Volunteers give a $250 donation when they arrive in Arequipa. Your donation is our only source of funding to support our projects. We use this money to take the children to the doctor, buy glasses, buy books, school supplies, educational toys and materials for our workshops. We have built a nursery in Achambi, a village high in the Andean mountains. We also support two projects in Tomepampa: the Honofre Benavides school and the "Albergue", a residence for students whose villages are too far away to walk to and from school each day. Check out Your Donations to see how we use our donations to support children in our community.

We believe that having happy, well-prepared and well-supported volunteers is vital to our mission.

We also know that our volunteers want to be as effective as possible to make a positive impact in the community.

To help them do that, we have a team that includes our Volunteer Coordinator, Piero

· Personalized attention during the application process and before arrival.

· Our Volunteer Coordinator is available 24/7 as your local emergency contact.

· An induction/training session upon arrival, before starting your internship.

Access to our office where you can plan activities and use the computer

·Discount rates in our hostels and excursions

Peru Volunteers T-shirt

· A certificate and letter of reference upon successful completion of your internship.

Accommodation:

Most of the volunteers stay at Honey House Hostel because they offer mini apartments instead of just rooms. Here is some information:

Mini-apartments in Honey House: Double bed (clean sheets and towels every week), private bathroom, cable TV, desk and chair, fully equipped kitchenette (Tea/Coffee maker, electric kettle, refrigerator, microwave, stove, kitchen utensils, plates, cups and cutlery), servicecleaning once a week, free Wi-Fi. Prices: 1 to 2 weeks $18.00 per day; 3 to 4 weeks $15.00 per day; 5 weeks or more $12.00 per day.

There are hundreds of hostels in Arequipa. You might be able to find a cheaper option if you don't mind staying in one room and sharing a bathroom.

Food:

Eating is very cheap here in Arequipa. A lunch or dinner menu in a restaurant (2 courses, dessert and drink) costs from 10 to 15 soles ($3 to $5). A budget of $15 a day is more than enough.

What is the minimum time required to volunteer?

We ask that volunteers spend a minimum of two weeks at Casa Hogar and a minimum of one month at Colegio Honofre Benavides. This is so that we can ensure a level of consistency for the children we serve. Typically, volunteers who stay for two weeks say they wish they had stayed longer.

We encourage all volunteers to have at least an intermediate level of Spanish, as it will make it easier to communicate with the children we serve. If you currently don't know any Spanish or your Spanish is basic, but you're excited to work hard to learn before and during your stay, that's okay too. If you are interested in Spanish Classes in Arequipa, please contact us.

You can fly or take a bus from Lima to Arequipa.

The flight from Lima to Arequipa takes approximately one hour. If your international flight arrives during the day, you can connect with a domestic flight to Arequipa on the same day. However, if there are no connecting flights available until the next day, we recommend booking a hostel with airport pick-up. You can book your ticket online. Costs are approximately $70 USD one way and up. The airlines in Peru are LATAM, SKY Airline and JetSmart, Avianca.

If you choose to take a bus from Lima to Arequipa:

In Lima, bus companies are located next to each other on the same strip on Paseo de la República in El Cercado de Lima. To get to the bus companies from the airport, you must take a taxi. We recommend taking a taxi from inside the airport, as they are safer. The bus trip from Lima to Arequipa takes approximately 16 hours and costs between 70 and 150 soles ($35-$55 USD). Most buses are quite comfortable with reclining seats and meals. Recommended bus companies include: Cruz del Sur, Oltursa or Cromotex.

We can arrange for our driver to pick you up at Arequipa airport once we have your flight details. The cost of collection is 30 soles with an additional 2.50 soles for every 15 minutes of waiting time. This is paid directly to the driver in Peruvian soles. If you arrive by bus, we can also arrange your pick-up, if you wish you can also take a taxi on your own, but we recommend that you take a licensed taxi inside the bus terminal. The trip to the city center from the bus terminal costs between 10 and 12 soles (or a little more at night). Agree on the price before entering.

ATMs are available in the center near the Peru Volunteers office and hostel. Credit and debit cards are accepted in supermarkets and some restaurants, but most shops and small businesses only accept cash. We recommend bringing some emergency cash in euros or dollars in case you have trouble using your card abroad. There are many branches of money transfer companies, such as Western Union, in case you need family or friends to send you cash in an emergency.

Our volunteer fee is paid online by debit or credit card, or in cash upon arrival in Arequipa. Accommodation is paid monthly in cash directly to the hostel.

In Arequipa...

Volunteers can choose to volunteer in the morning with activities in the various work areas of the house, in the afternoon with the children, or choose to do both and join the other volunteers in the house. After taking a crowded combi (a bus) through the streets of Arequipa, the volunteers will arrive in the more open area of ​​Pachacútec, where the house is located. Volunteers usually help kids with their homework, reading/writing skills, or other fun things if they have finished all of their homework and assignments. Whether one chooses the morning or the afternoon to volunteer, there are many activities in Arequipa to participate in, such as Spanish classes, salsa classes, cooking classes, or just hanging out in the Plaza de Armas.

During the summer months (January and February), there are more flexible and play-based activities, because the girls are on summer vacation. There are excursions, sports activities, trips to the beach and other fun things during this season. Volunteers will enjoy attending these events with the children.

In Tomepampa...

Volunteers spend approximately 30/40 hours at the school each week. Classes start at 8:30 am and end at 3:30 pm. A typical volunteer will attend English classes throughout the day and possibly teach classes if they feel comfortable doing so.

If any volunteer wishes, they are more than welcome to organize different after-school workshops for the children. Some previous ones have been football (soccer) and different activities in English.

Yes, as long as they are as enthusiastic as you are about making a difference through education and development, as well as a willingness to learn, the more the better.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old at the time of volunteering, and be healthy and physically fit enough to help. Volunteering is fun, but also exhausting!

We are always happy to accept applications from students who want to volunteer with us as part of their academic year. Check with your institution to see if your work here will be eligible for academic credit; we will be happy to discuss this with you and your course supervisor. If you have more questions, send an email to volunteersperu@gmail.com