So you think you want to come to Peru and Volunteer? It’s a wonderful experience!
But there are lots of things that it helps to know before you get started.
Peru is a beautiful but challenging place. The culture is particular and takes time to get accustomed to. It helps to have people who know the ropes and are willing to guide you ( as much as you want at any rate) each step of the way. There are many volunteer organisations out there. We are one of the newest., but there are some reasons we think you might want to work with us:
- We don’t charge you a fee for coming to work with us. We feel if you are willing to pay for your flights, pay your living expenses and give of your time, you have paid enough.
- We have housing available and work as a community but are not top-heavy with rules.. you are adults and we know you will act like it. We have access to a discounted hostel where we can live together yet independently.
- We provide free training. No one goes out on the field without two weeks of orientation.
- We expect you to speak Spanish semi-fluently. You cannot help if you do not learn to speak Spanish reasonably. If you want more we have good instructors who give us a great discount.
- You can use your experience as material for university research. We will provide documentation and evaluations of your time here.
- We are here to volunteer and work for change. We love Huanchaco and its a great town, but we are not ‘voluntouristas’. Every volunteer signs a work contract and we will be clear before you come about what you can expect.
- We love what we do and we are excited about it. Positivity, creative solutions to problems, open communication and group fun time are really important to keep balance when you are working in a foreign country. We got it.
- We know and love Huanchaco and we will help you understand and love it too.
If you are still interested and would like to talk more, please fill out our volunteer application found in this section. We look forward to hearing from you!
what are you doing with the next year of your life?
I am thinking of volunteering for 6-8 weeks in latin america, perhaps Peru. I haven’t decided yet, but is there any more information you can send me on what I could do, the local area, where I would be staying, any typical costs etc?
I would be arriving in March.
Thanks
Matt
Hey Matt,
Thanks for writing to us.
LaCasaCorazon is located in Huanchaco, a very cool surfing and fishing community on the northern coast of Peru.
There is an international community here, lots of great food and very inexpensive living.
Normally we accept volunteers for 3 months to one year. We really want volunteers to experience a project from start to finish, not jump in the middle.
So three months is normally our bare minimum. Normally. However, in March we will be doing a project that could be completed in 8 weeks if your language is up to it.
In order for you to be able to volunteer well, you need a good solid medium Spanish fluency
( you can ask directions, give directions, talk emotions, buy food, talk about what you did today, etc and you have a blooming comprehension of it all) )
If you are coming for six months or one year, we can accept less fluency on the condition that you spend at least one to two months getting Spanish lessons with our language coach. These lessons are very very economical ( about 4 bucks an hour).
We focus on literacy, reading and writing spanish and developing mentoring relationships with kids through surfing classes and quality time.
We have room in the house,which is large, with sun space on the roof and a back yard.
We charge 250 soles( about $75) a month for a private room and all bills. This is 100 less than the going hostal rate. but for a shared room, its less.
If you will read our website, especially the sections on our mission statement and what our goals are, you will understand our standpoints on volunteering and why we don’t charge you a fee for coming to work with us. After you read it, get back to me if you are still interested and we will have a chat!
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Sarita
Hi Sarita,
I am considering doing a volunteering job somewhere in South America. My Spanish is on an intermediate level and shouldn’t be a problem. However, I can only join your organisation at the end of July 2011 for a maximum of 11 weeks. Would you still consider my application?
Many thanks
Hey,
I´ve been looking for volunteer options all over South America and never found a good non-profit organisations, so I´m really excited!!!
I´m planing on volunteering for about 8 months (november 2011- june 2012, I turn 18 in July 2011) and am really interested in your way of helping.
I´m studying spanish for the 4th year now and also spent my last summer in a school in san sebastian (spain) with surfing classes.
I also was in the U.S. for an exchange year during 2008/09.
I´ll be walking the camino de santiago and travelling in the U.S. and Canada before I´ll go to South America, so I hope by that time my spanish will improve some more.
I already worked with kids and single moms in Austria and I helped kids in English and Math.
I hope all of that might help you to find an exciting volunteer work for me
Please let me know,
good luck with everything,
Teresa Schwarz
(from Austria)
HI THERE GUYS I WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE WHOLE SUMMER THIS YEAR AND I’M REALLY INTERESTING IN DOING THIS VOLUNTARY WORK BECAUSE I’M A HUMAN RIGHTS STUDENT BASED IN LONDON AND IT WILL BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR THE PROJECT AND ME. ALSO, SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP ME IS THAT MY MOTHER TONGUE IS SPANISH AND IT COULD REALLY HELP. I LIKE THE PROJECT AND THE WORK YOUR DOING WITH THIS COMMUNITY.
KIND REGARDS
GIANNI
Hello
I would like to participate in your volunteer program in the month of March. I speak spanish well because of a previous volunteer program I did in Costa Rica and I would be interested in volunteering for 3-4 months. Is this too soon?
Thanks
Will
Hi Sarita,
I am hopefully coming to Peru in January 2012 for about four months. I have already volunteered with Otra Cosa for three months, last year, teaching English. I loved Huanchaco and just can’t wait to get back and help! I would like to know if you have any projects that will take off next year that I can get involved with?
Laura
Hey Laura
here is the app. I am returning to peru in september for two months, will talk more when you get back to me.
We are all staying at Nirvana who has offered us a deal of 350 soles per month for the length of any volunteer stay, plus i want us all in the same location to bond as a team.
Dears,
I’m interested in your volunteering program. Please, could you give me more information? Is it still actual? I would like to start in September 3-5 months, depend on conditions… I would like ask you about costs? Is there any fee? And how about food and accommodation, have to I pay for that? Thank you very much for reply.
Best regards,
Aneta
http://lacasacorazon.wufoo.com/forms/volunteer-form-copy/