideally in combination with active participation and development of (future) social activities. You will put volunteer work, Spanish language classes and cultural activities into an appealing story, that motivates people to join our organization.

 

Your Responsibilities and Tasks

  • Set-up and execute an engaging, fun and long-term Marketing plan
  • Assistance and active participation in social projects and activities Spanish school
  • Independent, creative and pro-active work attitude
  • Research & Development of new social activities and projects (example: water filters)
  • Creating the (long term) bond between volunteers, projects and organization
  • Work in line with the course of the organization: relative to (1) the overall strategy, (2) the long-term goals and (3) the culture, identity and values of PV
  • Communicate and work together with the staff and the volunteers

 

 

Your Profile

The ideal candidate has a mixture between marketing and social entrepreneurial skills.

He/she can understand and translate the social activities into a clear, engaging and durable online presence. You are adventurous and creative and like to discover a new culture. Affinity with social projects, mixed with good marking and Social Business skills.

  • Responsible and independent work attitude
  • Good marketing skills, social business and/or communication knowledge is an advantage
  • Young professional, proactive self-starter with entrepreneurial mindset
  • Fluency in English; Intermediate Spanish; all other language knowledge is a benefit
  • Affinity with Peru Volunteer and its goals and mission
  • Flexible team player and intercultural personality
  • WordPress, Social Media, SEO, and overall Marketing and communication skills
  • Passion for social work in an underdeveloped country
  • We prefer a minimum commitment for 2 months

 

We offer you

  • A cultural adventure and exiting job in Peru (Cusco)
  • Development opportunities for personal growth
  • Free accommodation in Volunteer House (Room & board)
  • The opportunity to active collaborate with a social organization in Peru;
  • A great opportunity to expand your marketing and social business skills
  • An independent position with space for your creativity and personal approach

 

We are Peru Volunteer

Peru Volunteer (PV) is a small organization that works from inside Peruvian institutions in the fields of Education, Sports and Animal Care. With the help of volunteers, we want to assist these institutions where possible, and help with structuring their activities. To reach the volunteers and increase our visibility and the impact of our activities, PV is looking for a Marketing and Project assistant in Peru (Cusco). PV has a volunteer house and works together with a small Spanish school and various projects.

 

 

Application process
Please send us your full application (CV, letter of motivation and possible references) to hr@peru-volunteer.com.
We review applications on a rolling basis and therefore advise that you apply as soon as possible.
www.peru-volunteer.com

hr@peru-volunteer.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water filter installation

Water belongs to the most essential elements for human beings. And access to clean water is highly important for many reasons. In Peru a lot of people do not have the money to pay for bottled water. That leaves them the option to boil the water. Or drink it directly from the tap.

At home, boiling water is a good option. But in public places, like schools or sport pitches, with a vast number of people, it can be very complicated. The temptation of drinking tap water while being thirsty is a logical one. However, Peruvian tap water is usually a very bad choice. The tap water contains bacteria of all sorts. Both the local population and the tourists have considerable problems with it. But where the tourists have the financial possibility to buy bottled water, many Peruvians struggle with that expense.

Water filter installation is a good and healthy alternative. In the past few years Peru Volunteer has installed around 25 water filters. We installed them mostly in schools and Kindergartens. In the upcoming weeks and months we want to start installing filters again!

The benefits of access to clean water are enormous. Human body weight consists for over 60% of water. All cells and organs in your body use water. Hydration is essential and extremely important, as sweating, breathing and the digestion of food make your body lose water. Lack of hydration is the biggest source of headaches. And having a headache is of course very counterproductive for studying. Therefor children in school really need to drink water.

But also next to sport pitches, clean water should be available. Practicing sports makes thirsty and dehydrates. Those physical efforts are healthy, but drinking the Peruvian tap water as a “reward” can cause serious damage.
Peru Volunteer expects to install minimally another 25 water filters in the upcoming months, with the help of our volunteers. The goal is to create a stable and ongoing “Water filter installation” project. We will surely need all the help we can get, so contact us if you would like to join.

Water filter

We would like to thank Sense Peru for helping us to give visibility to the Water filter project. They featured our project here:

https://www.peruforless.com/volunteer-eco/#peru-volunteer

The fairytale Humantay Lake

A special trip to the breathtaking Humantay Lake … watch your eyes as you visit this crystal clear lake! Read all in’s and out’s about the trip to Humantay Lake in this blog.

Humantay Lake is a three-hour drive from Cusco, so the trip starts on time. You will be picked up at your accommodation around four or five o’clock and then the journey can begin. Sleep a few hours on the bus, because you could definitely use some extra energy for the hike! After a two-hour drive it’s time for breakfast including coca tea against altitude sickness. It is approximately an hour driving after breakfast. The snowy mountain peaks loom quickly, which makes it a beautiful ride.

Around half past ten you will arrive at the starting point of the hike. Feel free to do a warm-up, because this hike is intense! At first glance, the hike seems to be a super easy, but the hike is in fact continuously steep up. The paths are not equally good everywhere and you will certainly feel the altitude here. Fortunately the view makes up a lot! A beautiful green landscape full of colossal mountains, flowing streams and beautiful flowers make it seem like you are walking in the Swiss Alps. It is so peaceful with the chirping birds, it looks like a fairy tale!

After about an hour and a half walking you finally arrive at what you came for: the famous Humantay Lake. In one word: wow! The crystal clear, turquoise lake with the snowy mountains behind it seem almost fake! Your eyes don’t know what they are seeing, it is truly breathtaking! After staring at the lake for a while full of surprise, you must of course also record this on screen. After an explanation from the guide about the lake, it’s time to put the hike back.

On the way back to Cusco a stop is made for lunch. Around 6 o’clock you will be back in Cusco. The trip costs a total of 80 soles including transport, guide, breakfast and lunch. Definitely recommended!

Humantay Lake

Daytrip to Moray and Salineras de Maras

A combination trip to the ruins of Moray and the Salineras de Maras (salt mines) is a trip that you should definitely not miss when you are in Cusco. The trip does not take all day, because the ruins and salt mines are located close to Cusco. Read more about this great trip in this blog!

The trip costs 40 soles, including entrance to the salt mines, which amounts to around 10 euros. Only for Moray you need a Boleto Turistico (normal price: 130 soles, student price: 70 soles) or you pay a one-off 70 soles entrance fee. Around 9 o’clock in the morning you will gather at Plaza de Armas and take the bus to the ruins. Along the way there is another stop in the village of Chinchero, where you will visit a textile factory and be told how it works here. In addition, there is also the possibility to buy a nice souvenir here.

The journey then continues to Moray, a beautiful ruin that was used for agricultural purposes in the Inca era. The guide explains a few things about the ruins and then there is time to walk around and take pictures of this spectacular place.

Then the bus takes you to the last destination of the trip: Salineras de Maras. After the guide’s explanation, here is the opportunity to walk around for yourself. The salt mines are very impressive! A huge terrace of salt baths is probably something you’ve never seen before. Because Cusco is not close to the sea to extract salt, they have made these salt mines. It is also possible to walk through the salt mines yourself. A special place! Finally, it is also possible to buy salt from the salt mines, which is of course a must!

After the salt mines, the bus will take you back to Cusco, where you will arrive around 3 pm. In short, a must, this trip to Moray & Salineras de Maras!

 

 

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu. Without a doubt the main highlight of Peru, maybe even of entire South America. These old Inca ruins are visited by about 2500 people on a daily bases. It is not a question anymore if you are going to visit Machu Picchu, it is more about when and how! In this blog we share our experiences.

Machu Picchu

How to reach Machu Picchu?

There are multiple ways to reach Machu Picchu. The most unique way is without a doubt a trail, like the Inca Trail or Salkantay. However, the costs of a trail are high and besides that you need to have enough time to actually do a trail. Another option is a bus. A lot of different agencies offer complete trips to Machu Picchu including transport, accommodation, entrance and meals. Going by bus is by far the cheapest option for visiting Machu Picchu. If you are on a budget, this might be a good option. However, going by bus is a very long, not really comfortable ride which is also considered to not be very safe. At last there is the train. The train is known as an expensive, but safe and comfortable option to visit Machu Picchu. We choose for comfort and traveled by train to MP.

Which train company?

There are two different train agencies: PeruRail and Inca Rail. PeruRail was the first train company offering train journeys to MP. However, we choose for Inca Rail, since Inca Rail is offering the cheapest tickets and besides that the appearance of the fancy office might helped convincing with making a choice as well. Our return tickets costed 105 euros, an acceptable price. Sometimes Inca Rail is also having promotions, by which the prices can decline till only 75 euros. The price depends of course on the dates and times you choose. The tickets are most of the time cheapest if you travel early in the morning and return late at night.

At 9AM we met up at the IncaRail office where we were being welcomed very friendly with coffee and cookies. With a full stomach we entered the comfortable minivan that took us to the train station of Ollantaytambo within two hours. Here the train was already ready and set for us. Luxury leather seats and big windows for a panoramic view on the amazing environment during the train ride: you pay some money, but you will get a lot of luxury in return! During the ride we also got a delicious expanded lunch, which was included. After one and a half hour driving we arrived in Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo.

Aguas Calientes is a tiny village, with a market, a lot of restaurants and some mini markets. There is not a lot to do, but that’s of course not the reason why people visit Aguas Calientes. After a calm and rainy day we went to bed early in order to be full of energy while visiting MP the next morning. After a big breakfast we got into the bus around half past seven the next morning. The bus costs 12 dollars and brings you in twenty minutes to the entrance of MP. Walking to the entrance is also an option, it takes about one and a half hour, but you can better save your energy till you are at MP itself.

From 8AM we were welcome in Machu Picchu. While it was raining so badly the day before, the sun was fully shining now and there was no single cloud to see. We also had tickets for Machu Picchu Mountain, one of the two mountains you can climb. Between 9AM and 10AM we could enter the mountain, so we had some time to admire MP first and take some pictures. It is so special to see this in real life through your own eyes! It seems almost unreal after you have seen MP on pictures so many times.

Machu Picchu Mountain

Around 9:30AM we started the hike to Machu Picchu Mountain. This seemed tougher than expected! The path is actually a continuous staircase which is very steep. Besides that, the temperature started to rise even more. Even though it is said that you reach the top in about one and a half hour, it took us two and a half hour to get there. Quite longer so, but it was definitely worth the view!

After the hike we visited the city ruins of MP. Wonderful! When we left around 4:30PM, there was almost no one anymore. What a quietness and what a difference compared with the crowds in the morning! We took the bus back to Aguas Calientes and were able to say that we just admired one of the seven world wonders! At 9:30PM we took the train back, got in the bus in Ollantaytambo and arrived around 1AM safely back in Cusco. What an awesome trip was this!