Childcare abroad, international kindergarten cusco

Support a kindergarten that is based on Waldorf education

This German-Peruvian kindergarten in Peruvian Cusco offers children aged two to six years the opportunity to gain intercultural experience at an early age. Support the kindergarten team and bring more international impressions for the little ones!

Age:	from 19 years
Linguistic proficiency:	Basic knowledge of Spanish required; Language course included in the program
Other previous knowledge:	not mandatory
Project start:	all year
Release:	from 4 weeks (+1 week language course) maximum 12 weeks without a visa. For longer stays, please note the visa requirements
Project location:	Cusco
Accommodation:	Apartment above the kindergarten or host family
Meals:	Monday to Friday breakfast and lunch / dinner

Integrative education through various influences

Around 30 children between the ages of three and six are looked after in this kindergarten. They come from families of different social backgrounds. In this way, an integrative education should be realized. In this sense, the institution wants to create spaces for inclusive and multicultural experiences, in which the little ones can develop under different ideas and influences.

Bilingual education

The German-Peruvian partnership is of particular importance. In the lessons, the children can learn German through play. The afternoon takes place "German playgroup" instead, Here the children are taught the German language with creative means. There are also some children with a German background who are not supposed to learn the language through the exercises.

Pedagogy as art

According to the principles of Waldorf education, the educators do not put pressure on the children and even try to learn something from the children. The children are given a certain amount of freedom to be able to develop, but they are also shown rules to develop a sense of responsibility. The children are not presented with a perfect solution, as is often the case in Peru, but can try them out in a playful way. Since in Peru school children are expected to be able to write and do arithmetic, simple math and writing exercises are part of the upbringing.

Expertise from various areas

The facility has a selected team consisting of local and foreign specialists from various departments. Sociologists and social workers work hand in hand with educators and anthropologists. The different possible approaches and different origins are intended to combine the best possible methods of education. The facility works closely with families and communities to make the best possible use of local development potential.

Why does the project need volunteers?

The kindergarten is in high demand. Some parents pay contributions that help to finance the places for children from poorer backgrounds. With the support of the volunteers, the employees should be relieved and more children should have the opportunity to find a place in the facility.

What is the daily routine like??

The supervisors arrive at 8 a.m. and prepare everything for the day, such as worksheets and handicraft materials.
The children are brought to the facility between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. During this time they can play freely with each other.
At 9 a.m. there is a morning circle with welcome songs.
There are other daily activities in the mornings. This includes painting, working with clay, writing and arithmetic exercises, baking, and games in the garden.
In the afternoon there is the German play group.
The day ends at 4:30 p.m..

Volunteers with the following experience are particularly sought:

Educators * inside for care and general educational tasks.
Psychologist * inside, who work with the children and their parents to improve family life.
Doctors and Nurses * inside, who take care of the child’s health and take part in medical campaigns in the surrounding communities.
Nutrition Expert * inside, who coordinate the children’s diet with the parents.
Students and graduates of the Sociology, anthropology, social work and the like that coordinate education in cooperation with families and neighborhoods.
Artist * inside or Musicians * inside, teach the children in their area and give free workshops to the community.
Volunteers for Design, public relations and media work.
People who have experience in the gardening and can pass on their knowledge of the importance of the environment to the children.
People in the Workshop with wood can work.
All that with children and want to work with people from different backgrounds.

minimum age

To participate in the project, you must be at least 19 years old.

linguistic proficiency

In order to be able to communicate with the children and families, you need basic knowledge of Spanish. For that is one Spanish course planned in Lima before the start of the project.

responsibility

Working with young children requires a lot responsibility.

Holiday hours

The facility is closed at the following times:

July 27 -13 August

December 16 -15. January

Arrival at the airport and transfer to the first accommodation

When you arrive at Lima or Cusco airport, you will be caught up ManaTapu-Team member at the exit after baggage claim. It will not be overlooked with a sign of your name – we will inform you of a meeting point in the arrival hall for the pick-up. By car it goes directly to the accommodation. Depending on the traffic situation, the journey takes about half an hour. After your arrival at the accommodation, you have until the next morning to get to know the new surroundings and recover from the long journey.

Language and orientation course in Lima or Cusco

Your five-day interactive begins on Monday after your arrival in Peru Language and orientation course (5 hours a day). Here you have the opportunity to refresh your knowledge of Spanish and get to know Peruvian everyday life through excursions.

Transfer to Cusco

The morning after your language and orientation course ends in Lima, you either travel by bus or fly by plane Cusco. The city in the Andes is around 1,100 kilometers from Lima – it takes around 19 hours by bus and around 60 minutes by plane. Just talk to us about the different options – we will be happy to help you choose the type of travel that suits you. In Cusco, you will be picked up by a team member and taken to the volunteer house or host family, where you will receive an introduction.

starting work

After the first night in your new bed, you start project work. On the first working day, either a team member or other volunteers will accompany you to the project location. In the facility, your contact person will be introduced to you for the time of the assignment – with him * you will discuss the further course of your volunteer work.

During work

If you need something or if there are difficulties, you can always contact the team on site or in Germany. Outside of work, you have enough time to go on excursions.

Next travel

If you have some time left after your project, you can still travel on your own or with other volunteers. Please note that the project team expects you to stay at least for the intended duration. In the event of early termination, no money will be refunded. Alternatively, you have the option to extend the project work on site if there are enough places available.

way home

After the project, you are responsible for coming to a city with an airport. You can always in one of the ManaTapu-Accommodation. Please let our team know at least two days in advance. You have to pay extra for the nights after the project. From the accommodations in Lima, Guayaquil and Quito, our team will take you to the airport for free.

The Andean city of Cusco is famous for its eventful history and its immediate proximity to the Inca city of Machu Picchu. In the constitution of Peru it is even mentioned as "Capital histórica" (historical old town). Around 420,000 inhabitants live here at 3400 meters above sea level in a predominantly dry and mild climate.

Cusco was the capital of the Incas until the Spanish Inquisition. In and around the city you will find numerous relics and remains of this culture. The inner city, however, is shaped by the architectural style of the Spanish colonial masters. This interesting mix of ancient cultures makes Cusco so exciting to discover. Tourists come every year of all World to the city that has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. Here is a small selection of the city’s sights:

Plaza de las Armas

In this historic location, Peru’s independence was proclaimed in 1814. The square is the architectural center of the city. Various cultural events take place here regularly. Important town buildings such as the cathedral and the Templo de la Companía de Jesús stand on the square.

Barrio de San Blas

In the narrow and steep alleyways of the picturesque district you can go on a discovery tour and discover great craftsmanship.

Calle Hatun Rumiyuq

The busy street connects the Plaza de las Armas with the San Blas district. Here you can admire numerous magnificent buildings: among other things, you will find the palace of the Inca ruler Inca Roca, which is now part of the Bishop’s Palace.

Coricancha

. was the most important temple of the Incas, in which various ceremonies were held. Translated, the name means "golden temple", which tells us that its facade was partly covered with gold plates during the Incas. During the Conquista, the Spaniards largely destroyed the temple, and finally built the Santo Domingo Monastery on its ruins. It wasn’t until the devastating earthquake in 1950 that the temple ruins, which can be seen again today, were uncovered

Cusco is the starting point for tours to Machu Picchu. The ruined city is around 75 kilometers northwest of Cusco. It is therefore advisable to take a short trip from the city to the world-famous remains of the Inca city. Either you drive with the like most visitors Inca Rail train to the ruined city. For experienced hikers, the hiking route over the Inca Trail on. If you are a fit hiker, the two-day ascent from Cusco to Machu Picchu is definitely worth it! We recommend that you inform yourself intensively beforehand and look for tickets early.

Our volunteer house is located in the Amadeo Repetto district in the center of Cusco. Nearby there are all things of everyday life: shops, bars and restaurants, parks and recreational opportunities. The accommodation is in the building of a kindergarten, where volunteer work can also be done. There are two rooms for two people and a single room. The service includes a taxi service, which runs at all times of the day and night at the local prices for locals. The building has warm water and a terrace with a grill and a view of the city.

Note: Please bring your own towels to this property.

food

The facility offers breakfast and dinner Monday through Friday.

Andrea lives in Cusco and has an open ear for all our Peru volunteers as a German-speaking contact. The Thuringian born in 1979 writes about herself:

"I have always liked traveling very much, so that while I was still studying in 2000, I had my first experience in Spain during a volunteer position, where I looked after orphans. Then I went to Argentina, briefly back to Germany to finish my studies and in 2002 I traveled to Peru for the first time to accompany a scientific project there. A few months quickly turned into a year and I am still in Peru between various internships, development aid projects and studying anthropology."

With her two children, she worked a lot on pedagogy and finally founded the German-Peruvian kindergarten in Cusco, which is based on the principles of Waldorf education.

Before the project starts, a one-week orientation course with Spanish lessons is included in the program. You can choose to take the course in Lima or already in Cusco want to complete. Classes last five hours a day and is practiced in everyday situations. After some vocabulary and grammar training, they head out into the city, where the newly acquired knowledge is immediately applied. The course is suitable for both newcomers and advanced learners. The teacher takes the personal language level of the volunteers into account. The course can also make sense for participants who already have good language skills. Because the orientation is also intended as an entry into the new country. The course always takes place between Monday and Friday instead of.

The basic language course can be at weekly be extended. The course lasts five days four hours Every day. The extension course can be in Lima or Cusco occur.

There is an opportunity in this project, in the evenings after work a language course in Cusco close. The course runs from Monday to Friday and lasts 1.5 hours Every day. It takes place in a classroom and serves to deepen grammar and vocabulary.

The basic package can be extended weekly up to one year.

Expert and local advice before departure from the ManaTapu Team in Munich

ManaTapu Travel Kit (Comprehensive document for personal preparation)

Flight booking for a return flight. Flight costs up to 800 euros are included in the price

Advice on travel preparation

Airport pick up

5 days of language classes with orientation course, including accommodation and half board

Project work including accommodation. Meals depending on the accommodation.

ManaTapu Teams are local contacts

By project: Transfer to the airport (possible within the following cities: Guayaquil, Quito, Lima, Cusco, San José)

Possibility of joint follow-up and support in continuing a voluntary commitment

Confirmation of participation in successfully completed voluntary service

After the project, if necessary, transfer to the city with airport (airport transfer only within the city).

Private expenses on site (e.g. leisure trips and weekend trips)

Health and travel insurance

Visa costs

Get to work using public transportation and taxis, if necessary

The basic language course can be at weekly be extended. The course lasts five days four hours Every day. The extension course can be in Lima or Cusco occur.

In our magazine you will find testimonials from volunteering in Latin America, travel tips, interviews, picture galleries, videos and much more.
Also: Everything about travel preparation.

Machu Picchu – city in the clouds

Entry requirements for South America

Peru is located on the Pacific Ocean and is the third largest country in South America. With its area that is three and a half times the size of Germany, it extends across the Andes peaks across three completely different landscape and climate zones. Peru is home to the legendary religious sites of the Incas and the most impenetrable jungle of the western Amazon basin. It knows the dazzling life of the 9 million metropolis of Lima as well as the tremendous views of the highlands. Embark with ManaTapu on a fascinating journey and discover Peru as part of one of our volunteering programs!

Location:	On the Pacific coast in the west of South America.
Neighboring countries:	Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia & Chile
Size:	1.3 million square kilometers
Population:	about 30 million
Capital:	Lima (9 million inhabitants)
Other large / well-known cities:	Cusco, Arequipa, Trujillo, Chiclayo, Piura, Iquitos
Currency:	Nuevo Sol (PEN)
Important Holidays:	In addition to the Christian holidays, especially the Independence and National Day on July 28th and 29th, which celebrates the independence of Spain in 1821
Peru is famous for:	Machu Picchu, Peruvian cuisine, Lake Titicaca
(More Attractions:	Nazca Lines, Cusco & The Sacred Valley, Lima, colonial architecture, indigenous villages, national parks, the coast, the Andes, the rainforest.
Famous Peruvians:	Claudio Pizarro, soccer player. Mario Vargas Llosa, 2010 Nobel Laureate in Literature
What you definitely didn’t know about Peru.	. is that every fifth species of butterfly in the world can be found in Peru
ManaTapu-Locations:	Lima, Cusco & Trujillo

30.3 million people live in Peru.
Spread over the huge area, however, this only results in a population density of 23 inhabitants per square kilometer (Germany is 10 times more densely populated). The majority of the inhabitants concentrate on the narrow coastal strip and here again on the capital Lima.
The indigenous population makes up about 47 percent of the total population. 33 percent are of mixed origin, 15 percent are of European descent.

84 percent of the population speak Spanish as their mother tongue.
In addition, Quechua and Aymara are other official languages, particularly common in the Andes.
The English language skills are not particularly well developed on average.

Through the Andes, Peru divides into three completely different geographical and climatic regions with a very different flora and fauna. You can find out more about Peru’s natural spectacles in our magazine.

coast

There is hardly any rain in the narrow coastal strip in the west of the country. Accordingly, the vegetation is sparse. At the border with Chile, the coast turns into the driest desert in the world, the Atacam Desert.

To the

The Andes tower up to 6,700 meters right behind the coast. At a basic height of 3,000 to 4,000 meters, the huge peaks rise, interrupted by deep gorges. On the barren pastures of the Andes you can often watch the alpacas grazing.

rainforest

The Andes finally cross over mountain forests towards the east into the densest jungle. The tropical rainforests are home to a huge variety of species, especially birds such as parrots, exotic animals such as jaguars and sloths or dozens of monkeys.

Due to the very different geographical conditions, the climatic conditions in Peru also change over short distances. On the coast there are mostly moderate to summer temperatures, while in the Alps you have to get warm depending on the altitude. The rainforest offers constant temperatures of around 25 degrees all year round with pronounced rainfall. You can find out more about the weather at our locations here: Climate in Peru.

Despite all its natural spectacles and riches, Peru is a country of great social inequalities. Above all people of indigenous origin live in inadequate conditions.

Lack of educational opportunities

The public education system in Peru often provides children with only the most basic skills. There are only a few young people who cannot read and write at all for higher-quality education you have to but enroll in one of the expensive private schools.

Situation of disadvantaged children

Many Peruvian children are forced to contribute to their families’ livelihood. They earn their money with small jobs as car washers or newspaper sellers. Children with disabilities suffer particularly badly from poverty. The possibility of social participation is made very difficult for them.

Violence against women

Girls and young women in particular are often at risk of assault. The authorities offer little protection. Often it is the husbands who use violence. Women who become pregnant through rape are partially rejected by their families and are forced to drop out of school.

The "Left Behind"

There is no regulated pension or care system in Peru. Those who cannot rely on their relatives are at risk of aging on their own. These people, who often live neglected and lonely, are called "los abandonados" (the "left behind").

From the 13th to the 16th century, the Peruvian Andean region was the center of the Inca Empire with its capital, Cusco. The Spanish conquest in 1532 ushered in the end of Inca rule. In 1821 Peru gained independence from Spain through the South American Wars of Independence. However, the oppression of indigenous peoples persisted. The 20th century was marked by civil war-like clashes between the military and rebels. A stabilization of the political system and a gradual process of democratization have taken place since the early 1990s. Nevertheless, corruption is still the norm right up to the highest state offices and the disadvantage of the indigenous population.

Peru combines indigenous culture with influences from Europe and especially Spain. The middle and upper classes in particular lead a western lifestyle, while in the country the indigenous traditions are strong.

religions

81 percent of Peruvians describe themselves as Catholic. Faith is often mixed with indigenous customs, especially in rural areas.

eat & Drink

Peruvian cuisine has one of the best and most intense cuisines in Latin America. The eating habits differ significantly from region to region. While fresh fish dishes are served on the coast, meat-heavy dishes are on the menu in the Andes. Basic foods are often potatoes and rice with chicken or beef. Traditionally, guinea pigs or alpacas like to land on the plate. In the bars of Lima you can order the Pisco Sour, a popular cocktail that is mixed in various variations from grape schnapps, limes, and sugar syrup.

music & dance

The Andean flute Quena and the pan flute Siku shape our image of Peru as well as ponchos and alpacas. They are part of popular music. Young people in particular often prefer to listen to salsa, pop and rock music. A popular traditional dance is the marinera, in which the dancing couple gradually approaches brass music with quick turns and short steps.

Sports

As in all of Latin America, football is the popular sport in Peru. Claudio Pizarro, the most successful foreign goal scorer in the Bundesliga, became famous in Europe. In addition, volleyball is particularly popular.

Lima – The desert metropolis on the Pacific

At our (project) location in Lima you can expect endless house canyons with sparkling facades and streams of passing cars. Away from the center, among many unplastered buildings, the small houses in bright, colorful colors catch the eye. Street life pulsates, and you can enjoy Peru’s capital in your free time in the numerous street cafes. Out of town, the green parks give way to an increasingly rough, desert-like landscape. If you look into the distance from here, the mighty Andes tower up.

Attractions in Lima

If you come to Lima, you must of course visit the historic center, built by Francisco Pizarro, the Spanish conqueror. Here you will find numerous colonial buildings. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition, you should definitely take a trip to Miraflores, the most modern district of Peru, located directly on the sea, with many parks and high-rise buildings. The immediately adjacent Barranco district is home to the city’s most exciting bars and clubs.

Cusco & The rise to the city in the clouds

If you want to dive deep into the history of the Incas, their former capital, Cusco, is the place for you. You can easily fly the 1,100 kilometers from Lima in an hour, but to really discover Peru, the bus is the better option: for 19 hours it climbs the turns of the Andean passes up to 3,400 meters. In Cusco, the historic old town with its magnificent buildings of the Spanish colonialists is waiting for you. From here you can reach the world famous city in the clouds on the historical routes of the Incas: Machu Picchu.

Attractions in Cusco

The Plaza del Armas, the central square of Cusco, is a place with a changeable history. Conquered by the Spaniards, they built their churches and cathedrals where the Inca temples once stood. All around you can learn more about the history of the city, the Incas and popular art in Peru in numerous museums.

Machu Picchu

The ruins of the terrace city of Machu Picchu in the fog of the Andes are one of the most famous attractions in the world. You can get there by train and bus from Cusco, or climb the Inca Trail on your own. Your trip will take you through gorges of several hundred meters and snow-covered glaciers. Get one of the coveted tickets early!

Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world. It stretches 15.5 times the size of Lake Constance between Peru and Bolivia. During a visit you can marvel at the floating reed islands of the Uros.

The impressive landscapes of Peru allow numerous leisure activities. The Andes are crisscrossed by deep gorges that are perfect for outdoor sports. You can go rafting and kayaking in the glacier rivers. You can go hiking or mountain biking through nature reserves for days.
In the jungle you can take a boat trip on one of the tributaries of the Amazon or take a guided tour through the thick undergrowth.
On the coast you can plunge into the up to two meter high waves at spring-like temperatures all year round or use them for a ride on your surfboard. Especially the northern cities of Peru like Trujillo are ideal for a beach and beach holiday. Near the city of Ica you can surf down the over 200 meter high sand dunes.
The museums of Limas or Cuscos are always worth a visit. Here you can get to know the history of the country in all its facets.

Vaccinations / health

Vaccinations against:

yellow fever
Polio, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough
Hepatitis A + B
Typhoid and rabies
Malaria prophylaxis

You should definitely get advice from a doctor for travel and tropical medicine! We have summarized tips for preventive health care for you here too.

safety

In Peru there is an increased risk of theft and robbery for tourists. You should never have too much cash with you, only use official taxis and not be alone in the evening. You can find more information in our article on security in South America. Our team on site will also advise you on what needs to be observed in the area and the respective neighborhoods.

If you want to work in one of our projects, please note the holiday periods.