Volunteer in Peru - Lowest Fees & 20K Happy Volunteers Since 1998

I volunteered in a public clinic in Cusco for 4 hours in the morning and then had Spanish classes for 4 hours in the afternoon. It was a hard work and tiring but very enjoyable. I was severely limited in seeing by patients by my low level of Spanish. Everyone at the clinic was friendly and it was interesting to see a different healthcare system but my personal impact was low. The Spanish school 'mundo antiguo' was brilliant and organised lots of social activities such as meals, salsa classes and cultural experiences. Cusco is a very safe and beautiful city with loads of historical sites to visit at the weekends

I met a lot of great friends through this program and would love to go back. The orphanage was a great place to volunteer but is difficult to do much unless you know a little bit of Spanish to be able to communicate with the people in the orphanage. If you are able to communicate, you find it is a very rewarding experience and are able to help out in a lot of ways. Roger, our country coordinator was great. We lived with a host family and a bunch of young girls who were traveling and Roger made our safety a top priority. I did not take Spanish classes while in Peru but I heard they were great! DO NOT fall for scams in the plaza. There are plenty of them such as paintings and sight seeing tours. If you ever take a trip to hike or sight-see do not pay in full prior to the trip.

I spent seven weeks in Peru, six of which I volunteered and took spanish lessons. I was in the orphanage with teen moms and everything was great, I bonded well with them, along with painting the kids’ room and having a “Princess Day” with the moms. I was 17 years old throughout the time I was there, and everything was made very safe for me and the other volunteers I lived with. María, my host mom made three meals, and lunch was always packed to go. Lots of time on the weekends to see and experience Peru, along with some kind of festival that’s always happening in the Plaza. I gained so many close relationships through this and I hope to one day come back and see the moms again and enjoy the culture that is so prominent everywhere you go. I recommend this program, but be careful if you are doing teaching because another volunteer wasn’t told about the school not having two weeks of vacation..

I think what makes this programme good is the experience you gain from loving with a Peruvian family and meeting people in the clinic. I really enjoyed my Spanish lessons with Karla, I learned more than just Spanish but also about Cusco's culture. We did fun trips on Fridays, including the chocolate mesum and a zoo. Our country co-ordinator, Roger, was great at making me feel welcome and safe her in Cusco. He organised fun activities and helped make Cusco feel like home. I don't think I would of enjoyed half as much if he hadn't been there. The clinic would be great for anyone confident in speaking Spanish or if you just wanted some to clinical experience. But as a doctor with limited Spanish I was very limited in what I could do. Was great to see how the clinic worked and what the population in Cusco needed.

As someone interested in continuing my medical experience while volunteering and traveling, this program was the perfect synthesis of my interest in volunteering to help a clinic, learning medical skills, and practicing my Spanish. I felt very supported through my host family experience from Roger and Maria as well as in the clinic. The clinic gave me ample opportunity to see different departments and assist despite my lower skill level. The clinic was very inclusive with clinic experience as well as outside the clinic with activities and food. I felt a part of their cohort despite only having two weeks in Cusco. Overall, both components of the program, the clinic and the home, were great and I would recommend them to people looking to volunteer in Peru and practice their Spanish!

As a pre-physician assistant, I was looking for a way to practice my Spanish language and medical skills while volunteering and helping a clinic in a place I never went to and it was exactly that. The clinic was the highlight of my experience as I was able to learn and observe useful skills in a mutually helpful way; one that helped me to learn while helping the clinic manage their heavy patient load. Everyone in the clinic was very nice and supportive and including me in events outside of work. While two weeks is too short to make a lasting impact, I felt a part of their team at the clinic and do appreciate the experience I've had. I am more likely to do medical volunteering abroad now and I felt good with the Spanish language practice and skill I was able to achieve.

In September of 2018 I decided to take a leap of faith, and join the RCDP Volunteer program in Peru. I didn’t understand at the time, how much of an impact this trip would make in my life. I am in Nursing school, and wanted to experience what the medical field was like in a developing country. I worked in a small public clinic, and met some of the most amazing people you could imagine. Everyone welcomed me with open arms into their small close knit little family. Working in that clinic became the highlight of my trip. Visiting Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca, couldn’t come close to the beauty I experienced in that clinic. The Peruvian people I met are beautiful inside and out.
I also volunteered at a couple of orphanages, my favorite one being the special needs orphanage. Working there and getting to know those children, is the most beneficial feeling you can get. Working a day there, will leave you feeling exhausted but in the best way possible. Those kids are some of the happiest kids I have ever met, they don’t let the small nuisances in life get to them. Leaving there gives the most complete feeling of accomplishment you could have.
Another highlight of my trip would be meeting and getting to know my host family. Maria, my host mother, is one of the most kind hearted people you could ever meet. She made me and all the other volunteers feel so welcomed. She also made us feel like we were part of the family. She put the volunteers and I before her and everyone else, to make sure we were comfortable and having a good time. Also Roger Parrera made this incredible trip, that much better. He worked hard to make sure everything we experienced was the best it could possibly be. He’s hilarious and kind hearted and one of the best people I could possibly spend my time with. He made sure we all had fun but stayed 100% safe while doing it.
I made some of the best memories and friends that will stay with me for a lifetime.
Overall I would 10/10 recommend this volunteer program to anyone looking to make a difference in people’s life’s. Thank you so much to all of the people who made this trip one of the best I could hope for. A huge shout out to Maria (don’t know her last name) and Roger Parrera. I love you guys and couldn’t ask for a better host family.
God Bless and Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Kendahl Clokey