Volunteer in Peru For Disabled Care | Volunteering Solutions

Overview

Make a lasting impact by working with mentally challenged and deaf students in a specialized school in Cusco, serving children and young adults aged 3 to 20 years. As a volunteer, you'll help create a supportive environment where students can thrive, assisting teachers in various classes, including kindergarten, primary, and sections for deaf students and specialized behavioral training.

You’ll lead indoor games, art & craft sessions, and other creative activities, helping students develop essential life skills while making their learning experience fun and engaging. Volunteers with a Psychology or Therapy license can also work closely with school psychologists, providing more specialized support.

This program offers a unique opportunity to work directly with children with conditions like Down syndrome, autism, and motor disabilities, giving each child the personalized care they need. Whether you’re organizing creative sessions or teaching basic math and reading, your creativity and compassion will have a profound effect on their progress.

Get ready to build trust with these amazing kids, explore Cusco, and truly make a difference!

Volunteer Work Schedule

Monday: Start your journey with an engaging orientation session led by our local coordinator. You’ll learn everything you need to know about safety, Peruvian culture, language, and the best places to visit. Plus, we’ll share tips on local cuisine and fun activities to enhance your experience in Peru!

Tuesday to Friday: Dive into your volunteer work in the mornings! Each day brings new opportunities to make a difference and connect with the community.

Weekends: Enjoy your time off! Explore the vibrant city of Cusco or embark on an adventure to Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, and other breathtaking sites.

Daily Schedule

Breakfast: 07:00 am - 07:30 am
Volunteer Work: 08:00 am - 01:00 pm
Lunch: 01:00 pm - 02:30 pm
Dinner: 07:00 pm - 08:00 pm

This schedule continues from your second week onwards, giving you a structured yet flexible routine to balance work and exploration!

Note: Keep in mind that the schedule may vary slightly based on the specific project you're involved in, but we’ll ensure you’re always informed.

Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

As a volunteer, you’ll play a key role in empowering students with different abilities to thrive and grow. Your day-to-day at the school will be all about assisting the students, helping them navigate daily tasks, and supporting their overall development. Whether it’s teaching basic skills, playing games, helping to wash their hands and faces, or organizing fun art & craft and music sessions, your goal is to keep them engaged in creative and meaningful ways.

In addition to classroom activities, you’ll assist in ensuring the students’ safety during outdoor excursions—whether it's a trip to the park, library, or even a local shopping trip. Plus, you can bring your tech skills to the table by helping with computer training for both students and staff, which is an exciting opportunity to leave a lasting impact.

Want to do more? You can also get involved in organizing fundraising activities, helping with marketing and promotions, or even improving the school's website.

Be prepared for a dynamic environment where your tasks might vary daily—from assisting with personal care for students to leading interactive group activities. Flexibility and enthusiasm are key, and you’ll walk away with a sense of accomplishment knowing you've made a real difference!

Project Requirement

Volunteers must be 17 years or older at the time of joining the project. Participants should have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. Volunteers need to be flexible, open-minded and have a passion for working with children. You should also be proactive and have the ability to take initiative All volunteers must provide a clean criminal background check report prior to joining the program. A parental consent form shall be required for Under 18 participants joining the program. A beginner-intermediate level of Spanish would be an added advantage for the participants in the program.

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Living

When you choose to volunteer in Peru, just pack your bags and arrive at the destination with a relaxed mind. Our dedicated coordinator at the location arranges airport transfers, stay, meals and also weekend tours for you. All you have to do is arrive.

Airport Transfer

Volunteers are picked up from the Cusco Airport by the local coordinator or representative. Those volunteers who are arriving overland or are already in Peru will be picked up at a meeting point decided beforehand or at the bus station.

Accommodation

Volunteers are provided with accommodation with local host families. By staying with a host family you will experience the local culture, customs and Peruvian way of living. Volunteers are hosted in shared bedrooms with other volunteers. Usually, there are 2 bathrooms in every host family with hot showers. Accommodations are clean and comfortable. Some houses have the WiFi connection and cable TV as well.

Orientation

A half day orientation will be provided by the local staff. Areas like culture, greetings, locations, transportation, safety, and volunteer placements are given during the orientation. The orientation will be given by the local staff in Peru.

Meals

Volunteers are provided with three cooked meals a day (Monday- Saturday) at the host family house. Meals vary from day to day and generally include soups, vegetable salad, rice, potatoes, juice, dessert etc.

During your Free Time

Volunteers are free to visit and see places or do shopping during their free time. On the weekends most of the volunteers plan a trip to Sacred Valley or the world famous 'Macchu Picchu' - the lost city of Incas. In Cusco, you can walk around Plaza de Armas and explore the different restaurants and shopping areas.

Dates

November

December

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

Available

Filling Fast

Booked Out

Costs

Duration	Program Fee	Choose your currency
1 Week	$580
2 Weeks	$730
3 Weeks	$880
4 Weeks	$1032
5 Weeks	$1195
6 Weeks	$1395
7 Weeks	$1595
8 Weeks	$1795
Extra Week	$350

Please Note: An application fee of is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment.

What are you Paying For?

24 hrs Assistance and support from VS Staff
Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
Airport Pickup from Cusco Airport
Orientation
Accommodation in a homestay
Meals
Insurance (Provided at an extra cost)

What's NOT Included?

Airfare
Visa and Visa extension fee
Return airport drop and airport taxes
Local Transportation
Any personal expenses

FAQ's

Health and Safety

Do I need to buy a health insurance?: Yes, for all volunteers it is mandatory to have a travel medical insurance. To provide the best option to our participants, we offer comprehensive insurance coverage in collaboration with a leading insurance provider.
How safe is Peru in general?: Peru attracts travelers from different parts of the world and is generally safe. However, we recommend all volunteers to take necessary precautions against thefts and robberies. Also, seek permission from your coordinator before venturing out alone in the evenings.

Volunteers can also look up resourceful sites like Lonely Planet to gather more information about Peru and its general atmosphere. You are also recommended to follow the safety guidelines provided by the in-country coordinator during Orientation Session.
What immunizations/vaccinations will I need?: We recommend you to consult your physician or travel doctor before traveling to Peru. However, we recommend you take general vaccinations like

Hepatitis A and B

Typhoid

Yellow Fever

Diarrhoea

Accommodation and Living

Can I know more about accommodation and food arrangements?: Volunteering Solutions arranges accommodation for volunteers in homestays or with host families in Peru. The accommodations are simple and have basic amenities.

Three meals are provided in a day of which the lunch is the specialty of Peruvian families. The food is tasty, hygienic and nutritious, suited to all volunteers. The volunteers should note that the food is provided from Monday to Saturday of each week. On Sundays, volunteers can eat at nearby eateries or find out good restaurants as per choice.
Can vegetarians be accommodated?: Yes – please do ensure that you inform the local team about your food preference and they can make sure to provide you with the best food! Also, please do mention your specific food preference in the application form as well.
Where can I change my money in Peru? Are there ATMs in Cusco and other Peruvian cities?: You can change your money at any bank or at the airport by showing your passport. There are ATMs located all around the city. The market areas around the project location also have ample ATMs and money exchange counters.
Would I have free time during my program ? Can I do sightseeing during my program?: Depending on your project placement, you may get free evenings and weekends. You can utilize this time to visit local markets and other places around your project location.

Places like Barrio de San Blas, Hatton Rumiyuq, Convent and Church of La Merced and Cathedral of Peru have been declared as a World Heritage Sites by UNESCO and must be visited by volunteers during free time and weekends. Of course, we also arrange for tours to Macchu Picchu.

Volunteers are also free to plan quick getaways and explore Peru. We also arrange programs for groups in Tambopata Rainforest areas and the country coordinator can be contacted for the same.
How do I get to the program location?: Your country coordinator will take you to your placement location and introduce you to everyone after giving you a basic orientation about the program, city, culture etc. You will also be narrated about the directions to the project location from your accommodation and the modes of transport which you can use.
Are there more expenses once I arrive in Peru?: Your program fee covers mostly all the major expenses when you arrive in Peru except your personal expenses. You will need to cover your personal expenses, such as bottled water, local transport, telephone, the internet, shopping, sightseeing etc. However, you should carry around $70-80 per week for your basic personal expenses. However, this amount can vary and you would need a higher amount if you go on different weekend trips out of town.

Application and Program Details

How many hours will I volunteer every day?: Volunteers usually work for 5 to 6 hours a day, for 5 days a week, depending on their program. You will have the weekends to explore Peru. However, volunteers need to be flexible, open minded and understand that work requirements can alter any time.
Does VolSol provides discount if I choose more than one program or if I am a returning volunteer?: If you are planning to come for multiple programs during your trip, you will have to pay the application fees just once. Your application fee is valid for a year's time (from the date of applying). You will not have to pay the application fees again if you come within the mentioned time frame.

For our returning volunteers, $50 discount is provided for the application fee for their next Vol Sol program.
How long does it take to process my application? Will my application be accepted?: After you complete your application, your personalized ‘My Account’ will be activated.You will need to upload your CV/Resume along with your photo in the same. Our backend team and the placement site takes around 10-12 working days to review your application. After we review your CV and documents, your booking will be confirmed and booking confirmation will be updated in your ‘My Account’. Some projects need a mandatory criminal background check and the same is mentioned in the project info of your program. Approval of your application depends on your qualification and eligibility criteria for each project.
Are there any particular requirements to join the programs in Peru?: The minimum age requirement for the programs in Peru is 17 years. For the Medical program, volunteers must be 18 years and above.

He/she should have the flexibility to adjust to a new environment and culture.

Volunteers should have a basic/ intermediate knowledge of Spanish Language.

For Medical Program – Pre-Medical , Medical and Nursing students as well as Medical Professionals are welcome to join. Participants with other qualifications in the medical field such as CAN, EMT can also join the program.

The participant should be in good health.
Can I volunteer as part of a group?: We encourage our participants to volunteer in a group. We take special care for providing you a placement and also customize your itinerary to make sure you get exactly what you are looking for. Also, we can design special group programs for groups of 5 or more. Our programs are designed to be safe, affordable and offer a great group volunteering experience to the volunteers.

In our experience of more than 12+ years we have enabled and facilitated volunteer program placements for college groups, university groups, high school groups, group of families, group of couples as well as groups of colleagues.
When do I need to arrive in Peru for my program? What will happen once I arrive in the country?: All volunteers need to arrive in Cusco, Peru, for the Peru programs on the starting date of their project.

Volunteers are picked from the Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cusco by the in-country coordinator or representative. Accommodation is provided in a homestay or with the host family.

A short orientation is given after arrival about the city, placement, safety precautions. The volunteers are also taken for a short tour of the city before the commencement of the program. However, the tour is dependent upon the arrival time of your flight.
Does VolSol provides with a reference or a certificate after program completion?: Yes, we will provide you with the Certificate after successful completion of your program. The certificate is provided on request.
How long does it take to process my application? Will my application be accepted?: As we have limited spots available in our programs and we follow the first come first serve rule, it is recommended that potential volunteers book their programs well in advance to get confirmed placements. You can book your slot by filling the application form online and pay the application fee of $225. You can pay your program fee later and also by installments. However, the complete payment should be made 45 days prior to the starting of the program. If you are volunteering in a group, you can also fill a group application form.

Flights and Visa

What are the recommended airlines to fly to Peru?: The Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) in Cusco is well connected with all major airports across the globe and flights are easily available. American Airlines, US Airways, Delta Air Lines, Japan Airlines, Emirates Flights are some of the popular airlines.
Does Volunteering Solutions help with Visa?: All participants joining the volunteer projects in Peru need to apply for Visa at the nearest Peruvian High Commission in their city. Along with the Visa application, you need to attach the required supporting documents. We provide volunteers with the necessary supporting documents for their Peruvian Visa application. More information shall be provided after you become a Volunteering Solutions enrolled participant.

Connect with Past Volunteers

How can I connect with past Volunteering Solutions Peruvian alumni as well as other former and current volunteers?: We encourage volunteers to get in touch with former Volunteering Solutions participants and also other program participants joining our projects. You are recommended to join the Volunteering">https://www.facebook.com/VolunteeringSolutions/">Volunteering Solutions Facebook Page or Facebook">https://www.facebook.com/groups/volunteeringsolutions/">Facebook Group to connect with other participants and our team.

To read alumni interviews from past participants, visit the Meet">https://www.volunteeringsolutions.com/meet-a-volunteer">Meet a Volunteer section on our website.