WHY we need you in Peru
- Approx 40% living in Cusco, Peru are living below the poverty line.
- The average monthly wage in this region is only approx 338 Solas (USD $101)
- We can learn a great deal from their holistic cultures and their high-quality, low-impact ways of living.
- These are often socially conscious communities using participatory ways to enhance their spiritual, social, ecological, and economic aspects of life.
WHAT Does the Internship Involve?
- Observe and assist with classroom instruction and management
- Participate in weekly meetings with the school director
- Support students in small groups or one-on-one settings
- Create lesson plans and teach specific subjects
Why Involvement Volunteers International?
- Non Profit Organisation & Charity with 35+ Years Experience
- Incredible Local Team with Outstanding Reviews
- Assist in Genuine Worthwhile Projects
- Low Program Fees - Starting US$350 in Peru
- Excellent Safety Record, In-Country 24/7 Support & Emergency Assistance
- 1 Application Fee - Multiple Countries
PROJECT NAME: EDUCATION INTERNSHIP
LOCATION: CUZCO, PERU
START DATES: WEEKLY (SAT/SUN ARRIVALS)
ACCOMMODATION: HOME STAY
MIN DURATION: 4 WEEKS
MIN AGE: 19+
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Criminal background check required
Overview
Education internships are hosted in private or International Baccalaureate (IB) schools, where instruction is primarily in English. These schools are typically bilingual, and interns are paired with a designated faculty member who serves as their supervisor.
Internship placements are customised to align with your goals and interests while meeting the needs of the school. Keep in mind that tasks assigned may vary depending on the school’s ongoing projects and priorities. While in-country coordinators are available for support, interns should be prepared to work independently and take on leadership responsibilities.
Work Schedule and Free Time
Working Hours:
- 4–6 hours per day, Monday to Friday
- 1-hour daily Spanish lessons, Monday to Friday
- Additional time may be needed for lesson planning or other tasks
- Weekends are free for relaxation, exploration, or personal projects
Professional Appearance
In Peru, cleanliness and professional attire are highly valued. Interns are expected to dress neatly and modestly in business casual clothing. Shoulders and knees should be covered, and revealing or extravagant attire should be avoided. Maintaining a polished and professional appearance is essential.
Transportation
Internships are located in the Cusco area, and most interns commute via local buses or on foot.
- Travel time: 10–60 minutes each way
- Cost: Approximately S/. 5 ($1.75) per bus trip; taxis are more expensive and depend on distance
- First Day: A representative will accompany you on public transport to familiarize you with the route
Note: Interns are responsible for their daily transportation costs. Budget approximately $5 per day for transport.
Spanish Classes
As part of your internship, you will receive 1 hour of Spanish lessons daily from Monday to Friday. The lessons are tailored to your language level and work schedule, focusing on vocabulary relevant to your placement. Classes are taught using the Communicative Method, emphasising immersive spoken interaction. Instructors speak exclusively in Spanish during lessons to enhance your language skills.
Deliverables
All interns must complete weekly journals and a final project.
- Practicums (<8 weeks): A 10–20-page paper or a 1-hour PowerPoint presentation
- Internships (8+ weeks): Both a 10–20-page paper and a 1-hour presentation
The final deliverable should include:
- A summary of your role and the placement organisation
- An organizational review
- A sector analysis comparing the host and home country
- An evaluation of challenges faced
- Outcomes and results of your work
Maximizing Your Experience
The success of your internship largely depends on your effort and mindset. Be prepared to navigate cultural differences, language barriers, and varied work structures. A proactive, adaptable approach will help you make the most of this opportunity to grow both professionally and personally.
Location
Cusco, Peru – easily one of the top 5 ancient civilization centers in the world, is also home to immense scenic beauty, bio-diversity and incredible culture. On this project, you’ll be situated in the outer regions of Cuzco, approx 15 min bus ride to central Cuzco where the volunteer center is located.
Project Tasks
- Observe and assist with classroom instruction and management
- Create lesson plans and teach specific subjects
- Support students in small groups or one-on-one settings
- Participate in weekly meetings with the school director
Food & Accommodation
Your accommodation will be in home Stay’s with middle class Peruvian families in Cuzco. You’ll likely be placed centrally or approx 10-15 min walk to the central volunteer & training centre. Internship volunteers will have a private room.
All host families are very experienced in hosting international volunteers and go through a rigorous process to ensure very high quality standards are met. These homes have electricity, western style toilets, running water, bed linen & basic amenities such as clean drinking water. Hot showers are less common however!
You’ll be provided a key to the house and are free to come and go as you please while being respectful of the house rules of the family. WiFi is available at some home stay’s however most volunteers will purchase a data plan for cheap to be used with their own device as required. Most families are happy to help with laundry, but you should expect to pay around US $2 per load if going to a local laundry service.
Breakfast & dinner are included each day. Peruvian food is very nice! Rice, beans, and corn are popular ingredients, and fresh root vegetables like cassava, taro, and sweet potato are in most dishes. You can also expect some fruits and vegetables, such as avocados (palta) accompanied by spicy aji salsa.
Standard
Projects
- Hospitality & Tourism Internship
- Human Rights Internship
- Medical Internship
- Micro-Business Internship
- Special Education Internship
- Education Internship
- Veterinary Internship
- Dental Internship
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1 Month - $1495
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2 Months - $2195
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3 Months - $2975
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Meals
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Airport Pickup
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Local Transportation
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1 Day Orientation
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24/7 In-Country Support
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Project Materials & Equipment
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Pre-departure Expert Advice
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Preperation Tools & Checklists
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Certificate of Completion
- Application fee is one off per person (unlimited placements)
- Click Here to convert the below prices to your local currency
- Discounts may apply if travelling in a pair or group!
- All credit card /international fees included in below pricing! 🙂
Testimonials...
FAQ
This program would suit those who are hard working, ready to learn and contribute! A positive mindset and proactive approach are required.
Accommodation
- Breakfast & Dinner daily
- Arrival airport transfer (Sat/Sun arrivals)
- Filtered drinking water, coffee & tea
- 1 day orientation
- In country 24/7 support & emergency assistance
- Fundraising support
- University course credits (where applicable)
- Certificate of Completion
- Airfares
- Travel Insurance
- Some daily transportation to/from the project (if applicable – approx US$1-3 p/day)
- Tours, Souvenirs & spending money
An in-depth orientation is included for all volunteers.
This orientation is designed as a 1 day overview to help ensure you are equipped with the necessary info to effectively work with the local people and community. This may include but is not limited to;
- Peru culture / history overview
- Spanish language lesson
- Customs / law’s / do’s & don’ts
- Volunteer expectations
- Home stay guidelines
- Travel opportunities during free time
- Overview of your placement
- Notes from previous placements to help maximize impact
Volunteers should aim to arrive into Cuzco on either Saturday or Sunday to ensure they can participate in the Orientation which starts every Monday.
Complimentary Arrival Transfer
You’ll arrive at Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ). When clearing immigration it’s best to simply state ‘tourism’. When you arrive you will be greeted by a member of our local team and taken to the homestay or the volunteer center for orientation.
In-Country Transportation
Most volunteers will use in-expensive bus transport to get around and to travel to the project placements. Our coordinators will assist you with all the details while in country. A one-way trip rarely costs more than US $0.50 in Cuzco or nearby neighborhoods and maybe US $2 for longer distances. Taxis are also readily available in and around Cusco. Taxis cost approximately US $3 – $10 depending on duration. We recommend using formal taxis that use a meter to calculate the fare based on time and distance.
You can expect to work 4-6 hours per day, Monday to Friday. Your internship includes 1 hour of daily Spanish classes, tailored to your level and work schedule. Classes focus on relevant vocabulary for your placement and are taught entirely in Spanish using the immersive Communicative Method.
Some tasks may require extra time outside regular hours. Weekends are free for relaxation, exploration, and travel.
Weekends are always free for volunteers to relax and do as you please exploring the incredible sights in/around Cuzco. Most volunteers will organize to meet up at the volunteer center and head out from there. It’s worth noting that in this region, most families are religious with Sunday the day of rest this also means many stores and restaurants are closed on Sundays.
– At least 19 years of age
– Hard working, ready to learn and contribute!
– Positive mindset
– Able to be creative with limited resources
– Spanish language skills are not required
– Final project required
This program would suit those who are hard working, ready to learn and contribute! A positive mindset and proactive approach are required.
Intermediate Spanish language skills are required.
Peru has over 10,000 years of history! It’s no surprise that Peru has an incredible wealth of culture and tradition that is one of the most varied countries in the world.
As the 3rd largest country in South America Peru is divided into 25 regions and 11 eco-regions. With an enormous range of landscapes, biodiversity and natural resources, you can boil this down to 3 main regions being 1) Coast, 2) Mountains 3) Jungle.
Spanish is the official language and spoken by 85% of the population with 47 other native languages present among the various regions. Music and dance play a vital role in Peruvian society. Hispanic influences combine with Spanish and ancient styles to create a flair that is unique to Peru.
Peruvian’s are proud people and very aware of the natural world and the value of the Andes, Amazon and historic civilizations in this region. The country has overcome difficult political and economic issues.
The people are welcoming and attentive to visitors with food and music being the central point for celebrations and of course colorful dress which is unmistakable. Peruvian’s love football (soccer) which is the national sport and you can often see families playing together. Most of Peru is quite religious with Catholicism very prominent.
In Peru, personal hygiene and style are very important and people tend to dress neatly and professionally. Be prepared to cover your shoulders and knees, and wear clothing that is not revealing or extravagant
This program would suit those who are hard working, ready to learn and contribute! A positive mindset and proactive approach are required.
Intermediate Spanish language skills are required.
The climate varies depending on altitude and region, but for the most part the dry season is from May to November, and the ‘green’ season from December to April.
As Cusco is 3000 meters above sea level, the average temperatures in Cusco rarely reach above 25 degrees celcius. During the dry season expect sunny, warm days and cool nights. It’s generally warmer during the ‘green’ season with intermittent rain and sun during the day and mild rainy nights.