General Info
Many new communities have recently been established on the outskirts of Arequipa. These families come from the altiplano, or high plains, and are looking for a better standard of living for their families. Water is a scarce resource and the government considers these impoverished regions low on their list of priorities. The school where we run our education program was built in 2006 and much of the community is less than 4 years old. Water is vital to good hygiene, diet and farming. The most effective result of this construction project is to bring this essential element into these impoverished communities. Within 2 short weeks a volunteer can change the life of a family forever.
The Indigenous in Peru make up a large percentage of the population. Malnutrition is a problem in many regions and discrimination towards the indigenous population is prevalent. Water, electricity and basic utilities are still urgently needed in many areas of Southern Peru; mainly where these indigenous populations live.
Volunteers will be based in Arequipa. The project work will be completed in the community of Chiguata. Whilst on the project volunteers travel out from Arequipa each morning to the community of Villa Santa Rosa de Chiguata, work on the cistern in the homes of families and then return to Arequipa later in the afternoon.
With this project you will be funding all the materials and local masonary work. You will work alongside a local mason and the family, mixing cement and constructing the cistern from start to finish.
Side Trips
Half Day’s Biking Chachani - You will leave Arequipa early and head up in transport up Chachani volcano, unload the bikes then speed down over tracks and roads, arriving back in Arequipa. It is exhilarating, starting at around 5000m.
Program Highlights
* Make a visible, hands-on difference to the future of an indigenous community
* Get immersed in the local culture
* Experience and live amongst the breathtaking beauty of the Peruvian Andes region
* Build a cistern from scratch and see others in action
* 10 hours of one-on-one Spanish tuition
* Free wheel a bike down the Chachani Volcano
Benefits:
1 week - £845
2 weeks - £995
3 weeks - £1145
This includes:
*Pre-departure support and discounted services
*Airport pick-up and drop-off and travel to and from Arequipa and Chivay
*One night of hotel accommodation for the first Saturday night
*All food and accommodation with the host family and in the hotel in Chivay
*Half day biking down Chachani
*Cistern materials and labour costs
*10 hours of Spanish lessons
*Daily transport to and from the communities
*All in-country 24 hour support
*Your money also contributes towards the daily running costs of the projects in the schools and communities
Requirements:
No formal training is required as you have plenty of support and training by the project managers and the local community mason. There will be some lifting and carrying. Certainly your hands and clothing will get dirty and volunteers should be happy and prepared to work in rural areas where the conditions can be very basic. The minimum age is 18 years of age.
