South America - Volunteering, Spanish, and Culture

  Ecuador

Bahia de Caraquez,  Cuenca,  El Porvenir,  Esmeraldas,  Guayaquil,  Otavalo,  Portoviejo,  Quito

  Peru

Arequipa,  Cusco,  Iquitos,  Machu Picchu,  Ollantaytambo,  Puerto Maldonado,  Puno,  Rural Areas,  Urubamba

Term: Fall, Spring 
Duration of Program: 3-6 months
Dates: Fall and Spring

Description: Our South America Semester touches on Ecuador and Peru for three months. For the program volunteers in every country that it visits and on this program, the need is mostly weighed towards environmental service. Social service volunteering will also happen, but again, the focus seems to be more environmental. Students will experience everything from working with youth to construction; living in a huge city to living in the jungle; and taking public transport to hiking the Machu Picchu trail. This is a very amazing part of the world and through Ecuador alone, you'll see more biodiversity than you've ever seen in your life whereas in Peru, you'll see both great poverty and incredible kindness.   

Spanish is also a core part of our curriculum on this program and you can expect 4 weeks of intensive language studies with homestays and small groups. Most students complete this program able to get a 4 on Spanish AP exams.

Highlights: Ecuador

Language Study

Spend 2 weeks studying Spanish in a one-on-one setting. Each morning begins with 4 hours of language study while living with and perfecting your Spanish with your own homestay family. Afternoons are free to spend with your families, participate in cultural activities like traditional cooking or salsa lessons or explore the citys museums and cathedrals. Sneak away on the weekend to mountain bike the 5,900 meter Cotopaxi volcanic mountain or relax in the hot springs of Papallacta.

Community Development and Cultural Exchange

Head north to the quaint town of Otavalo, home of the largest handicraft market in South America. Spend the weekend in and amongst the ethnic diversity of Ecuador's Andean peoples and watch the city come alive.

Just outside of Otavalo, we head to the rural school of Padre Chupa. Our days may be spent teaching English, building a computer room, teaching computer basics or whatever needs the school and staff have expressed. This is a rich opportunity to see the agricultural and rural side of life that sustains much of Ecuador. Again this is another great opportunity to practice your Spanish while giving back to the community.

Peru

Language Study

Well start our Peru study abroad adventure perfecting our Spanish with another 2 weeks of language school in the unique "white city" of Arequipa, Peru. You will again have the opportunity to practice your Spanish skills with a homestay family. Afternoons can be spent exploring the unique geology in the foothills of the El Misti volcano or getting deeper into the lessons of politics, cultural studies or the ethnic diversity of Peru. On the weekend explore the spectacular Lago Titicaca and travel to the floating islands or raft the rapids of the magnificent Colca Canyon.

Community Development and Cultural Exchange

After descending from the peaks of the Andes at 13,000 feet, through the cloudforest, you journey into the Amazonian Basin to a jungle community only accessible by boat. Here you will spend a week in a cultural exchange with the Matsiguenka tribe in the village community of Shepitiari. Here you can learn the ways of life in the jungle while living in a grass hut. You will give back to the community and volunteer in Peru by participating in a shared construction project. You will also have the opportunity to learn to make a canoe from hollowing trees, create your own bow and arrows for hunting jungle wildlife, teach English in the school and even hear from the local shaman/medicine man on the healing powers of the jungle plants.

After the jungle immersion, the group returns to Cusco to catch up on email, laundry and amenities before entering into spiritual retreat.

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Cost in US$: 8,900 USD

International airfare estimated at USD 1000; internal flight estimated at USD 350.

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 17 and up

This Program is open to American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 11

Scholarships are Available. FAFSA funding and private scholarships are available

Application Process Involves:

• Essay
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Phone Interview

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Job and Internship Network

Year Founded: 1997