2013 Programs

• Peru A – May 2 – May 15 – $2,900
• Ecuador A – May 16 – May 31 – $2,900
• Peru B – June 7 – June 27 – $3,400 (price subject to change) - University of Manitoba
• Peru C – July 5 – July 18 – $2,900 - Adult Program
• Peru D – August 1 – August 14 – $2,900 - University of Waterloo
• Peru E – August 8 – August 21 – $2,900

Education

With every education project Solidarity in Action looks to utilize the skills of the talented volunteers, while ensuring that the projects meet the needs of the community. Each of the SIA programs provides unique education opportunities for volunteers.

Peru
As a volunteer, you will have the opportunity to teach English in one of the public schools in the San Genero area, Juan Pablo II or Virgen del Morro, teaching elementary aged children. You may also be given the opportunity work as a teacher’s assistant in the Pacifico de Villa kindergarten, Los Angelitos de Jesus. You may find yourself teaching English in the community of Pacifico de Villa.

Volunteer placements:

• Juan Pablo II, Virgen del Morro, San Genero School
• Los Angelitos de Jesus – Daycare
• Teach English in Pacifico de Villa

Ecuador
Volunteers work in the San Felipe de Neri school, teaching English to students from grade 3 to grade 6. You may also assist the eager teachers from the Comunicar Foundation as they look to improve their English language skills.

Volunteer placements:

• San Felip de Neri
• Comunicar – English for teachers

Volunteer assets: Enjoy working with kids and adults in a teaching situation, TESOL training or ESL teaching experience, qualified teacher or studying in a faculty of education program

Leadership

“We can be more than just children, we can be like adults, who think about more… and if we could develop in this way it would be, [hard to explain, but] Wow”. Daniela Palomino, participant of SIA’s Jovenes en Accion (Youth in Action) program

It is SIA’s goal to have community members of Pacifico de Villa, and Monte Sinai, develop and administer their projects within their individual communities. Many of the individuals have not been given the opportunity to lead. SIA looks to provide opportunities for community members to take on leadership roles and to develop their leadership skills. SIA works with child, youth and adult leaders to help them to develop the skills that will allow them to move their community forward.

Peru
As a volunteer, you may be given the opportunity to discuss such business ideas, as organizational structure, with the Pacifico de Villa Women’s Sewing and Weaving Cooperative and the Pacifico de Villa health promoters, meet with children and youth leaders, and lead them through engaging activities, in the SIA, Jovenes in Accion (Youth in Action), program.

Ecuador
Meet with the executive council members from the community of Ascenscion del Senor in Monte Sinai to discuss the dreams of the community and the challenges that they face in order to succeed.

Volunteer assets (recommended): Spanish language background, teaching, social work experience, legal understanding or experience.

Health

Do you want to contribute your skills to the healthcare field in an international seeting? The SIA Peru and Ecuador programs provide many wonderful opportunities for interested volunteers to use their skills in the healthcare field .

Peru
Located outside the community of San Genero, Pacifico de Villa has limited access to health care services. The community is faced with challenges as minor health programs, which when not treated, become more severe. SIA works alongside the Ministry of Health in Lima and the health promoters from Pacifico de Villa, women from the community concerned with the overall level of health in the community, to address these health concerns.

As a volunteer, you may assist the health promoters as they complete their weekly home visits, or assist the doctor within the Pacifico de Villa clinic. You may also assist during a community health campaign. If you are looking at health as a profession, volunteer at one of the medical clinics with the Chorrillos area and assist a medical specialist.

Ecuador
In Ecuador, you may work alongside the Mariana de Jesus Foundation, shadow a medical profession during your time in Ecuador. You may also contribute to a community health campaign. Last year, SIA volunteers provided health workshops on dental hygiene, nutrition and other health areas during the health campaign.

Volunteer assets: Interest in the health field. Experience in the health or medical field is recommended, but it is not required.

Economic Development

Do you feel that you have business ideas to contribute? Join SIA in Lima to help provide communities with the opportunity to improve.

Women from the community of Pacifico de Villa, have begun a Sewing and Weaving Cooperative to help to improve their economic well being. Under the guidance of SIA Regional Coordinator, Javier Bazan, the women are improving their products and being introduced to the rudimentary organizational structure principles and group dynamics.

As a volunteer, sit alongside these wonderful women and let them teach you how to weave a beautiful blanket, or how to sew a handbag. Help the women as they determine how to market these products to the larger Lima population.

Volunteer assets: business background, marketing, sewing/ knitting/ weaving experience, group dynamic skills.

Children with disabilities

Interested in working with children with disabilities? Programs in Peru and Ecuador provide volunteers with the opportunity to assist children and adults, who have varying physical and mental disabilities.

Peru
Spend the day or the morning volunteering at the Laura Alva de Saldana public school in Lima, Peru. The school is staffed with caring teachers who plan activities in their classrooms that allow the students to participate in authentic activities that help to improve their skills and allow them to become more independent. Work as a teacher assistant, aiding the students as they complete their school work, and other daily routine activities, including assisting during their lunch routine. The school has programs for children in their infancy, up until 20 year old students. The school receives students from the surrounding Chorrillos, Barranco and San Juan de Miraflores area. Many of the children come from lower socioeconomic families.

Ecuador
In Ecuador volunteer at the Comunicar Foundation. The school is staffed by young teachers who look to provide activities that allow the students to gain greater dependence and which can be reinforced at home. The school specializes in assisting students with varying levels of autism. Comunicar assists toddlers to adults. Comunicar looks to help higher functioning adults to find employment.

As a volunteer you act as teacher’s assistant, either as a class, or by working one on one with students as they complete their daily tasks.

Volunteer assets: creative, and caring.
Experience with working with students with special needs is recommended, but it is not required.