The orphanage was set up (and is run) by a charity organisation called Instituto de la Caridad Universal del Perú (The Institute of the Universal Charity of Perú). Their Mission statement is:

To help, in co-ordination with the government, the civil population which is socially, economically and morally deprived in the Arequipa region of Peru and the towns surrounding it, and specifically the children, especially those under the age of 8, who are most deprived of all types of attention (love, security, adequate nutrition, education, health etc). At the orphanage they offer integral care for those children under the age of 8 who have lost one or both parents, been morally and/or materially abandoned (eg by being left alone in their homes or whose parents do not care for them adequately) and/or who are at social risk (because they have parents who are drug addicts, alcoholics, delinquents etc).

Their objectives are:

1) To guarantee the calm and harmonious development of the children in relation to protection, care, feeding, education, early stimulation and medical assistance.

2) To guarantee to uphold the internationally accepted and recognised rights of the children whilst providing an adequate environment for their normal physical, spiritual and psychological development.

The orphanage is run by full time volunteers (they only get food and board for their work there). It works with the government who sends them children (but not money or resources). The director places great emphasis on trying to get the children back into their family home (when it is safe to do so) or, where this is not possible, an extended family home with adoption as a last resort. The children range in age from under one year to 10 years old and they cater for both girls and boys. Reasons for the children to be in the orphanage vary from one or both parents being absent to the child having been deemed to be "at risk". Some children have been found abandoned on the streets. Development of the children is taken very seriously and includes mental, emotional, spiritual and physical well-being although it should be noted that any religious education is very subtle and more about general morals rather than bible studies.

Traveller Not Tourist's objectives there are to enrich the environment for the children by spending quality time with them (as the carers do not always have time to do this), teaching them English, arts etc and playing with them whilst also providing some respite for the full time workers by helping out with domestic chores such as washing and cooking.

Daily tasks (Monday to Friday) at this project include:

• Playing with the children
• Assisting the children with homework
• Teaching the children English, art, music, sports etc(depending on volunteer skills)
• Washing clothes etc
• Cleaning
• Cooking

Please note that an extended period of commitment is usually required to work at the orphanage (one month minimum), although this is negotiable.

Every couple of weeks we arrange a Special Saturday visit or outing for the children in which all volunteers are welcome to participate.

The Community Project (Villa Chachani)

We are working with a very deprived community on the outskirts of Arequipa. The community is a group of people who "invaded" a peice of unclaimed land a few years ago. They then successfully petitioned the local authorities to give them legal ownership of the area. Many of the inhabitants are still without electricity and waste water disposal and they have only very recently been supplied with running water. Some of the children go to school, others do not. Some of the children work getting sand and rocks for building materials by throwing stones at, for want of a better word, a cliff on the side of a mountain. Their stones dislodge rocks and sand which falls down. Obviously this is a very dangerous occupation. Due to lack of education and access to contraceptives, there is a high rate of teenage pregnancy in "pueblos jovenes" (young towns) such as Chachani. There is also a high rate of domestic abuse, absent parents (particularly fathers), malnutrition, unemployment, child labour and, obviously, poverty.

Our objectives in this project are to improve the lives of the children there by spending quality time with them, keeping them off the streets and providing them with a stimulating environment and resources which they can utilise to improve their motor skills, concentration, confidence and social skills (and we hope to take some of the pressure off their parents while we are at it!)

Daily tasks (Mon to Fri) at this time include:

• Playing/teaching sports to the children
• Teaching the children English, art and crafts
• Helping to construct the classroom/bread shop we are currently building.
• When our building is finished we will also be able to do cooking classes and during the school holidays (January to March) we are running vacation classes during the mornings

The tasks mentioned above are by no means final, we welcome volunteer input and always want to use the skills and resources you bring with you.

Please note that, although your preferences will be taken into account, we cannot guarantee which project you will be placed in. Placements are arranged on arrival.