Although the public school system in Trujillo makes it possible for all children to attend school, the quality of education and especially arts education is extremely limited. Although research has shown that extracurricular activities such as musical ensembles have a strong impact in preventing at-risk children from getting involved with crime and gangs at a young age, the lack of funding for public schools makes it nearly impossible for them to sustain a music program. As a result, a large portion of the population has little to no contact with classical music, and few have the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument.
Music program volunteers will have the opportunity to work together with staff of the Youth Orchestra of Trujillo to put on music workshops with children and young people from all economic backgrounds in the city. We are especially in need of volunteers who are studying music and are specializing in violin, viola, cello or flute. If you are interested in working with music students but are not specializing in music, please contact us to discuss how you might be able to best serve the community.
This program can be combined with the Learn Spanish program for beginning Spanish speakers.
All of our volunteers participate in an orientation upon arrival to Peru. For our summer program, the orientation lasts about 5 days and for our other programs, the orientation lasts 2-3 days. This orientation is important as it gives volunteers a sense of where they are and what is important to the Peruvian people they will be working with for the next month. And as our past volunteers will tell you, it’s lots of fun!
Our orientation includes activities such as:
- Peruvian Cooking Class
- Latin Dance Lesson
- Archaeological Site Visits (Chan Chan or Huaca de la Luna)
- Sandboarding or Surfing
- Survival Spanish Lesson
- Work Site Visits and Introductions
- Presentation of Traditional Peruvian Dances
- Staying Safe in Peru: Thinking Like a Peruvian
- Introduction to Work Sites & Health and Education Systems in Peru
- Recommendations for Americans volunteering in Peru
- Cultural Differences applicable to your stay in Peru
- Weekend Travel Information
The following is a sample weekly itinerary for Teaching Music Volunteers.
Trujillo
Trujillo, home to more than 800,000 people, is the capital of the northern Peruvian coast and is known locally as the capital of eternal spring. Culture and tradition run through the city’s veins, extending from the region’s rich archaeological history to its well-preserved culinary and cultural traditions. Trujillanos are proud of their colonial history, which is alive in the Spanish colonial mansions that are still standing in the city’s downtown area. To this day, locals gather in these luxurious casonas to enjoy their rich cuisine and enjoy their region’s typical dance, the marinera. Volunteers staying in Trujillo are only a 15-minute bus ride away from some of Peru’s most important historical sites, including the ancient Moche and Chimú administrative and religious centers that predate the Incas by 1500 years.
Although Trujillo receives thousands of tourists a year, the living conditions in the outlying communities of the city are often extremely impoverished and underdeveloped. Substandard living conditions contribute to the most common health problems seen in local medical facilities, and many medical institutions struggle to provide the communities they serve with basic care. Clinics are understaffed and underfunded, and as a result, doctors struggle to give patients the comprehensive care and health education they need.
Just as the living conditions range from extremely impoverished to luxurious, so does the quality of education. Children from poorer areas of Trujillo are unable to attend better-funded and higher quality private schools, and the quality of education at public schools is often sub-par, due to large class sizes and a lack of ability to attract talented teachers. In addition, public schools are largely underfunded, leaving them with the inability to develop quality extracurricular programs, which are powerful resources in helping keep lower-income children off the street and in school.
Our most popular programs run during summer and winter vacations, but we accept volunteers all year round! Look below for the dates of our upcoming programs and application deadlines or email us to design a customized experience. Dates can be combined to participate in a longer volunteer program.
Winter 2022-23 Programs
| Length | Dates | Cost |
| 4 Weeks | December 10- January 8 | $1850 |
| 3 Weeks | December 17 – January 8 | $1650 |
| 2 Weeks | December 27 – January 10 | $1350 |
| 1 Week | December 11-17 | $1000 |
| 1 Week | December 27 – January 3 | $1000 |
Application Deadline: Rolling admission
Spring Break 2023 Programs
| Length | Dates | Cost |
| 1 Week | March 5-12 | $1000 |
| 1 Week | March 12-19 | $1000 |
Applications will be evaluated and spots will be filled on a rolling basis.
Spring 2023 Programs **These dates are referential and may be adjusted slightly as the program dates approach. Please contact us with any questions.
| Length | Dates | Cost |
| 1 month | January 17 – February 14 | $1850 |
| 1 month | February 14 – March 14 | $1850 |
| 1 month | March 14 – April 11 | $1850 |
| 2 months | January 17 – March 14 | $2400 |
| 2 months | February 14 – April 11 | $2400 |
| 3 months | January 17 – April 11 | $2950 |
Summer 2023 Programs **These dates are referential and may be adjusted slightly as the program dates approach. Please contact us with any questions.
| Length | Dates | Cost | Deadline |
| 1 month | Session 1: May 21 – June 25 | $1850 | May 1 |
| 1 month | Session 2: June 25 – July 27 | $1850 | April 1 |
| 1 month | Session 3: August 1 – August 31 | $1850 | May 1 |
| 2 months | Session 1-2 Combined: May 21 – July 27 | $2400 | May 1 |
| 2 months | Session 2-3 Combined: June 25 – August 31 | $2400 | April 1 |
| 3 months | Three Month Program: May 21 – August 31 | $2950 | May 1 |
Fall 2022 Programs **These dates are referential and may be adjusted slightly as the program dates approach. Please contact us with any questions.
| Length | Dates | Cost |
| 1 month | September 12 – October 10 | $1800 |
| 1 month | October 10 – November 7 | $1800 |
| 1 month | November 7 – December 5 | $1800 |
| 2 months | September 12 – November 7 | $2300 |
| 2 months | October 10 – December 5 | $2300 |
| 3 months | September 12 – December 5 | $2800 |
Vive Peru works hard to make the prices of its volunteer programs as reasonable as possible while maintaining a highly qualified staff and high-quality volunteer opportunities. Volunteer program donations support our staff in Peru and make long-term sustainable projects in the community possible. A portion of volunteer program donations goes directly to support the communities and institutions we work with in Peru.
Winter 2021 Programs
- 4-week program: $1800
- 3-week program: $1600
- 2-week program: $1300
- 1-week program: $950
- 1-month program: $1800
- 2-month program: $2300
- 3-month program: $2800
Spring & Fall Break 2022
- 1-week program: $950
Volunteer Program Fee Includes:
- Preparation and Training before departure
- Orientation Activities
- Airport pickup and transfer to hostel
- Transportation from Lima to volunteer site
- Transportation to and from volunteer activities
- Food and housing for the duration of the program
- On-going staff support and supervision
Volunteer Program Fee Does Not Include:
- Round-trip flight to Lima
- Traveler’s insurance
- Vaccinations recommended by CDC
- Passport costs and visa fees (if necessary)
- Personal weekend trips
- Personal expenses (cell phones, souvenirs, Internet cafes, etc.)
Payment can be made by sending a check to our USA office or paying online in the Donate tab.