TEACHING

The small school in the village of Lamay, in the sacred valley of the Incas, was founded in 2015. The facility receives about 15 children of different ages from the surrounding communities every day. In addition to academic education, homework help and learning support, the kids and teenagers are offered various creative workshops and meditation.
The goal of our partner school is to provide children and youth with an alternative education based on love, respect and creativity. The school wants to offer children, teenagers and adults the possibility to discover new ways of living in Peru and on earth, where respect, tolerance and love are required. An environment is created in which the values that the world needs are demonstrated naturally through examples. This means that although the facility is not an official school, it is a recognized educational institution. The children and young people continue to go to school and then come to the facility to receive academic support, but also to develop their creativity and extracurricular skills. It is especially important to motivate young people to pursue education and environmental protection, and to develop themselves.
Inspired by the thousands of children who have already been cared for at the facility, a methodology has been developed based on the recognition of both positive and negative feelings and teaches how the children and young people can deal with them in a creative way.

In the school of the partner organization, the children and young people are taught various subjects and receive support with their homework. In addition, there is plenty of time and breaks where the kids can play and let off steam. There is a lot of emphasis on movement and creativity, so all kinds of different workshops and art projects are offered by the volunteers for the little ones. A daily meal with the children and staff is also on the daily schedule. Before the kids say goodbye in the evening, everyone meets again in the so-called “circle of love” to reflect on the day.

The volunteers and staff not only give time and love to the children of the community, but also accompany them as they grow up and support them in their daily lives. The project also places a strong emphasis on sustainability, organic farming, permaculture and meditation. In the process, the children and volunteers can learn a lot of new things and freely express their creativity.
Besides the work in the school, many programs, workshops and meetings with the staff and volunteers take place on the project site of the accommodation.

Working at the school is incredibly rewarding for the volunteers and an important part of keeping the organization going. You will give a lot, but also get a lot back and take away for your personal development. Be inspired by a different culture and people. Throughout the program, volunteers will receive educational and emotional support, as the work is not always easy. There are several mandatory weekly meetings with the other volunteers and the coordinators to share experiences.
In general, you are considered a teacher and respected person in the school. You are a role model for all children and teenagers and should be happy to take on this role. The area in which you help out depends on your wishes, interests and strengths. For example, you can actively assist in the following areas:

Art classes – creativity and fun. There are classes for the so-called “Yanapitas” (5-8 years old) and for the “Yanapasos” (9-14 years old). The course works with an average of 6 to 10 children per day. The classes are planned and prepared in advance, you can bring in your ideas and constantly look for new art projects. In the course you will show the kids new techniques and support them in painting, drawing and handicrafts. In class, the kids will have a creative outlet and a lot of fun. While working, you will have a break.

Homework help in the library. The children come to the library to do their homework. They can stay from 5 minutes to an hour or even longer. If the kids want to use the internet to complete the assignments, there are computers here. You will assist them, help them with questions, and mentor them.

Games, fun and workshops. The children are offered different workshops and games every day. There are creative, logical and social games to develop the children’s skills in these areas. This is a very valuable time for the kids, where they can let loose and let off steam in a safe environment. You can play with and supervise the kids, come up with new concept ideas, and chaperone workshops.

In addition, there are other areas in which you can support and ideally contribute your own skills and creativity.

The school is located in the center of the small village of Lamay, in the heart of the Sacred Valley, about 50 minutes from Cusco. In the beautiful valley you will find vast fields and landscapes like in picture books. The majestic huge and mountains behind the valley are covered with snow and invite you to climb them. Many small rural Andean villages are located in the valley and enchant you with the Peruvian culture. The valley was once populated by the Incas and today you can explore the exciting ruins there and learn all about the culture and way of life of these peoples. There are numerous ruins in Pisac, Chinchero or Ollantaytambo. The Andean village of Pisac is also known for its colorful markets where you can buy inexpensive souvenirs. Also, a trip to the breathtaking terraces of Moray is definitely worth it!
The accommodation for the volunteers and staff is idyllically located in the mountains, about 3km from the school.

You don’t need any special prerequisites for the program, just motivation, enthusiasm and creativity. You should have a desire to work with children and young people and be motivated to make a lasting difference in people’s lives. Also, openness to new cultures is especially important to us. Living in a foreign country always requires a certain willingness to adapt, which will be very rewarding for your development.
The project practices a lot of meditation and spiritual ceremonies, to which the volunteers are invited. You should bring curiosity and openness and be eager to engage in the new experience.

The national language in Peru is Spanish. You will be dealing with people from a wide variety of backgrounds who do not speak English. A basic knowledge of Spanish is therefore a prerequisite. Especially to help the children with their homework, you need to know Spanish. However, you will automatically improve your language skills on site.

In order to acquire the necessary knowledge and to be well-prepared for the successful execution of your project, we recommend that you take a Spanish course in advance or in parallel.

You will live together with other volunteers and guests from all over the world in a lovingly furnished eco-villa. The villa is located in the mountains about 3km from the village. There you can choose between a shared room, double room or single room. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included and the accommodation offers a cozy restaurant and many common areas. Sustainability and organic farming is a priority at the villa. There is a greenhouse and a garden, which provide fresh vegetables and fruits for the restaurant.
In the accommodation you are not only for sleeping. It also houses a large room where regular workshops such as yoga, meditation, tai-chi, dances, ceremonies, massages or reiki are offered. All Villa guests can participate in these. In your free time and while eating together, you can get to know the guests of the villa and make contacts.
The villa is located in a very quiet area in the middle of the greenery and you can relax after work in the nature. On weekends it is worth to make a trip to Cusco.
The daily transport from the eco-villa to the school in Lamay takes about 25 minutes and the volunteers travel together with the staff by private transport. The transport from the accommodation to the school is included for you.

Prices:

Shared room:

• 1st month in starting package: 1.230,00 €
• Extension month: 680,00 €
• As 2nd or 3rd program: 980,00 €

Single room:

• 1st month in starting package: 2.040,00 €
• Extension month: 1.960,00 €
• As 2nd or 3rd program: 1.580,00 €

Benefits:

Learn more about our benefits here.