Sample Volunteer Abroad Projects — Peru
Short Term Programs in Ventanilla - New for 2011
The project is based in the Ventanilla district in a community of around 165,000 people in a place called Pachacutec, in Callao Constitutional Province, on the outskirts of Lima. This is a shanty area which has access to only basic facilities and services, located about 40km from the city centre.
“Viviendas Saludables” means ‘healthy homes’ in English, the project will consist of either building a bedroom or building a septic tank and a bathroom in different family homes within the
Pachacutec community.
It is important to understand that the families selected to be beneficiaries of the project, are families that have been assisting through the year to different workshops with an allied NGO. And at the same time these families have shown a significant
change in their lives; as family and in their homes; going towards being part of the group of “Viviendas Saludables”.
Workshops instruct the families on good hygiene habits, children’s rights, nutrition, cleanliness, communication, life project, women rights, etc. All these make the project sustainable and a simple bedroom will be used properly and will be well maintained in the future.
Volunteers will not only have the opportunity to be part of such important change, but will be living in the same (or a similar) community.
The projects are overseen by an engineer and during its execution every 2 groups will have a builder. There is also a project supervisor who will live alongside the volunteers in the same community.
These are short-term projects. Volunteers will only be working on building activities such as:
• preparing the area for construction
• digging
• mixing cement
• woodwork
• painting
• roof work
• tiling
• putting up wooden columns and beams
Depending on which project is chosen, olunteers will work either 5 or 10 days with 08 hrs of work (07:30 – 12:00 & 14:00 – 18:00); if more time is needed be ready to work harder!
Volunteers will be given safety equipment such as: Helmet, Gloves and Goggles. The volunteer must bring hiking boots to protect feet during work or shoes appropriate for work and also a bandana to cover nose from sand. He/She is also welcome to bring own safety equipment if wanted. Tools needed to develop project will be provided.
NOTE: This program requires a minimum of 4 participants. Contact your local VIP office to inquire about putting together a small group, or connecting with like minded volunteers.
