Healthy Kitchens Volunteering in Peru

What is the Healthy Kitchens Volunteering in Peru all about?

Join us in supporting local families by addressing hygiene and sanitation issues by working on our healthy kitchens volunteering in Peru project. Often kitchens in lower income communities are dirty, do not have clean water, ways to keep food refrigerated or storage options. They also contain smoky cookers which lead to very dirty surfaces and walls where bacteria and germs gather. This project has three elements; firstly cleaning the kitchens, secondly providing a ceramic water filter, building a cleaner burning stove, installing ecological refrigerators and installing cupboards for food storage, and thirdly educating families about hygiene and sanitation good practice. These elements aim to improve the lives of family by tackling the current problem and providing solutions.

The project is run by a local NGO in Cusco and its staff know the communities, located about 30 – 40 minutes outside of the city, really well. The NGO utilises project donations and an amount generated through accepting volunteers onto its programme to secure the items needed to enable this project to continue each year. Come to Peru and help the NGO to improve the day to day lives of families in Cusco as well as gaining an insight into the solutions to improving hygiene in the home being implemented in poorer communities.

Why choose this Healthy Kitchens Volunteering programme in Peru?

The project offers families healthier futures through good sanitation practices which in turn reduces the cases of illnesses and improves work and school attendance. Volunteers help the local NGO with their workload. For volunteers this project offers the opportunity to learn about the grass roots approach to tackling hygiene and sanitation. Not only will volunteers hone their Spanish skills through interacting with the families and will also gain an insight into the challenges facing the project and its beneficiaries. This is a fantastic opportunity for volunteers to learn about themselves through cultural exchange and by helping others, which is a great addition to any CV/Resume.

Role of the Community and Healthcare volunteer

Volunteers can bring their enthusiasm and great work ethic to support the local project team. Volunteers will be asked to work with a family for 4 days, each morning on improving the hygiene in the kitchen through clearing and cleaning the surfaces, walls, pots and utensils. In the afternoons volunteers will work on materials to help the families learn more about good sanitation and hygiene practices. Volunteers will also instal the new local appliances and build cupboards for food storage. This really is a great placement where volunteers and project beneficiaries can see first hand the benefit of their work.

What skills do I need to be a Healthy Kitchens Volunteer?

Volunteer do no have to have any particular skills to participate in this project. However, volunteers should be able to manage manual work such as scrubbing floors and washing walls. A solid level of Spanish is required (level A2 Basic User of CEFR) to enable volunteers, project participants and the family members to get the most out of this placement. Students who are studying Public Health and International Development will find this placement of interest.

Travel during COVID times

The health and safety of our travelers and our local communities remain central to our plans for reopening countries and projects. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been adapting our programs and protocols to protect all those involved, and ask for everyone’s patience and collaboration as new rules are implemented in-country. For all projects, new standards of sanitation, procedures and social behaviors are in place, including new health and hygiene protocols and social distancing practices. You can read more here. Each location may be slightly different in the way they operate. In the case of Cusco projects, you will remain in a hotel for the first 3 nights of your placement before joining your host family. We encourage you to inquire to your placement advisor to learn more about your specific project as you plan for your responsible return to travel!

Read all about our project reopening response to COVID-19

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