VOLUNTEER FOR JUST $100!

Many volunteer organisations charge their volunteers extortionate amounts and leave them wondering where it all goes. We charge a one-off payment of just $100 (unless you are taking part in the "Volunteer for a Day" project, see below) which is used to pay the local staff a reasonable wage and for legitimate organisational costs (paper, electricity and internet use at the office etc).

VOLUNTEERING OPTIONS:

1) Volunteer For A Day

This is a programme we have developed in response to the requests of travellers who want to volunteer for a short period (less than one week).

Please note: Those volunteers who want to stay longer than one week but who are not volunteering at either Flora Tristan English School or Casa Hogar Luz Alba Orphanage (by request or due to their skills or the needs of the organisation at the time) will pay ONLY the one off administration fee of $100 on arrival.

Volunteers who work on the "Volunteer for a Day" project pay $15 per day. For this charge we provide any necessary transport and lunch every day and a Traveller Not Tourist t-shirt upon leaving.

The work will depend on the skills, experience and interests of the volunteer and the needs of the organisation at the time. The fee is higher because it includes a donation which can be used to facilitate whatever work they do (e.g. buying construction materials). Past volunteers have helped out with: Construction, Cleaning, Administration, Marketing, Repairs, Decorating and Trips but the possibilities are endless!

All you have to do to take part in our "Volunteer for a Day" project is come to our office at least one day before you would like to volunteer (or contact us by email or phone) to register and pay. You can find the office address and other contact details on the “Contact us” page of the website. Please note that the office is closed between 1pm on Saturdays and 9am Mondays.

2) Project Volunteer at Flora Tristan Community English School

The minimum volunteer period for this project is 2 weeks. This is for the good of the children as it always takes a little time for volunteers to adjust to something new and get into the flow and we believe that the children need a certain amount of consistency. If you are not able to volunteer for 2 weeks, please take a look at the Volunteer for a Day information given above.

You can find out more about Flora Tristan Community English School and what the volunteer work there involves on the "Our projects" page of our website.

3) Project Volunteer at Casa Hogar Luz Alba Orphanage

The minimum volunteer period for this project is one month. This is for the good of the children as it always takes a little time for volunteers to adjust to something new and get into the flow and we believe that the children need a certain amount of consistency. If you are not able to volunteer for a whole month, please take a look at the Volunteer for a Day and Flora Tristan Community English School information given above.

You can find out more about the Casa Hogar Luz Alba Orphanage and what the volunteer work there involves on the "Our projects" page of our website.

FREE TIME:

There are many sites of interest in and around Arequipa for you to visit. 

If you book your tours, treks, bike rides etc. through us, 50% of the profit goes to our project work - volunteers decide how to use this money at the end of each month.

If you would rather just hang out around Arequipa there are lots of good cafes, restaurants, clubs, shops, sites of interest etc.

We do not provide food so you are free to try the wealth of international cuisine Arequipa has to offer, or cook for yourself in our fully equipped kitchen at the Volunteer House.

OPTIONAL EXTRAS:

We have a great volunteer house (called “Chasqui Wasi” - roughly translated as runner's resting place), near the centre of Arequipa.

You may choose to stay here or in any hostel etc you choose whilst volunteering.

A shared room in the volunteer house costs US$6.70 per person per night see this in other currencies here

The house features:

A Kitchen with...
4 hob gas oven
Plumbed in sink with draining board
Huge fridges
Fitted cupboards
Pots, pans, plates, glasses, cups, cutlery etc

A Dining Area with...
A big table and chairs

A Computer room with...
Computer with internet for the use of all volunteers

The Main Lounge with...
TV with cable channels
Sofas
CD player
Games
DVD player and DVD collection

Bedrooms with.....
Wardrobes
Bedding provided
Most rooms have en-suite bathrooms
NB All bedrooms are shared with at least one other volunteer of the same gender (we do have some rooms suitable for couples - please specify when booking)

Bathrooms with....
A Shower
Hot water (please note: in some rooms the water is heated by solar panels and is therefore not available at all times, if it is cold however, there are others which are heated by gas so you can just borrow one of them!)
Wash Basin
Mirror

NB. It may sound like I am getting unnecessarily excited about rather ordinary things but if you do/have done any travelling on a budget in South America you will realise that these things cannot be taken for granted!

Notes:
The price for accommodation includes water, electricity, gas and the services of a cleaner who cleans the communal areas (volunteers are expected to do their own washing up and keep communal areas tidy).

Please be aware that there are limited spaces so booking is recommended. To book, a non-refundable deposit must be paid to secure your booking (this may serve as your Admin fee).

One-to-one Spanish lessons are also available, and will be arranged after arrival (charged at $7 per hour)

You are welcome to come and volunteer with us if you don’t book but please bear in mind that, if you want accommodation, it is possible there will be no rooms available on your arrival.

VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS

We do require that our volunteers:

Provide a reference from a former employer or person of authority who is NOT a relative

Provide us with a copy of the photograph page of their passport on arrival

Treat the children and other people we work and live with (including other volunteers) with respect and communicate with them as well as possible.

Are enthusiastic, organised and work hard!

We do not require:

Any money or donations other than the one-off administration charge of $100 (except in the case of the Volunteer for a day programme).

Any particular level of Spanish (although we feel the more you can speak, the more you will get out of the experience)

Any previous experience of volunteering or working with children

Any particular religious views or that you take part in any religious activities (although a sensitivity towards the religious views of others is important)

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

If you want to volunteer with us you can just come to the office between 9:30am and 6:00pm Monday to Friday or 9:30am and 12:00pm Saturday . You will need to bring:

A printed reference from a paid job or volunteer position, including contact information for the person who wrote the reference (email address essential). Alternatively you can ask the person writing your reference to send it directly to our email address (travellernottourist@gmail.com). Please ask them to include your full name.

A copy of the photograph page of your passport

$100 one-off Administration fee (unless taking part in the “Volunteer for a day” programme)

Enthusiasm and a smile :-)

If you want to book in advance to secure your room in the Volunteer House the application process is as follows (please only do this if you are sure that you are coming and are sure of your dates. You don't need to write to check if there is space available, just send us the information below and we will let you know if there are any problems and suggest solutions. Please note that any accommodation booked through us must be paid in full even if your travel plans change. This rule is essential for the continued smooth running of the organisation):

1. Send us an email with the following information:

The date you wish to move into the house

The date you wish to leave the house

Your full name

2. Once you receive a reply from us confirming that there is a room available for the dates you specified, pay us your $100 one-off administration fee via Western Union (this can be done at one of their offices or online)

You will need to give the following information:

Name of the recipient - Carmen Rosa Chavez Rincon

Address of recipient - Office 8, 115-A (3er piso), Calle Santa Catalina, Cercado, Arequipa, Perú

Phone number of recipient - 0051 95 98 56 317

3. Complete the Volunteer Information Form (click on the title to open it) and email it to us along with the transaction number for the Western Union payment.

4. Get the person writing your reference to email it directly to us at travellernottourist@gmail.com.

5. You will receive a confirmation email from us with the dates you have been booked into your room. Come to our office when you arrive (contact us if you require collection from the airport or bus station). Please bring:

A copy of the photograph page of your passport

Rent and deposit if you are staying in the Volunteer House

Enthusiasm and a smile :-)

Before applying we ask that you read this First Response document and we would also like you to see this page of Useful Words and Phrases and this Safety, Health & Culture document. These all contain useful information so please do take the time to read them (click on the title of the document above to open it). Thanks.

Please note: The value of the US dollar is fluctuating a lot recently so rather than change our prices all the time we have frozen our exchange rate at 3.15 soles to the dollar.