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Childcare Volunteer Program in Peru - Lima

Childcare Volunteer Program in Peru - Lima

Excited to be a Childcare volunteer in Peru - Lima? International Volunteer HQ’s Childcare project empowers volunteers to assist in early childhood education centers in Lima. Volunteers gain childcare experience while helping at facilities that are often underfunded and understaffed so derive great benefit from the support of volunteers. The children at the centers also benefit from increased individual engagement and attention that helps them learn and grow.

Highlights:
  • Programs start the first and third Monday of the month
  • Affordable fees from $275 for 1 week
  • Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
  • Support, nurture and help entertain young children

  • Explore Peru’s stunning scenery and ancient ruins

  • Stay with other volunteers or a local family on the coast of Lima

Key information

Provide a safe space for children to learn
Based in pre-schools and childcare centers
Volunteer house or homestay accommodation
Volunteers aged 16+ and families
Fully hosted experience from $275 for 1 week
Durations from 1 - 12 weeks
Spanish language lessons available
Up to 5 hours volunteering a day

This program is ideal for:

Energetic volunteers who enjoy working with young children and have an interest in early childhood education. You’ll be working with local staff so no experience of childcare is necessary.
Who is this program suited to?

What to expect and how you'll make an impact

Childcare centers in Lima are often busy places that are lacking the funds and resources they need to provide top quality care. Volunteers can help by providing an extra pair of hands to assist with anything that needs to be done, and also enable children to get more one-on-one attention and connection.

As a Childcare volunteer, you’ll work alongside local teachers in classes that cater to children aged between 3 and 5 years old. Volunteer duties can vary but often include:

  • Helping with play time
  • Supervising children
  • Preparing early childhood education materials and teaching simple lessons
  • Arranging games and activities

Your work will be more varied in school holidays in January, February and August, when you can also expect to be helping out at a school holiday program.

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #4: Quality Education

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #4: Quality Education

More than half of all children and teens do not meet minimum proficiency standards in reading and mathematics. Quality education provides an opportunity to learn and grow in a safe environment and is key to preventing poverty, securing long-term employment and improving quality of life.

Why do Childcare volunteering in Lima with IVHQ?

When you volunteer with children in Peru - Lima you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:

  • Improving the quality of early childhood education
  • Helping young children grow and develop in a safe place
  • Developing your communication skills
  • Gaining childcare experience
  • Immersing yourself in Peruvian culture
  • Exploring the stunning mountains and ancient ruins of Peru

Volunteer requirements

  • Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate in this program
  • Volunteers aged 16-18 are required to provide IVHQ with parental consent in order to participate on the program, and may be asked to provide additional documentation to the local team
  • All volunteers aged 13+ are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ prior to departure. Those aged 13-17, if unable to obtain a criminal background check, can provide two character reference letters instead
  • All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance
  • All volunteers must speak fluent English.
Are you eligible to volunteer?

Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.

Apply For Free

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What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience

JW
Julia Windley-Daoust
08 Dec 2023

During the summer when I was contemplating whether to go to university or take a gap year I had many doubts for not taking the traditional route, and I was worried about falling behind in life compared to most of my classmates who were heading off to university. Only a few days into my program with IVHQ, I realized there was no other choice for me. I was living life to live and experience, not just living to keep up and conform with the group. I was worried about falling behind in life, but by the time I came home I felt like I had gone ten steps forward. I am so grateful to IVHQ because they gave me the ability to choose my own path and make an impact while doing so. If I could give any advice to someone considering joining the program I would say take the leap of faith despite your worries.

...
PA
Phoebe Armes
09 Aug 2023

Give it a go! You never know until you give it a go and I can honestly say that it was the best decision I have ever made. Yes, at 17 it was scary and a long way from home, but the people that I met along the way, and the friends that I made, enabled me to have a phenomenal experience!

...
KD
Kasia Dalewska
17 May 2023

I loved working with the children - it changed my view of the important things in life.

...
GR
Giovanna Rud
15 Dec 2022

It's an amazing experience - I realized how many kids need love and attention. Seeing the children's happy faces was my favorite part of my volunteer trip.

...
JR
Jessica Ribble
02 Nov 2022

It’s an amazing experience and it provides you with a safe way to travel and a fast way to make new friends from around the world. The biggest impact the trip had on me was learning how Peruvians live. My favorite moment was helping the little kids in the kindergarten class.

...
GT
Garrett Tocci
19 Oct 2022

I cannot narrow it down to any one favorite moment, but the collective moments of shared love between the children were beyond my imagination. Especially coming from the privilege of growing up in a clean house, on paved roads, and with indoor plumbing. It was absolutely endearing to see the amount of love coming from kids who grew up with less. It really opened my eyes and heart to the simple needs in life. It allowed me to disconnect from a lot of the now trivial pressures of my day-to-day life and provided plenty of moments for introspection that I have now distilled into lessons I can carry back home. If you lean into your fears/hesitation, you are often met with the greatest reward.

...

To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.

Academic course credit through International Volunteer HQ and Intern Abroad HQ.

Academic course credit

Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!

Learn about course credit
Volunteer Abroad in Peru, Lima with IVHQ

Location

Lima, Peru’s capital city, is perched along the country’s Pacific coast. As the biggest city in Peru and one of the largest in South America, Lima is an important hub of culture, commerce, finance and politics. It’s also got a long history dating back to Pre-Columbian times as well as a strong Spanish influence and both of these can be explored in the many museums, art galleries, churches and ancient historical sites dotted around the city.

IVHQ’s Lima projects are set in and around the city, near the tourist hotspots of Barranco and Miraflores, wildly different in nature but both known for their beauty, great food and buzzing nightlife.

Arrival and orientation

The program orientation begins on the first and third Monday of each month and volunteers need to arrive into Lima on the day before orientation.

After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM). Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee. We recommend that volunteers under the age of 18 travel internationally with a notarized letter from their parents to support their documentation.

When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation in Lima. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation. If you are traveling in Peru prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up in Lima on the day before your program orientation, or you can make your own way to the program site.

Orientation is hosted by our local team at the volunteer house in Lima. Orientation begins on the morning of your chosen start date. It covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Lima – an introduction to Peru, Peruvian customs, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities in Peru, and an introduction to your project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing.

Volunteer schedule example

First Day

On the first day of the volunteering placement, you will be escorted to the project by our local staff and introduced to the staff at the project you will be working with.

Weekdays - A typical day would be as follows:

6:00 AM Breakfast at the volunteer house or homestay.
7:00 AM Volunteers leave home and travel to their placements.
12:30 - 1:00 PM Volunteers finish placement and return to their accommodation. You will be provided with a packed lunch to eat at your convenience.
2:00 - 6:00 PM Volunteers are free to prepare for the next day or do some shopping and sightseeing. If volunteers are taking Spanish language lessons, they will usually take these in the afternoon. Some placements may take place in the afternoon.
6:30 - 7:00 PM Dinner at the volunteer house or homestay.

Weekends

During the weekends, volunteers have spare time and usually just relax or take the opportunity to explore other parts of Lima and Peru. Popular activities include paragliding from the cliffs of Miraflores, visiting the Pachacamac Ruins south of Lima, climbing to the top of the Huaca Pucllana Pyramid, surfing the coastal waters of Miraflores and Barranco, and sandboarding in Huacachina of Southwest Peru. Long weekends can be taken to travel further afield to visit other parts of Peru such as Cusco and Machu Picchu.

Looking for more ideas of things to do in Peru - Lima? Check out our Lima Travel & Tours page!

Accommodation and WiFi

Volunteers will either be accommodated in the main volunteer house or a homestay experience. Typically, volunteers are housed in our main facility, unless capacity is reached or you express a preference for a homestay.

Our volunteer accommodation strikes a perfect balance between independence and camaraderie. Featuring shared bedrooms and a communal area, it fosters a sociable atmosphere while a dedicated local team member is available on-site for support. It’s important to mention that volunteers will be accommodated on the third floor, while a local family resides on the floors below. We’ve had a longstanding partnership with this family since 2015, and while their presence has been warmly received by volunteers, there is often minimal interaction between volunteers and the local family due to the separation.

Each room is equipped with single bunk beds, usually shared with up to 6 volunteers of the same gender. Amenities include Wi-Fi, hot water, bedding, a fridge, and a TV in the common area for your comfort. Additionally, you have the option to upgrade to a homestay experience (shared room) for a more immersive interaction with a local Peruvian family. Please note that this incurs an additional cost. During quieter seasons, you may be accommodated without other volunteers in the homestay. Conversely, during busy seasons, a small number of volunteers may share the homestay with you.

For those seeking a quieter retreat, private single or matrimonial rooms are available as an accommodation upgrade. This option places you either in the volunteer house or in a homestay with a local host family. While preferences can be noted, room allocation cannot be guaranteed. Reservations incurs an additional cost and is subject to availability.

To ensure the safety and respect of all volunteers, our local team enforces curfews. Sunday through Thursday, there is an 11:00 PM curfew. Exceptions may be granted for special occasions if requested in advance. The curfew is explained in detail during orientation.

Meals

Volunteers are provided with three hearty meals daily, consisting of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast is offered as a self-serve, located in the volunteer kitchen, offering a variety of options such as tea, coffee, toast, local breads, fresh fruits, cereal, condiments, ham, eggs, yogurt, and cheese.

Lunch is typically served upon your return to the accommodation after your placement. Peruvian cuisine is a vibrant fusion of international flavors, influenced by Spanish, Chinese, Italian, West African, and Japanese culinary traditions. Adapted to local produce, dishes often feature a carb-rich array including pasta, rice, bread, corn, potatoes, chili peppers, and chicken.

For those staying in homestay accommodations, expect to dine as the local host family does. In Peru, it’s customary for the main meal to be served at lunchtime, often repeated in the evening, featuring traditional meat or vegetarian stews complemented by vegetables and rice. Drinkable water will be readily available throughout your stay.

Should you have any dietary restrictions or preferences, please inform us in advance, and we’ll make necessary arrangements. While we strive to accommodate your needs, we also recommend bringing extra spending money for any personal dietary snacks. As a volunteer, flexibility is key, so expect some variation from your usual dining habits.

Pricing

  • USD
Duration
Program Fee
Due 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
  • USD
1 week $275 Equivalent to $39/day
2 weeks $488 Equivalent to $35/day
3 weeks $700 Equivalent to $33/day
4 weeks $835 Equivalent to $30/day
5 weeks $974 Equivalent to $28/day
6 weeks $1,114 Equivalent to $27/day
8 weeks $1,404 Equivalent to $25/day
10 weeks $1,684 Equivalent to $24/day
12 weeks $1,964 Equivalent to $23/day
  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • 24/7 in-country support
  • In-country program orientation
  • Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
  • Airport pick-up
  • Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
  • Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
  • Discounts on language lessons
  • Discounts on travel and tour add-ons
  • Certificate of International Volunteer Service

Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.

  • All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$329 (approximately $329) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
  • A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
  • Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check, public transportation to and from your placement each day and return to the airport when your program finishes.
  • Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Lima generally find US$50 - $100 per week to be sufficient for expenses, such as snacks, in-country tours, and Spanish language lessons.
  • Anyone volunteering during the week before Christmas will have a one-off surcharge of US$70 added to their file when registering, for Christmas activities within the community.

Free-time experiences & tours in Peru

Take your volunteer experience to the next level with IVHQ's affordable activity and tour add-ons in Peru! Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto the IVHQ Peru program.

Lake Titicaca Tour (2 nights/1 day)
Lake Titicaca Tour (2 nights/1 day)

Prepare to be in awe of this unique landscape and surroundings on this overnight tour!

$140
Machu Picchu Overnight Tour  - Upgrade (2 days, 1 night)
Machu Picchu Overnight Tour - Upgrade (2 days, 1 night)

Explore Machu Picchu on an exhilarating 2-day & 1-night tour.

$490
Machu Picchu Tour (Full Day)
Machu Picchu Tour (Full Day)

Experience the awe-inspiring wonders of Machu Picchu in just one day without stretching your budget!

$374
Mini Adventure (6 days, 7 nights)
Mini Adventure (6 days, 7 nights)

See all of Peru’s major hot spots on this 1-week Mini Adventure tour.

$920
Lake Titicaca Tour (2 nights/1 day)
Lake Titicaca Tour (2 nights/1 day)

Prepare to be in awe of this unique landscape and surroundings on this overnight tour!

$140
Rainbow Mountain - Short Trek
Rainbow Mountain - Short Trek

Enjoy a short, mountainside trek to the top of Rainbow Mountain, part of Ausangate Mountain in the Andes.

$59

No experiences or tours for Lima, yet...

Spanish language lessons

Spanish language lessons are available for all volunteers regardless of their ability. IVHQ strongly recommends these for all volunteers, unless they are fluent in Spanish. If volunteers have little or no Spanish ability and are volunteering for a period longer than 2 weeks, they should strongly consider these courses, so they can work and communicate with all parties more effectively during their program. These language lessons can be pre-booked by the hour via your MyIVHQ profile and the class schedule confirmed on your arrival in Lima at your program orientation. The language lessons are tailored to each volunteer’s current level of Spanish. The cost is very affordable and offered exclusively to IVHQ volunteers at $20 (approximately $20) per hour for a private class.

Check what's required to visit Peru

Safety and support with IVHQ

Safety and support

IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.

  • All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
  • All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
  • All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
  • All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Learn more about IVHQ's safety

Essential country information

Capital Lima
Population 32 million
Languages Spanish
Currency Nuevo Sol (PEN)
Time zone UTC-05:00

Weather and climate: Peru, unlike other equatorial countries, does not have an exclusively tropical climate; the influence of the Andes and the Humboldt Current causes great climatic diversity within the country. The coast has moderate temperatures, low precipitation, and high humidity, except for its warmer, wetter northern reaches. In the sierra, rain is frequent during summer, and temperature and humidity diminish with altitude up to the frozen peaks of the Andes. The jungle is characterized by heavy rainfall and high temperatures, except for its southernmost part, which has cold winters and seasonal rainfall.

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How to get started

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