Lima

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Volunteer Work in Lima

While CCS volunteers support many areas, most volunteers work in one shantytown — Villa El Salvador. This town has fought adversity to become recognized as a leading example of community development in the Americas, and has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.

We commit to providing volunteers to the community at-large, supporting various initiatives in meeting their mission:

Caregiving : Volunteers care for infants and children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. There are simply not enough caregivers in many of the areas where we work, so volunteers provide the one-on-one attention and care that people would not otherwise receive in daycares and community centers.

Healthcare: Volunteers observe and assist local health professionals at community organizations and health clinics that serve children and adults with physical and mental disabilities. Many social stigmas still surround disabilities in Peru, and volunteers help to provide the companionship and attention that people living with disabilities can benefit from.

Teaching: Volunteers teach children, teach conversational English, or assist teachers with special education. Schools in Villa El Salvador operate in two shifts because there is not a sufficient amount of qualified teachers or enough space for all the students who want an education. Volunteers support the teachers in local schools and community centers, help students with their homework, teach English from a different perspective, and plan recreational activities.

The Insight Abroad (one-week projects) and Volunteer Abroad (2-12 weeks) program is available in Lima. Read more about our volunteer work and placement process.

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Cultural & Learning Activities in Lima

Building on your volunteer work in Lima, Peru, Cultural & Learning Activities offer you many opportunities to get to know the local culture, including weekly Spanish lessons, trips to national museums, or visits to archeological ruins and historical sites. A visit to Lima is also an extraordinary gastronomic experience which combines the Pre-Hispanic culinary tradition with influences from successive waves of immigrants throughout the last five centuries (Spanish, French, Italian, Arabic, African, Chinese and Japanese). You will also get to engage in conversation with local experts who frequently visit the Home-Base in Lima to discuss topics ranging from Peruvian politics to healthcare.

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Free Time in Lima

During their Free Time, volunteers often visit different neighborhoods throughout Lima, enjoy the beach near the Home-Base in Lima, or go to the Indian Market, where artisans come to sell clothing, arts, and crafts. On weekends, many volunteers travel to the city of Cuzco to visit Machu Picchu or travel through more rural parts of Peru, visiting the Andes or nearby towns on the Pacific coast.

Volunteers can also visit unique places around Lima, like the Nazca lines, the ancient city of Caral (the oldest civilization in the Americas, dating back 5,000 years), or Lomas de Lachay to enjoy a day of trekking.

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Home-Base in Lima

CCS' Home-Base in Lima is a large house in a bustling suburban neighborhood, with a kitchen, dining area, and common space for volunteers. Office space for CCS staff is located on the main level, and the spacious roof is commonly used by volunteers as an exercise space or for reading and relaxing. This Home-Base is also accessible to people with mobility restrictions.

The Home-Base in Lima quickly becomes your home away from home. An open courtyard in the middle of the house provides a place to eat, relax and reflect on your experiences. Volunteers typically sleep three to four in each room. Nearby, you will find banks, restaurants, stores, parks, and many Internet cafes.

CCS' Country Director for Peru, Enrique Bossio, is from the Lima area, and says:

“We encourage volunteers to explore and try new things, and we provide accompaniment and advice. It is their program, and we try to make ourselves available for them.”

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In-Country Staff in Lima

Local CCS staff in Lima warmly welcome you to the community, make you feel at home, and help you better understand Peruvian culture. They help facilitate your volunteer experience and are always available to answer any questions that may arise. CCS staff is always from the region where we operate—they provide a local perspective, help you with learning the local language, and guide you in what to do in your free time.

All of our in-country staff members are warm, loving people who will make sure you are well cared for. Each CCS program site has a Country Director or Program Director and a full staff to take care of all programming, administrative, and logistical needs, as well as housekeepers, drivers, house guards, and cooks. Because the staff office is typically located at the CCS Home-Base, a helping hand is never far. Learn more about our Lima staff below.

Country Director: Enrique Bossio
Born and raised in Peru, Enrique "Kique" Bossio studied liberal arts at Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru, anthropology at Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, organizational communications at Universidad de Lima, and intercultural management at the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont.

Enrique is a founding member, former board member, and member of the executive committee of the Movimiento Homosexual de Lima (MHOL), an internationally recognized organization advocating for the rights of gay and lesbian people and fighting against AIDS. Working with MHOL, Enrique participated in a four-year project on AIDS prevention, establishing an AIDS hotline, a Peers Education program, and Safer Sex workshops. Prior to joining CCS, Enrique interned with Human Rights Watch/Americas in Washington, D.C., and directed programs in Peru and Bolivia for Canadian University Service Overseas (CUSO). In addition to being the CCS country director for Peru, he is on the Advisory Board for Cross-Cultural Solutions. With a wonderful sense of humor, Enrique helps volunteers feel comfortable as soon as they arrive in Lima. He is always willing to guide them through their volunteer experience by answering questions and supporting volunteers in their volunteer placement. He strives to assist the volunteer and make their program as meaningful as possible.

Program Officer: Aida Alonso
Aida is responsible for coordinating volunteer placements and helps in maintaining CCS' relationship with all Partner Programs in Lima. She also assists in the coordination of Cultural and Learning Activities. She speaks fluent English and Spanish.

Office Manager: Jose Gibaja
Jose is in charge of managing the office and responsible for all financial matters.

Programming Assistant: Tony Palomino
Tony helps organize certain placements in Villa El Salvador and provides volunteers with many historical, social, and political facts about his community.

Logistics Coordinator: Juan Carlos Ratto
Juan Carlos coordinates airport drop-offs and pick-ups, organizes some of the Cultural and Learning Activities, and assists with other transportation logistics. He also helps around the house with basic maintenance as needed.

Driver: Mario Crespo
Mario picks volunteers us at the airport, transports them to placements each day and takes volunteers to the Cultural & Learning Activities.

Housekeeper: Orfelinda Anco
Orfelinda is in charge of cleaning the house and making sure the house is stocked with supplies.

House Guards: Manuel Fernandez, Luis Gareca, Martin Salazar
Manuel, Luis, and Martin are in charge of overall security of the house, keeping track of who comes and goes, and ensuring that all volunteers return safely home to the Home-Base.

Cooks: Luisa Tintaya, Lucila Broncano
Luisa and Lucila are in charge of preparing delicious local cuisine for the volunteers and they are more than happy to accommodate all different types of food preferences.