YASC and Global Volunteers are Thrilled to Announce YASC's Inaugural Service Program to Peru! For 41 years, Global Volunteers has mobilized short-term volunteers in hands-on service to local people on long-term community development projects to help children and families reach their full potential. At the invitation of the community partners, Global Volunteers work hand-in-hand with the local people and under the direction of local leaders to ensure that the work projects are meaningful and sustainable.
There is a children's home on the outskirts of Lima, Peru that has invited volunteers of all backgrounds into their community and their need our help:
“Sagrada Familia” (Sacred Family) is a shelter for vulnerable children who otherwise have nowhere to go. The goal of this community is to care for and protect children who have been left homeless or neglected by giving them the love, care and individualized attention that all children need and deserve. The shelter feeds, nurtures, and educates over 1,200 children aged from birth to seventeen who have been abandoned, orphaned, or who have faced abusive or otherwise dangerous family environments. Many of these children come from the most destitute parts of Peru, such as the bursting settlements that sprawl into the hills along the city’s edges.
Sagrada Familia functions as a small village or community in Ventanilla for the children in need. In addition to the facilities, one would expect to see at a children’s home (dormitories, dining halls, sports courts, etc.), the community provides education for all children (preschool to high school), a trade school (bakery, carpentry, music and sewing), workshops, and a health clinic. For more than 25 years, thousands of children have called Sagrada Familia home, and have benefited from the life-changing care they have received there. While many former students continue to support Sagrada Familia after they leave, the community needs help in all areas. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to help provide the essential services every child needs to thrive. Volunteers from all backgrounds are welcome. We anticipate offering the following projects:
- Care for, nurture, and teach preschool children.
- Work on labor projects to improve living and learning spaces.
- Teach conversational English to children from kindergarten through high school.
- Conduct interactive workshops for parents on health, nutrition, early childhood development, education, psychology, or related topics.
- Accompany caregiver staff on family home visits to reinforce workshop lessons.
- Nurtures and offer psychosocial support to infants and toddlers.
- Help with health care projects at the on-campus clinic, when requested. The clinic serves all of the 1,300 children of the community and people from the surrounding community.
Depending on interest from the community and volunteer skills, we may be able to offer projects in the following areas:
- Athletics
- Artistic painting
- Baking
- Carpentry
- Sewing
Review program policies, trip itinerary, and terms and conditions (YASC and Global Volunteers). For questions or further information feel free to contact trip producer Andrew Burgie '87 or João Aleixo at the YAA.
