Christmas Program

Christmas, and the entire holiday season is a wonderful time of year to count your blessings, celebrate with those you love, and then leave home!

Our Christmas program is to spread joy and gratitude to everyone, especially those who are less fortunate. Bring season’s greetings and tidings of good cheer to communities and children in Peru. Help change lives this year instead of participating in the usual shopping frenzy. During your time at the project you will feel the love, gratitude, and hope that comes with making a positive impact to communities in need.

THE PROGRAM

You will be part of the “Chocolatada” one of the Christmas traditions in Peru. These are special gatherings whereby the more affluent members in the community come together to make offerings to those who are less fortunate. The offering comes primarily with mugs of carefully prepared hot chocolate. The kind that melts your heart, in every which way possible. It is here that children from poorer countryside families descend into towns, where we will hold a small feasts featuring hot chocolate, served alongside generous slices of panettone, and toys for the children.

For children of the poorest families in the region, the presents, chocolate and snacks offered during a local chocolatadas are usually the only treats they get over Christmas, which makes the tradition all the more special.

You can participate on our project in Cusco. A few of those programs include:

• Childcare – Providing attention to children by playing games, teaching English, and helping with homework in community centers, schools, and kindergartens
• Special Needs Care – Work in homes for mentally and physically disabled children, where you will help with feeding, clothing, bathing, and organizing crafts and games

  ** This program requires a minimum of 5 volunteers

• Volunteer placement on your chosen project
• Management and administration of voluntary projects for the duration of the selected program
• Program and security guidance
• Support before departure
• Accommodations – Sundays to Saturdays at Host Family
• 2 meals a day (breakfast and dinner)
• All necessary for the Chocolatada event
• City walking tour
• Airport transfer on arrival
• Volunteer certificate
• Transport to the volunteer project on the first day
• 24/7 support from our team in Peru

**Your fee also contributes to the purchase of needed supplies for improvements at your project

Accommodation

Volunteers will stay in a homestay where they will live with a local family. Volunteers can expect to share a room with one or two other. We highly recommend staying with a family; that way you will also learn the Peruvian way of life, meet local people, eat typical food, speak the language (Spanish) and engage in local customs and traditions.

Volunteers will be sharing bathroom and common areas with other volunteers and members of the family.

Accommodation is from Sunday to Saturday, check out at 10:30am

**Volunteers arriving before Sunday or staying after Saturday, will be charged US$25.00 per extra night at accommodation.

Food & Beverages

2 meals are included (breakfast and dinner). Volunteers can expect to experience a variety of flavors and meals during their experience as Peruvian food is diverse. We will be glad to let the family know if you have special eating needs. Please let us know ahead of time so that we can make arrangements for you.

Arrival in Cusco!

Once you arrive in Cusco, please pick up your bags and then step out of the airport. Our PEVolunteer representative will be waiting for you there with a sign that has your name written on it.

The first day of volunteer’s program (normally Sunday) is upon arrival in Cusco, Volunteer will be pickup from the airport and then transfer to our host family. Here volunteers will have the day to rest and acclimatize.

First day! Your Introduction

Volunteers orientation will begin on Monday at around 9:00 am at our office in Cusco and will be conducted by our staff. It will cover everything you need to know for your volunteer placement in the city including an introduction to Peru, Peruvian customs, Spanish Classes, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities in Peru, and an introduction to your project and placement.

The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing.

Once our orientation is complete, volunteers will be transported to their projects usually by public bus, with some exception of some walking distance projects. Upon arrival, Volunteer will be introduced to projects Directors and can start working at the same day.

While our programs are flexible and can be fit to your requirements, an example of a typical day is as follows:

Monday to Friday:

7:30 AM – Breakfast with host family
8:00 AM – Volunteer leaves to the project
8:30 AM – Arrival at the project, beginning of Volunteering
1:00 PM – End of project
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM  Lunch (free time)
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM Free time
7-7:30PM – Dinner with the host family

**The volunteers on afternoons are free to visit and explore the city, or can chose to take Spanish classes which can be arrange at our office.

Spanish language courses are available for all volunteers regardless of their ability. PEVolunteer strongly recommends these for all volunteers unless they are extremely fluent. Volunteers should strongly consider these courses as they will allow them to work and communicate with all parties more efficiently during their stay. These language courses are organized on arrival in Peru at the program orientation.

The language course is tailored to each volunteer’s current level of Spanish.

For more information on our Spanish courses please click here

On the weekend, volunteers have spare time and usually relax or take the opportunity to explore other parts of their local town and Peru. Long weekends can be taken to travel further afield such as Machu Picchu, Colca Canyon or Lake Titicaca. At PEVolunteer we organize fun and interesting tours for our volunteers, so just let us know where you would like to go!

– The minimum age for volunteers is 18 years old unless traveling with family members over 18 or their school.

** IMPORTANT NOTE:. This program is for groups only.
– No previous volunteer experience or other qualifications are necessary as all skills are useful in our projects.
– We do require volunteers to be aware that they will encounter cultural differences in Peru, which they must be prepared to respect.
– Our volunteers must be willing to engage in their project and be open-minded towards the dissimilarities they may encounter.

– Please contact us. Make sure to add info@pevolunteer.org to your email safe list to ensure receipt of our response.
– A no-refundable, no-transferable payment of US$250.00 must be paid at time of booking.
– After reserving your place please book your flight and send us your flight information so we can schedule your airport pick-up. Also, visit your doctor for any vaccinations you may require and do not hesitate to ask us any questions that you may have.
– Upon receipt of your details you will be sent our in-depth pre-departure brochure full of indispensable tips regarding preparation and packing, your destination and its customs, your accommodations, travel requirements and suggestion.
– The remaining total is due 10 days before the start of your program.
– Join us Helping and Traveling in Peru!

• National and International flights are not included
• Please let us know for any additional night
• Insurances are not included
• Please have a valid passport at time of travel
• Meals not specified

• ***the program requires a minimum of 1 week commitment
• **prices per volunteer
• **prices in US Dollars

Questions? Please email us for more information! We will be happy to create a personalized itinerary for you and your group!