Volunteer Abroad in Cusco, Peru - 12 Different Programs

My experience working with ABV staff in the USA was very positive. They were very thorough and professional in answering questions and timely in their responses. I sent many emails on the weekends and received a response from the emails the same day. There was no question too ridiculous. I had questions answered ranging from the needed documentation to the specific types of disabilities I would encounter at the job site. There were so many “favorite” memories; it is hard to narrow it down to just one. However, working with the students on a daily basis was by far the best part of the trip. I am a special education teacher by trade. Being able to work with special needs students in another part of the world and seeing that their needs are the same as the needs of the students where I work was humbling. The reality is that kids are kids regardless of the continent or language. Be flexible and willing to become a part of the culture. Embrace what’s happening around you. Get out and see the sights (Machu Picchu, Saqsaywaman, Sacred Valley, etc…). Eat the food, not on the streets but in the restaurants and at your home. Bring sunscreen with a high SPF and wear it every day regardless. The sun is very close in Cusco. If you bring donations, make sure to know which age group the donations are for and give them directly to the teacher. June, July, and August are winter in Cusco. It’s around 65-73 degrees during the day and 40-50′s in the evenings. There is not central heating in the houses so bring a jacket. Being in ABV in Cusco, Peru was an amazing experience. Being fully submerged into another culture while volunteering in a classroom with special needs students was something I will never forget. It was humbling for me, as an American who basically has everything at her fingertips, to see how another culture survives with so little and they are so happy. The kids are amazing! Their disabilities limit them so much but they continuously press on and continue on their journey. They laugh loudly. They have next to nothing but live like they have everything. I am hoping to adopt some of their perspectives on life. This experience has made me more grateful for what I have, and I would do it again in a heart beat.

Volunteering with Abroader View was an amazing experience! I loved interacting with special needs kids in a different country. On a day to day basis, I would walk to my work site, transport kids from the clinic to the school, work on fine and gross motor skills (putting together puzzles, reading stories, playing with toys, listening to music), and complete the tasks requested of the teacher. I found that interacting with the students and helping them with their projects assigned by the teacher was by far the best part of my experience.
It was amazing being able to see progress in the few short weeks I was there. At the base level though, seeing how these students with life-altering disabilities were able to function and find joy and hope was life changing for me. It brought me hope seeing their hope. It brought me joy seeing their joy. There were also difficulties at times only because of the communication issue for me. I speak very limited Spanish. It was difficult to know how to help at times because I wasn't sure what the need was. Also, outside of the work site, the communication issue arose. On occasion, a taxi driver would take me to the wrong place because I had not given instruction in Spanish well enough. It always turned ok but was humorous often.
Other highlights of the trip were interacting with other volunteers and the ABV host family and staff. They were very pleasant to be around and also extremely helpful. I knew that if I needed anything, I could talk to the Cusco coordinator or the host family and they would do the best they could meet my needs.
It was an extremely positive experience, and I would do it again in a heart beat.

My first experience doing volunteer work has been extremely positive, fun and rewarding.

I worked at the 'Children's Center' in Cusco. This is a a care center for impoverished children, and provides a safe haven, education and food to over 100 kids! My activities included tutoring, teaching English, helping with assignments, pre-school type activities, playing with and supervising the kids during recess and generally just being run ragged by the active kids!! Many of these children craved attention, a hug, a lap to sit on, and a happy face to spend time with them. The kids were adorable and it was very fulfilling to give them the attention, care and affection they need and deserve.

I am very pleased and feel fortunate that I chose 'A Broader View' as my volunteer organisation. It has been a pleasure and delight working with this organisation during every step of the way:

- During the inquiry and planning phases of my trip all questions were answered very promptly (always within 24 hours). The 'A Broader View' volunteer programs, planning process and registration are very structured and professional.
- The 'A Broader View' staff are very knowledgeable and competent and can provide a wealth of information in order to help plan your volunteer trip.
- The local coordinator in Cusco is a warm, caring and extremely helpful person. She was very generous with her time and help in integrating me at the local site where I was volunteering. She gave me a full orientation tour of the city in order to help me get settled in. On my firt day at work, she accompanied me to the work site, showed how to get there by public transit and introduced me to the local staff that I would be working with.
- My host family was great. They were extremely welcoming and made me feel as if I were in my own home during my stay in Cusco. My accomodation (private room) was clean and comfortable. The Peruvian home-cooked meals (2 meals a day + breakfast) were delicious.

I would definitely recommend 'A Broader View' to anyone planning to volunteer abroad. A Broader View is very caring, committed and professional organisation which will accompany you every step of the way so that you will have a safe, enjoyable and fulfilling volunteer experience.

I spent three weeks in Cuzco with A Broader View from late June to mid July. I wish I had stayed longer, because it truly was an incredibly fun and rewarding experience. I taught English in a school a block away from my host family's home and every day felt extremely satisfied by the warm gratitude of both the kids and the teachers. In the evening, whether I stayed in with my host family or went out with the four other volunteers that I met to the Cuzco downtown (in which I actually felt remarkably safe- several times we walked the few miles from our houses to the discos), I always had a great time. I did a lot of research before going to Peru with A Broader View, and I can honestly say there is no experience that even comes close to the value of A Broader View in terms of cost and experience.

A broader View Volunteers was absolutely amazing. They were great to work with and were so helpful with any questions I had while I was getting ready to make the leap to foreign country and while I was there and when I returned. The experience has carried with me throughout my life as a returned. My host family was an absolute dream and they became my home away from home. I would definitely recommend them for any volunteer experience.

The experience was as expected and designed by the ABV staff. I spent 2 weeks in the cultural immersion program. My daily activities included breakfast, volunteer work at a local orphanage in the morning, lunch back at my host family's house, spanish language class in the afternoon, dinner back at the house, free time in the evenings. My Cusco host family was very helpful in arranging various side trips for me. I made friendships that continue now that I am back in the USA. I was able to visit MachuPicchu and lake Titicaca and other places too. I really encountered no difficulties and fealt very well prepared due the the thoroughness of the ABV staff in the USA and in Cusco. I recommend this program for anyone considering a Peruvian mountain and spanish culture experience.

I have so many great memories, I don’t think I can choose just one. My favorite memory related to my actual volunteer work is playing soccer, throwing the Frisbee, and playing games in the courtyard with the kids at the Clinic. Also, I prepared little Christmas stockings full of gifts for each child and passed them out on my last day at the clinic. They were so excited, happy, and grateful and showered me in hugs. It was absolutely wonderful. My other favorite memory was cooking Thanksgiving dinner with the girls in the house for our house mom and celebrating the holiday with them. It was really nice that we were able to share something from our American culture with our house mom.

I had so much freedom at the Clinic in regards to choosing what I wanted to do and in what capacity I wanted to help. I was able to do exactly what I wanted and work directly with the children and didn’t have to do any “busy work.” I was also surprised that I felt so safe in the city. I never once felt uncomfortable or scared while I was out and about during the day and night.

The language barrier at the workplace. It was challenging working with teenage girls while trying to learn the language. It was intimidating, but it’s better to try and mess up than not communicating at all. As long as you have a good, positive attitude and continue to put effort forth they will be responsive to you. Perseverance is key.