Teach English to Kids in Peru!

I volunteered with LLI for 7 months in 2014 and came away from my time there with a lifetime of amazing memories, great friends, and the satisfaction that I made a positive impact teaching kids valuable knowledge that will help them going forward. The teaching experience there is unlike many others in that you have the opportunity to not only be a teacher to the kids but also to be a part of their daily lives outside of the classroom. I would routinely find myself playing games of soccer in the street with my students, at their houses for birthday parties, even taking a 10 year old student to the amusement park (which as a side note, was one of my favorite experiences there, just seeing the smile not leave his face the entire day, running from ride to ride). If you open not only your mind but your heart to the children you teach, I can assure you that they will teach you so much more about the human spirit than you could ever imagine.

Lived in a cute, clean apartment with the lovely, like-minded other volunteers. We ate delicious meals cooked by a local Peruvian woman, and could even put in meal requests.
The social scene was surprisingly lively. We made friends with local people; we would play volleyball and football with them, followed by a few beers in a local bar.

The culture was, however, refreshingly different. If you want to see what it's like living abroad in a place which is utterly devoid of tourists, then Huaycan is for you!

Above all though, I felt as if the work I was putting in - primarily as an ESL teacher to children and adults - made a tangible positive difference. This feeling is what drove LLi volunteers to give 110% and support each other in doing so every day. So it was a very sparky environment.

My experience in Peru with LLI was one of the most wonderful, fullfilling experiences of my life. It met and exceeded all of my expectations and I am already looking forward to doing it again next year! From the moment I got off the plane and was greeted by Sarah the house manager I felt welcomed, comfortable and very much included as part of the house. All of the volunteers at the house were extremely helpful and inclusive in the actives. Some of the reasons I chose LLI were, the cost (it is very reasonable), the accomedations- it was great to live in a volunteer house where you could share your experiences with other volunteers and learn from them and the interaction with Lara (the founder), she is right there with you and you really get to understand her passion and what the organization focused on. Although we lived in a volunteer house it did not deter from being immersed in the community. The house is in the area you are serving, the cook is Peruvian (great food), and you are right in the center of it all and have the opportunity to interact with all of the locals. I highly recommend this program to anyone seeking a volunteer opportunity in Lima!

The volunteer house includes amenities important for entertainment and communication (Internet access, television,DVD player, etc). There is a security guard every night to keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary. Lunch is prepared fresh and shared with other volunteers. There are plenty of opportunities to get to know neighbors.

Students/participants are precious and genuinely appreciative of the volunteer staff. Teaching/working with them is by far the highlight of the experience.

Since the volunteer house is located in Huaycan, the list of fun things to do at night is pretty small. Chosica is close-by, however, where karaoke, Foosball and pizza can be found. Lima is a few hours away, and once a week the volunteers went there and explored. On the weekends there is a discotheque close by for dancing and social drinking. It's a good place to meet new friends.

If you don't know Spanish -- learn as quickly as possible. Make a friend while doing so!

This was a great first time volunteer experience for me. I spent one month working with the English, conversation, library and sports programs with LLI. It takes a few days to get used to the changes in your living accommodations, eating habits and day to day routine, but soon you will find your new normal and just roll with it. The support you get from the program director is incredible. She is helpful in every way and is always there to give help and advice. She goes out of her way to make the entire experience rewarding and fun. I always felt safe in our volunteer house and the food provided was plentiful and healthy. Best of all, the relationships that you get to form with other volunteers and the children you work with daily makes the experience awesome. They are a loving, appreciative population. You should definitely consider this volunteer opportunity.

When I thought about volunteering somewhere, I wanted to actually make a difference while being immersed in a new culture and also have fun! LLI went beyond my expectations in every possible way. Each day was filled with amazing times teaching and having fun in class with the students, enjoying delicious Peruvian foods, connecting with the other volunteers who felt like family after a week, and experiencing what life was like in a completely different part of the world. The community was very friendly and the views were amazing. I would do it again in a heartbeat.