Project Summary

Volunteers in our Health Care program lend a huge hand to understaffed and under funded medical centres located in poor, rural areas of Peru. Volunteers have to use public transportation daily (55 cents round trip), as the centres are outside of the city. Each of the centres currently has a staff of approximately twelve members. Most of the doctors' English is very basic, and 99% of the staff is indigenous. An incredibly noble and indispensable position, this volunteer job is greatly appreciated by doctors, patients, family members of patients, and communities alike. Beyond that, this kind of volunteering opens up doors for cross-cultural communication between the volunteers and doctors as well as between the volunteers and patients. The opportunity here is one for people-persons with big hearts and responsible, respectful outlooks. The experience is invaluable to broadening one's horizons, both culturally as well as in terms of universal humanity. The volunteer pursuing a career as a doctor or nurse, whether abroad or in his or her home country, undoubtedly gains deeper knowledge of what it is to practice medicine.

At a Glance

Minimum Program Length:	2 weeks
Start Date:	Every Monday
Arrival Date:	2-3 days before your Start Date.
Minimum Age:	18 years old
Volunteer Gender:	Male and Female
Accommodation:	We offer clean, comfortable and safe accommodation. Volunteers will stay in a single or shared room with either a homestay family or in an apartment with other volunteers.
Food:	Three local meals will be provided each day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food will usually be local Peruvian dishes (which are very tasty!). You will be fed every day except Sunday.
Pick-up Info:	A Volunteer Visions representative will be waiting for you at your arrival point and guide you to your accommodation and project location.
Project Schedule:	Monday through Friday from 08:30 am to 1:00 pm

Your role as a Volunteer

The main goal of the volunteers will be to assist medical staff in attending to all of their patients. Assistance includes daily tasks like filing patients` information, showing patients to the doctor's office, and helping them to explain all their symptoms, medications, and any other drug use to the doctor. The patients themselves are mostly farm workers. Their clothes are not clean; in the case that volunteers are affected by this they should NOT show it but instead remain entirely respectful and helpful. Volunteers may find themselves caring for the patients and even developing strong affections or relationships. At the same time, the patients' conditions may be serious, and the treatment they are able to receive may be less robust than what volunteers are used to having access to in their home country. Therefore, if you have the tendency to "lose heart," you are unfortunately not the best candidate for this program, and it is important that you realize this. Volunteers that do elect to go on this program must follow basic, respectful customs and dress code; they may not wear piercings, sandals, jeans, etc.

Project Location

All the medical centres are located outside Cusco or outside Lima. Information on Cusco and Lima:

Cusco is an ancient Inca city in the Andes of southern Peru. Famous for the tenderness of its people and its perfect location for travel to Chile, Bolivia and Peru attractions outside the city (including the incredible Machu Picchu), Cusco is an ideal place for volunteers to live and familiarize themselves with Peru's history and culture. Cusco itself is rich in culture and history, with several intriguing historic sites.

Lima, the largest city and capital of Peru, is Peru's industrial and cultural nucleus. Nonetheless, visitors remark on the small town feel that is perhaps a result of the friendly attitude and leisurely pace of Lima's inhabitants. Renowned dining, open-air markets, globally famous museums and a variety of stunning white beaches nearby embellish this metropolis.

Suggested Language Level

Since you will be communicating with staff members and patients who do not speak much English, a basic level of Spanish is recommended but not required.

Supplementary Spanish language classes are offered at the local language school for volunteers interested in practicing and learning Spanish. The classes are run by certified ESL teachers and the groups are no typically no larger than 8 students.

Although these classes are not mandatory, we suggest that you take these classes if you have little or no background in Spanish. Classes are available for $210 for 20 hours per week. Classes are held four hours a day from Monday to Friday and accommodation and 3 meals a day are included in the program fee.

Additional Activities offered by the school
The Peruvian Andes are alive with cultural activities. The school offers opportunities to learn skills from our local artisans. The course includes the following cultural courses for those students seeking a genuine experience:

WEAVING COURSES:
Learn to use traditional backstrap looms from Pre-Hispanic times, or a pedal loom, to create your own special pieces. There are over 50 different types of weaving in the Highlands, and our teachers can teach you many different designs.

SPINNING AND NATURAL DYES:
This course is a great complement to the weaving course. Natural dyes have been used in our Valley for thousands of years. Visit us and explore the countryside with our local people, collecting plants and herbs to create your own special dyes.

COOKING COURSES:
Cook delicious and healthy Peruvian dishes, using our special cookbook compiled by Beverley. This course includes the fun of shopping at the colorful local market, selecting your own ingredients and sampling our exotic and ethnic flavors.

MUSIC COURSES:
Andean music makes every fiesta come alive! Learn to play a variety of instruments such as the Andean flute, pan flute, charango (small guitar) and guitar. Our methods are simple and practical, with one on one instruction.

DANCING COURSES:
Learn many of the local folkloric dances from experienced dancers. Listen to the histories of each dance, and study the different costumes of each. Visit the villages where these dances are performed. Modern dances can also be taught.

JEWELLERY MAKING:
Silverwork is a colonial art that is still alive in the villages of Peru. Using traditional methods, our local artisans can teach you the art of creating beautiful silver works.

Suggested Skills and Interests

Our volunteers must be medical students, doctors, or nurses. If possible, please send us a doctor's certificate by email. Please also bring the following:

• :: White medical Jacket
• :: Digital thermometer
• :: Stethoscope
• :: Medical book

All volunteers should be outgoing and caring people.

Suggested Donations

Volunteer Visions appreciates your help in bringing clothes, blankets, pillows, medicine, and other medical supplies. If you have questions about what you might want to donate, do not hesitate to ask Volunteer Visions about it by sending us an email or giving us a call.