Based around the historic town of Cuzco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, Madventurer have been working in Peru for many years. Located high among the spectacular Andes Mountains our projects focus on assisting children and impoverished communities who, despite their harsh living conditions, will always have a big smile for you.
You don't have to go far from Cuzco to find yourself in villages where little has changed in the last hundred years. People in traditional Peruvian dress still farm the fields with ox-drawn ploughs and donkeys still being used as the main rural transport. Despite the income parts of the region receive from tourism, many of these small villages remain very poor, and there is a great deal of scope for projects that are of real value to the local communities.
Often, you will be working on projects that the people of the village have been unable to undertake because of lack of funding. Therefore the money you bring to the project has a direct impact on the local community.
No previous building experience is necessary and you certainly don’t need to be muscle bound to work on these projects. Experienced local masons, carpenters and craftsmen will lead the group, teaching you the required skills and supervising your work. On the projects you could be digging foundations, laying cement, building walls, plastering or painting.
Thank you S-Trip! and Madventurer for showing me I can make a difference!
Day 1
Arriving on Saturday you will be met at the airport. You will be met by your leader and the rest of the group arriving on your joining date. There will be a brief welcome meeting where your leader will outline a plan for the days ahead, as well as answering any questions you may have. You will be transported to the project site the following morning
Days 2-13
Meet the school community from the teachers to the board of parents and chairs to the many small faces peering curiously at you. The welcome smiles will be many and widespread. Accommodation is in a local group homestay. Your house will be close to a water source but may not have running water. You will have a shower cubicle either indoor or outdoor and you will take the traditional 'bucket shower'. Electricity may not be available but alternatives will be provided. You will be given a chance to charge phones at least every weekend. Beds will be mattresses on the floor and bedrooms are shared with your team. Get to know your surroundings, find out where the local 'store' is and what delights they sell, be introduced to the nearest water source is and how your community makes the journey home with it. Enjoy the hearty local cuisine that will build up lots of energy for the busy weeks to come. Mark the first site of your new building or plot with a photo, the scene will soon change. We will establish the routine at school including several hours in the morning building and again after lunch. Your usual working hours are 8am - 4pm with breaks during the day. Lessons will then be taught on a rota basis including preparation time. Throughout the day we will rotate teaching as and when lessons are timetabled. When not teaching we can return to work on the building site or plan our next lessons. Each day we have the opportunity to explore the community after school and take part and organise activities with the community. We can take walks and discover the countryside or maybe help out on farms or planting/weeding. There are many opportunities that await you in your village. You can help set up nutrition programmes or support recycling or energy saving projects. If applicable take the chance to visit the local clinic and learn about medical care. The key is getting to know your village and how they need your support. You may be able to join local adults in their cooperative groups, teach them English and learn their skills. We also can look for opportunities to play sport with youth groups, football is always a winner. Each project reaches a 2 week milestone so your contributions will be recognised at the end of every milestone.
Day 14 Cusco – end of a two week project.
You will be returned to Cusco for no later than 7pm.