Trip Dates

July 9-15, 2006
July 16-23, 2006
August 5-12, 2006
Oct 7-14, 2006
Dec 2-9, 2006

Project Summary

On the humanitarian trip to Cusco , Peru , you will take part in building an orphanage called “La Casa Azul” (The Blue House). The orphanage is the vision of UNPADS – Union Para el Desarrollo Social – ( Union for Social Development). UNPADS was founded around the belief that it is society's responsibility to support, protect, and generate opportunities for children and adolescents. UNPADS' focus is on helping the children and teenagers living on the streets of Cusco and other villages.

La Casa Azul is more than an orphanage in that above and beyond food, housing, parenting, and healthcare, UNPADS' other primary objective is to help the children develop their potential – to provide vocational training and teach them skills which permit them to grow up, find jobs, and actively take part in society.

The vocational preparation at The Blue House is unique, as there are lots of organizations that help children in need, but most offer very little support after the children reach 18 years of age. The Blue House's focus on capacity-building will provide teenagers at the House with vocational training, as well as partnerships with microfinance organizations in order to teach these growing children the value of money and to assist them in starting their own companies when they leave La Casa Azul.

UNPADS begins construction on La Casa Azul in 2006. The two-story, 450-square-meter (4,844 ft 2 ) home will have shared bedrooms and bathrooms on the second floor, and the kitchen, laundry, dining area, and vocational workshops on the first floor. The House is being built on 5,467 square meters (1.35 acres/.55 hectares) of donated land in the beautiful town of Oropesa , 30 minutes from historic Cusco . The initial building will house 20 high-risk children between the ages of 10 to 18 years of age.

On the Humanitarian Trip

As a volunteer on the humanitarian project in Peru , you will be part of building a new home for orphaned children. Construction work will be physically demanding, including digging, removing dirt, carrying bricks, mixing cement, plastering, cleaning, and various other needs related to construction. Local Peruvians will work side-by-side with volunteers. The construction of La Casa Azul will be achieved over 6 different phases, which means that the nature of the work may vary as the construction work progresses.

Volunteers will be working in the small rural village of Oropesa , which is about 30 minutes from Cusco . It is a pleasant location away from the hustle and bustle of Cusco, and is surrounded by the Andes on all sides. The area offers beautiful scenery and lots of fresh air for volunteers. Volunteers will live in a comfortable “family house” in Cusco , about 30 minutes by bus from the project site.

In your free time, volunteers can explore Cusco and the Sacred Valley of the Incas. As well, if rain or other production delays occur volunteers will have the option of working with children at a nearby orphanage related to the La Casa Azul project.

Accommodation, Food, Transportation

Volunteers will live at the “Family House” which is a family-run home, including lots of opportunity to practice your Spanish, but with more independence than a typical family-stay. There are usually 2 to 6 other travelers and/or volunteers in the house. The “Family House” is only 5 minutes by taxi or 20 minutes walking to Cusco 's historic Plaza de Armas.

Volunteers will have single beds, and will sleep 2 to 3 people per room. Bathrooms are shared. There is 24-hour hot water.

2 meals per day – breakfast and dinner – will be provided Monday – Friday. On Sundays, volunteers have free access to the kitchen, or may choose to eat out. Arrangements can easily be made for vegetarians. There is a phone in the house, and volunteers can receive calls from family and friends. Using an international calling card, volunteers can reach their family and friends directly.

Laundry services are available on-site for a small extra fee ($.150 per kilo), or volunteers may opt to use other local laundry services, which are readily available.

Smoking is NOT permitted in the house. Volunteers will need to take a bus to the project site each day, which costs S/. 2.00 (approximately $0.60) round-trip.