Community Engagement in Lima, Peru

Human Rights

Language Requirement: Spanish (Intermediate)

This nonprofit is dedicated to defending the rights of domestic workers and working children, as well as to providing education to children in underprivileged communities around Lima. Participants may primarily be asked to assist with tutoring in after-school programs in the outskirts of Lima and may be required to assist with workshops on Sundays. Sunday workshops are designed to promote awareness of workers’ rights and human rights, as well as to inform the public of child labor. Participants may also help organize donations of clothing, school materials, and educational information, as well as participate in recreational activities with the domestic workers and children who participate in the organization’s many projects across the city.

Community Development

Language Requirement: Spanish (High Intermediate)

This organization promotes lasting community development and serves vulnerable populations by providing a variety of educational and skills-based programs. Through the use of play, sports, and cultural activities, they hope to transform the lives of community members. Their services include childhood educational programs, transformation and beautification of public spaces, and sports programs such as Muay Thai and surfing. Service-Learning participants in this organization should be highly professional and may work directly with community members or on tasks such as translation, fundraising, grant writing, and marketing or social media initiatives.

** NOTE: A skype interview with the organization may be required. Direct interaction with children will be limited in this role.

Community Development

Language Requirement: Spanish (Beginning)

This multinational non-profit organization seeks to alleviate poverty and transform communities through collaboration, sustainable development, and grass-roots construction projects. Participants in this role may assist the organization with fundraising, project development, campaigns, logistical support, and other tasks as needed.

Education, Health

Language Requirement: Spanish (Intermediate)

This nonprofit organization enables children that are severely impacted by life-threatening illnesses to continue with as much normalcy as possible by bringing the classroom to their hospital rooms. Participants may assist at a Cancer Hospital or at a Children's Hospital in Lima and may assist the staff in helping these patients stay up to date on the schoolwork they are missing during treatment and care. On days when patients are unwilling or unable to complete the curriculum, participants may engage in musical and/or crafting activities. Participants will also have the opportunity to observe how the Peruvian public health system works.

*Note: This placement does not involve shadowing doctors or nurses.

Environment

Language Requirement: Spanish (Beginning)

This non-profit organization is dedicated to the research, rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine wildlife (sea lions, dolphins, penguins, marine otters, and sea turtles) along the central and northern coastline of Peru. The organization's efforts rely heavily on community awareness and support, so observation and research are key parts of a participant's role. Daily duties may consist of facility maintenance, cleaning and feeding of animals, observation of rehabilitated animals, and data collection.

*NOTE: This organization is located in San Bartolo, 50km south of the ISA office; accepted participants will be required to stay onsite in San Bartolo and therefore, this placement is not available to students on a semester study program. Additional fees apply for placements with this organization. Please contact ISA Service-Learning for more information.

Environment

Language Requirement: Spanish (Beginning)

This non-profit's mission is to raise awareness about the social and environmental benefits of recycling and the negative consequences of plastic pollution, especially in aquatic ecosystems in and around Lima. Participants will assist the staff with research, seek project proposals for creative recycling initiatives, and develop information sessions for children, youth, and adults. There may also be opportunities to work in a marketing capacity, generating graphics and promotional materials.

Family and Youth Development, Health

Language Requirement: Spanish (High Intermediate)

Empower Peru’s at-risk youth by serving in a boy’s or girl’s home in the outskirts of the city of Lima. The goal of this organization is to promote, through prevention and rehabilitation, the healthy and integral development of children and adolescents at high risk in Peru. The aim here is to encourage functional participation in academic, social, and familial settings in a healthy and violence-free environment. ISA participants will work closely with experienced staff and volunteers to promote daily practices of hygiene and health, as well as quality education. Participant responsibilities vary from assisting with day-to-day operations and facility maintenance, to leading workshops in language, fitness, art, and sports. Participants with a high level of Spanish proficiency may have the opportunity to observe and assist in the center's department of Psychology.

*The Center is located on the outskirts of Lima, a 45-minute commute on a provided volunteer van. This placement is not available to students in a semester study program.

Family and Youth Development, Health

Language Requirement: Spanish (Intermediate)

This non-profit opened in 2014 and is dedicated to improving the health and welfare of Peruvian children. The organization provides a "home away from home" for many families that must travel to Lima so that they can be near their children during their hospitalization. Participants will assist with maintaining the facility to ensure a comfortable and welcoming environment for the families in need. Participants will also serve to support the families staying at the home during very trying times. Interested participants may have the opportunity to support fundraising events, support weekly workshops, create brochures and marketing materials, and assist in social media networking.

Family and Youth Development, Health

Language Requirement: Spanish (Intermediate)

This institute serves children with physical, intellectual, or sensory disabilities through physical therapy, social integration, and educational activities. The institute follows an early treatment approach known as the Doman Method-- one in which the parents of the child participate actively in the rehabilitation program. Participants may have the opportunity to work directly with the children and assist the staff in various areas, such as neurology, psychology, physical therapy, education, and pedagogy.

Family and Youth Development, Health

Language Requirement: Spanish (High Intermediate)

The Center for Students with Learning Disabilities is a bilingual center dedicated to supporting children and teenagers with alternative forms of academic support. The center also provides families with consulting services to best support their students. The multidisciplinary team of experts creates specialized approaches incorporating family, school, and therapy. The staff creates personalized programs of support as well as psychological, learning, language, occupational/sensory, physical, and psycho-motor evaluations. This organization is closed for the last two weeks of July and for the months of December, January, and February.