Volunteer in Peru with Maximo Nivel - Best Rated Projects

Wow what an experience! I was only able to spent a limited amount of time on my volunteer project with Maximo Nivel but it was without a doubt a very humbling and rewarding experience. Two weeks out in a small farming community in the sacred valley near Cuzco, Peru was at times quite challenging but a great opportunity to be of service - making a real difference in the lives of the community for the long term - while at the same time being able to immerse myself in the language and culture of the locals. The host family and community were wonderful as were the staff at Maximo Nivel. Maximo also provided free Spanish lessons prior to my placement which was hugely helpful. Although I had already studied Spanish for several months the lessons were invaluable practice in training the ear to hear and understand the locals. Learning in your own country and conversing with locals are entirely different things.

Overall an amazing experience with great staff support in country.

At the start of my time here, I was placed at Hospital Antonio Lorena. This hospital specializes in pediatric care, specifically Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. When I first received this news, I didn’t quite know what to think. I was excited, but also filled with trepidation. Of course, the opportunity to work in such a setting was an invaluable one, but I was also acutely aware of the potential difficulties that working with pediatric leukemia patients presented.

These were children that were sick. So very sick. Sick to a degree, that some of my days were spent simply sitting and talking, maybe reading, instead of playing active games that healthy children partake in. Some days all I could do was hold their hand as I sat by their bed. These were the days that I could literally see their energy flux, one moment high, and another gone, to be replaced by waves of nausea and exhaustion. But these were also the days in which unexpected laughter bloomed and spread from bed to bed at the smallest thing, filling the room and breaking the silence. These moments forever imprinting upon me the duality of the chemotherapy drugs coursing through their systems and the laughter filling the room. The dual state of strength amongst sickness.

I don’t think that words are fully capable of describing, with full accuracy, my experiences, or time in the hospital. With this thought in mind, I’ve included several photos, snapshots in time, that I think portray it a little better. My hope is that you, as you read this, will be touched in some small way by the enormous strength that these children have, and will choose to spend time with them. Your life will forever be changed.

One of the memories that I will forever cherish is getting to know the nurses. Initially, most of the nurses were fairly distant. Understandably so, with the nature of volunteers coming and going… Some never staying more than a day when they realized what the hospital actually was. Initially I found this indifference towards me to be disheartening, but eventually their outlook towards me changed. This change can be traced to when I asked them to write down their names for me. I simultaneously explained that sometimes, because I’m learning Spanish, it can be hard for me to translate names unless I see them. It was in this moment, that they smiled, wrote down their names, asked me to do the same, did the change occur. From that day on, they were friendly, kind, and always greeted me, as well as offering Spanish tips. Just another small memory.

My time in Cusco has been extraordinarily memorable. From my host family, to the hospital, to the people I’ve met, it’s been something that I’ll never forget. And as I prepared to leave for Lima, and then the states, I felt a pull in my heart to stay.

I volunteered at a home for teens moms in Cusco. I had such a great experience! Maximo Nivel kept in great contact before the trip and helped me prepare. The only feedback here is I wish I had known my placement before the trip so I could have prepared even more. ( I didn't find out until I got to the teens moms' home where I was volunteering!) Our host family was great! I am a vegetarian and they prepared the best meals for me! I stopped by the Maximo Nivel office in Cusco many days with questions or just to use the internet and they were always helpful. After the volunteering ended, they still helped me spend some of my donation money and continued to follow up with me about my experience. They were always responsive, caring and attentive. I would definitely volunteer with them again!

Dear all
I am Feride - from Switzerland.
Participating in volunteering program for kids at Maximo Nivel in Cusco/Peru was a unique experience. I was there in May/June of 2016 for 5 weeks.
I found Maximo Nivel on the internet by browsing and reading reviews like this one ;-)
I am very happy, everything worked out well. All employees were very friendly and helpful.
The place where I volunteered was PRONOEI Paraiso de Fàtima a pre-school, near Cusco city center.
The teacher Vilma was a great and very patient person. During my time there, I was continually
impressed with her energy, positivity, and dedication to the children she worked with.
All the kids were nice, cute and friendly.
Thank you for the great experience in Cusco/Peru. I had a great time with Maximo Nivel and would definitely recommend it to everyone.

I went to volunteer to Cusco for just one week, I hope it would have been longer. The seven days I spend there where amazing. My program was childcare and I volunteered in the Antonio Lorena Hospital with kids with cancer. I had worked with kids in these conditions once before in Lima but these experience was completely different. The kids were the best of the best, they were always playing with you, watching movies, drawing, painting, etc. They were very lovely and always wanted to learn more, especially english words. The Maximo Nivel staff were very helpful to me, gave all the materials I needed, the scrubs and because the kids had a weak inmune system, they gave me closed new games for the kids. The house I went to was great too, the food and the room was excellent, and the family was very kind to me and the other volunteers. I also met volunteers from all around the world and we are planning to repeat these volunteer experience because of house great it was. I recommend these to everyone no matter if you can do it only one week, it is totally worth it! Go for as long as you can!

So I volunteered with through Maximo Nivel in Cusco, Preu for 8 weeks. As a working nurse going to volunteer, I expected a different experience. With that said, I did have a great time still. I think their program is perfect for students or people that are interested in being in the medical field. My first 6 weeks I volunteered at a clinic and was able to help them quite a bit. My last two weeks I was assigned to Hospital Antonia Lorena and worked in their pediatric oncology unit and it was the most amazing experience. These kids need someone who isn't afraid of what they're going through. They want to be seen for who they are and being a volunteer there will bring a whole new joy to your heart! The staff are all very appreciative to have the helping hand there! Request to see if you qualify for this placement.

Working with Maximo Nivel was spectacular! A team from NYITCOM consisting of 12 students traveled to several rural villages and provided free healthcare to the populations. We all took histories and completed physicals as well as other roles, such as teaching children how to brush their teeth and wash their hands. The experience was eye-opening and outstanding! The support staff that helped us in the field and in the office were all wonderful and a pleasure to work with! The host family/guest house Maximo Nivel organized was fantastic as well as the food they provided! Maximo Nivel made getting to and from the airport easy as well as from site to site. They were also very helpful with pointing out interesting stores, restaurants, and other spots in Cusco, Peru! All for a great price as well! I highly recommend volunteering with Maximo Nivel!

I love travelling, I love kids and I think helping people is one of the best things you can do in your live. So, what about doing a volunteer with kids abroad? When I had the chance to take some free days of work I decided to spent them visiting an orphanage in South America. I didn't know where to go but I knew I would like to visit a real place. Searching in the internet I found Máximo Nivel and I got in touch with them. A week after I was completing my inscription.

I spent two weeks in 'Aldea Juan Pablo II', in Cusco. It is one of the best trips I have ever done. Apart from visiting an awesome place, I met incredible people. The children of the orphanage where so cute and spending 15 days with them you realize the lucky we are. I played with them, I helped them with their homework, we spoke about diferent topics... It has been a really enriching experience.

I would love to go back to visit them. And to see Cusco again. t is a lovely place between mountains, near Macchu Pichu. The ruins mada me feel an inca. What more can we ask?

I really recomend to take a break of the rutine and to fly to Cusco to have an unforgottable experience with Maximo Nivel. You wont regret it.