FAQ
What sort of people are you looking for
We are looking for people who are enthusiastic, hard working, open minded and who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. Any construction or trade skills are of course incredibly useful but all volunteers can make a difference, learn new skills and help to build something that will really change someone’s life.
What sort of work will I be doing?
The focus of our work is reconstruction so you could be mixing and pouring concrete, clearing a site, brick laying, digging foundations, plumbing or painting. We are also often involved in community projects like helping to clear up areas of the town, paint murals, or language exchange. We focus on the needs of the community working closely with other local organisations and speaking to local people to see what they need. Many of our projects are started as a result of local people coming to our door to ask for help. Although over a year has passed there is still a lot of work to be done, with many families still living without adequate sanitation and living in tents or temporary homes. Many of these people are just now able to afford construction materials and it is our priority to offer help to the families that can’t afford labour.
How much does it cost?
We don’t charge a participation fee. All we ask is that volunteers contribute 10 soles a day (roughly $3 US) which goes directly towards covering our operating costs and allows us to provide a place for you to stay and breakfast, with lunch usually being provided by the family you are working for.
Is there a minimum stay required?
No. You can come for just a couple of days or several months, and you don’t have to commit to a definite amount of time in advance. We just ask that you let us know your rough plans and then keep us in the loop so that we can plan our projects. Be warned a lot of people just come for a few days and this quickly turns into a few months!
What is a typical day?
We work Mondays to Fridays and during cooler times of the year we usually work a half day on Saturdays. Every work-day morning we have a meeting at 8am to make any announcements and organise our day. Work will start between 8.30am and 9am. Lunch will be provided on site. The work day generally finishes between 3pm and 5pm depending on the heat and dinner is eaten at our headquarters.
What kind of accommodations can I expect?
We have a beautiful house in Pisco Playa, less than 5 minutes from Pisco Centro. We have 2 dorm rooms with bunk beds and for the more adventurous we have outdoor space as well – just provide a tent. We have hot showers and a fully equipped kitchen with a refrigerator (thank you St. Charlie!). Please check the packing list below to ensure that you have everything you need to set yourself up comfortably. It is especially important that you bring bedding with you. Please be aware that our space is limited. If we do not have space available, there are many hostels in the area where you can stay.
Not comfortable with our set-up?
If you would prefer to stay elsewhere, you are still welcome to volunteer with us during the day and be part of our volunteer community - the house is still your base for meals, meetings, hanging out, etc. Volunteer contributions will be 5 Soles per day ($1.75). There are several accommodation options in the area ranging from 10 Soles ($3.20 USD) for a dorm bed to 45 Soles ($15 USD) for a single room and more for a double or triple room.
What is the food like?
Breakfast is do-it-yourself; we provide eggs, bread, jam, tea and coffee. Lunch is provided by the families you are working for. Don’t worry if you are a vegetarian, we can let the family know ahead of time. Chicken, beef, and seafood feature prominently with the staples of potatoes, rice, and beans and there is a wide variety of fruit and vegetables available. There is also a large market that offers fresh and plentiful produce and prepared foods. Budget in a few extra Soles to contribute for meals at dinner time. We rotate the cooking duties so that everyone has a fair chance to show off their culinary skills!
Do I need to be able to speak Spanish?
No. It is not a problem to us if you don’t speak any Spanish, however knowing at least the basics will make your stay a lot easier and more rewarding as you will be able to interact more easily with the local people and Spanish speaking volunteers.
What will the weather be like?
Pisco is in the desert; during the summer (November to March) it is very hot during the day and the sun is extremely intense. The evenings and nights however are generally cooler and windy as well. During the winter, day time temperatures vary from being extremely hot and sunny to overcast and cold, in the evenings it will get cold so a hat and warm jacket or sweater would be advisable. Pisco does not receive significant rainfall. During the day wear sunscreen and stay hydrated, as the sun is incredibly strong even when cool in temperature.
Are there any health issues I should be concerned about?
Please read about all of the common infectious illnesses and ailments that accompany international travel. There are mosquitoes and their numbers rise when the weather warms up, so it would be a good idea to pack insect repellent and a mosquito net. The sun is intense and there is little cover, so it’s sensible to bring high factor sunscreen, a good hat and sunglasses. You will need to ensure you drink enough water during the day especially when you’re working hard so a water bottle is always useful. To save costs we boil water at night to have safe drinking water for the next day. However you are more than welcome to buy your own bottled water from one of the nearby shops.
Please read travel health advisories when deciding what immunisations and medical supplies to prepare. But we would advise that you ensure your tetanus is up to date. Again arm yourself with the knowledge available on the web and from the CDC, check with your doctor, and make your own decision. Please note that we do not carry insurance; volunteers should purchase travel insurance from a reputable agency.
Women may want to consider bringing their own supply of tampons with them. They are generally unavailable, especially outside of Lima.
How safe is it?
Pisco is a disaster area and people have very little. There have been some incidents of pick pocketing and mugging in the city, as there are in many large cities in South America. While in Pisco, you are advised to take taxis between locations and if you do walk, take very little money and keep it in a secure place. You should avoid wearing flashy jewellery or walking with an MP3 player and, like most cities in the world, try and avoid looking like an opportunity for a thief. We ask that you always travel in pairs and avoid getting in motor-cars/tuk-tuk´s that have more than one person in them and only go to the beach at specified times in large groups.
Most local people are aware that international volunteers are working in Pisco and are genuinely friendly, helpful and, above all, grateful that you are here to help.
How do I call my family (or send an email)?
Public Telefónica payphones can be operated with phone cards (widely available) or coins are readily available on the street. There is a modern internet café with Skpe only 2 minutes walk from our Headquarters.
Can I buy a cell phone?
If you are planning a short stay in Peru, cell phone rental is available in the baggage claim area of the airport. These phones can be used to receive incoming calls. Outgoing calls are very expensive, and text messaging is unavailable.
An unlocked mobile phone (available here) can be fitted with a locally purchased Peruvian SIM card (about 25 Soles or $8 USD) for a pay-as-you-go service. Local and international calling and text messaging both work with this kind of prepaid service.
How should I bring my money?
There are ATM machines and moneychangers in the baggage claim area of the airport and ATMs in the central plaza in Pisco. Exchange rates at the airport ATMs and money changers are comparable to most banks. We recommend that you change your cash in to smaller denominations before arriving in Pisco; local businesses are unable to give change for large bills (50 Soles+).
What about Visas?
Visitors from most countries do not need a visa to enter Peru. Upon arriving at Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Chavez (LIM) or at the border crossings, you will be issued an Andean Immigration Card (at no charge) valid for 30 to 90 days. The standard visa is 30 days so if you do need more time you will need to ask before they stamp your passport. Keep the immigration card safe; you may have difficulty leaving the country if you lose it. To obtain a visa extension you will need to cross the border in to one of the neighbouring countries and then re-enter Peru. The cost of this is free apart from any associated transportation costs.
What should I bring?
Must bring:
Sleeping bag (bedding)
Passport
Highly recommended:
Mosquito net
Work gloves
Sunscreen
Headlamp/torch
Personal items/toiletries
Credit cards
Cash
Insect Repellent
Hat
Sunglasses
Water bottle
Clothes/shoes for working in
1 sweater or sweatshirt
1 jacket (depending on the time of year)
Bathing suit if you would like to swim in the cold Pacific waters a short walking distance from our residence
Sense of humour!
Remember, PACK LIGHT!
The electric power here is rated at 220V. Your appliances must be 110-220 capable. They use the two parallel flat pin plugs like the ones common in the USA.
What can I bring, as a donation, if I have extra room?
As a new organisation there are tools and supplies that we need that you could bring with you, please check our website for our Wishlist. Please also consider making a general donation, which will be used to directly fund the projects we’re working on. We also appreciate you sharing your experience with us and asking your friends and family for donations from back home! 100% of donations go to the direct action in Peru.
What if I forget stuff?
You can buy almost anything you need in Lima; it is a large, modern city. Shopping is an interesting experience at the public market here in Pisco, but it’s a lot less hassle if you bring it with you.
How do I get there?
Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Chavez (LIM) is the primary gateway into Peru. You may have to spend one night in Lima. From there you will take a 4 hour bus ride via Soyuz down to Pisco for between 20-25 Soles (about $7 USD) and a then a 15 minute cab ride to our house for about 7 Soles ($2.25 USD).
ONCE YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF WHEN YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME PLEASE CONTACT US
You can email us at madvolunteers@gmail.com and we’ll send you our volunteer application form. We can then guarantee you space within our accommodation and make sure that someone is around to meet you. Once we have confirmation of the date of your arrival we will also send you more details about how to get to our headquarters.
Anything else I need to know?
It will be dirty, hard work. And that is why we love it! The reward of making a huge impact and witnessing the deep appreciation on the faces of each Peruvian family we help far outweighs any potential negative experience. It is only through a steady stream of our wonderful volunteers that we are able to accomplish so much.