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 neighbourhood in the mountains. You will call the community of Cuncani home for the week, living at the community school, and working alongside Nexos Comunitarios. It is here where you will learn what life is like in rural communities in the Andes. You will work closely with the community school as they use the culture of soccer to promote human development. You will assist in promoting health through educational workshops that will use active learning tools. All workshops and projects will be identified by the community.

UN Global Sustainability Goals - Quality EducationUN Sustainable Development Goals - Reduced Inequalities UN Sustainable Development Goals - Sustainable Cities and communities

Community Partners

Nexos Comunitarios

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 cultures, and has a well-rounded perception of healthy activities and a healthy lifestyle. This experiences 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.

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. Student will need to bring sleeping bags. 

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.

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 sights, and acclimatize before ascending another 1200 meters to the small village of Cuncani. It is here - 4,000 meter above sea level – that you will call home for the next 8 days.

In Cuncani, you will live in a community school, and work alongside Nexos Comunitarios and local community members to learn what life is like in rural communities in the Andes. You will work closely with the community school as they use the culture of soccer to promote human development. You will assist in promoting health through educational workshops that use active learning tools.

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 Picchu, and conclude your week back in Urubamba with some team reflection and community work.

UN Sustainable Development Goal - Quality EducationUN Sustainable Development Goal - Reduce inequalityUN Sustainable Development Goals - Sustainable Communities

Community Partners

Nexos

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 Scared Valley of the Incas.

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 Nexos Comunitarios staff.

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 Nexos Comunitarios.

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.