Peru
Please note: there are two experiences; one Spring experience and one Summer experience (Below)
Cuncani, Peru – A Community Above the Clouds
This experience will take you to the small village 4,000 meters above sea level - a place where children are unaware of life that exists beyond their
Community Partners
Dates of Travel
Sunday, Febuary 16, 2020 – Sunday, February 23, 2020
Participant Numbers
- 9 Student Participants
- 1 Student Team Leader
- 2 Team Leaders
Highlights
- Immerse yourself in Peruvian history and culture while living in the small mountainous community of Cuncani.
- Learn about the school's systems in the Cuncani.
- Experience the art of negotiation at the bustling and lively markets of Cusco.
- Explore the captivating views of the Andes through optional morning hikes in the mountains.
- Experience Peruvian “Dia de compadres” (Godparents day) where the families of Cuncani celebrate with their animals, including llamas, alpacas
and sheep.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of your Impact Experience you will be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to explore ideas, issues, and global systems from viewpoints other than your own, through reflective practice, group discussions and program activities
- Work under conditions of ambiguity or uncertainty by engaging with community partners, community members and working as a team
- Demonstrate an understanding of intercultural competence, sensitivity
and humility by completing pre-departure workshops, activities in OWL and the Reflective Practice Workbook, and engaging in the 1-2 week community-based experience - Explain the potential impacts of different community development projects by working alongside community members and our partners
Nexos Comunitarios - Practice communicating across cultures and languages through participation in local community events and projects
Ideal Participant
Your team will be exposed to a true local Peruvian experience. The ideal participant loves learning about new
Ideal participants are flexible, empathetic, adventurous, and committed to learning. During this experience, you will be challenged to lean into your
Cost
Total cost (subject to change) – $3,200 CAD
- Flight
- Registration and programs fees with
Nexos Comunitarios - Contribution to the project and comprehensive on-site support
- Insurance (health, flight cancellation, baggage)
- Transportation to/from airport
- Transportation in Peru
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Administrative Fee (buff, team leader contribution, journal)
Preliminary Itinerary
Day 1-2 – Arrive in Lima directly from Toronto, where you will board a local flight to Urubamba and spend the day/evening exploring Peruvian city life and food.
Day 3 – You will make the long, windy bus ride up the Andes to Cuncani. Here, you will be welcomed by school children, who will become your cultural teachers over the next week. This day will be spent getting to know the community, and acclimatizing to the altitude (1200 meters above Urubamba).
Day 4-6 – You will spend your days working with young children - playing games, and providing different workshops on various age-appropriate health topics. Each day will finish with a soccer match with the people of Cuncani!
Day 7 – Goodbyes and travel back to Toronto via Cusco, Lima, and San Salvador.
*PLEASE NOTE: this itinerary is draft, and subject to change at any time.
Accommodations
Participants will sleep on mats on the floor of the school in Cuncani.
Meals
Meals are prepared by community
All group meals on the program are included, and participants will be responsible for any meals during travel days and personal snacks throughout the week.
Need to Know
- This experience does not involve travel through the USA.
- You are responsible for ensuring that you have the required travel documents and travel visas necessary to participate in the experience.
- If you require
disability related accommodation, or have other special considerations, we encourage you to contact us before applying. We may require further information to determine how we can best meet your accommodation needs.
Cuncani, Peru – A Community Above the Clouds
Your experience will start in Urubamba, a small town in the Andes of Cusco, where you will have an opportunity to see the
In Cuncani, you will live in a community school, and work alongside
You will take a day of rest, where you will travel to Lares and experience the impressive hot springs of the Andes. You will also have the opportunity to hike to Machu
Community Partners
Dates of Travel
Friday, May 1, 2020 – Friday, May 15, 2020
Participant Numbers
- 7 Student Participants
- 1 Student Team Leader
- 2 Team Leaders
Highlights
- Immerse yourself in Peruvian history and culture, while living in the small mountainous community of Cuncani
- Learn about the school system in Cuncani
- Experience the art of negotiation at the bustling and lively markets of Urubamba
- Explore the captivating views of the Andes through optional morning hikes in the mountains
- Visit the hot springs of Lares
- Experience the breathtaking sites and history of Machu Picchu
Learning Outcomes
At the end of your Impact Experience you will be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to explore ideas, issues, and global systems from viewpoints other than your own, through reflective practice, group discussions and program activities
- Work under conditions of ambiguity or uncertainty by engaging with community partners, community members and working as a team
- Demonstrate an understanding of intercultural competence, sensitivity
and humility by completing pre-departure workshops, activities in OWL and the ASB Reflective Practice Workbook, and engaging in the 1-2 week community-based experience - Explain the potential impacts of different community development projects by working alongside community members and our partners
Nexos Comunitarios - Practice communicating across cultures and languages through participation in local community events and projects
Ideal Participant
Your team will be exposed to a true local Peruvian experience. The ideal participant loves learning about new cultures and has a well-rounded perception of healthy activities and a healthy lifestyle. This experience does involve hiking and some physical activity. You will be living 4,000 meters above sea level and sleeping on mats on the floor of a community school.
Ideal participants are flexible, empathetic, adventurous, and committed to learning. During this experience, you will be challenged to lean into your discomfort and go with the flow. You will also be hiking Machu Picchu; participants need to have a fitness level appropriate for this activity.
Cost
Total cost (subject to change) – $4,500 CAD
- Flight
- Registration and programs fees with
Nexos Comunitarios - Contribution to the project and comprehensive on-site support
- Insurance (health, flight cancellation, baggage)
- Transportation to/from airport
- Transportation in Peru
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Machu Picchu experience
- Administrative Fee (buff, team leader contribution, journal)
Preliminary Itinerary
Day 1-2: Arrive in Urubamba, a small town in the Andes of Cusco, and spend the day/evening exploring the
Day 3: You will make the long, windy bus ride up the Andes to Cuncani. Here, you will be welcomed by school children, who will become your cultural teachers over the next week. This day will be spent getting to know the community, and acclimatizing to the altitude (1200 meters above Urubamba).
Day 4-10: You will spend your days working with young children - playing games, and providing different workshops on various age-appropriate health topics. Each day will finish with a soccer match with the people of Cuncani!
Day 7: Your team will take a day away from service, and visit the hot springs in Lares, the closest town to Cuncani.
Day 11- You will experience all that Machu Picchu has to offer.
Day 12 – 13: You will wrap up your programming in Urubamba with some team reflection and some small town project work, in partnership with
Day 14: Goodbyes and travel back to Toronto via Cusco, Lima, and San Salvador.
*PLEASE NOTE: this itinerary is draft, and subject to change at any time.
Accommodations
In Urubamba, your accommodations will be chosen and vetted by our partners at
In Cuncani, participants will sleep on mats on the floor of the school in Cuncani. You will be required to bring a sleeping bag and towels.
Meals
Meals are prepared by community restaurants and reflect a variety of local foods (e.g., quinoa, potatoes, chicken, rice, vegetables). Meals will take into account dietary restrictions.
All group meals on the program are included, and participants will be responsible for any meals during travel days and personal snacks throughout the week.
Need to Know
- This experience does not involve travel through the USA.
- You are responsible for ensuring that you have the required travel documents and travel visas necessary to participate in the experience.
- If you require disability-related
accommodation, or have other special considerations, we encourage you to contact us before applying. We may require further information to determine how we can best meet your accommodation needs.