Project overview
This is a private school but not one (as you would imagine) with rich kids and fancy facilities. Actually, it is set up and run by a catholic priest (although he doesn’t impose his religion at all) and poor inhabitants of the shanty town called “Ramón Castilla”, just 10 minutes by local bus from Huanchaco. All together decided not to take destiny for granted but, instead, using their own little resources and strong hands to give children the chance to pursue at least primary and (early) high school studies.
This schooling project started in 2005 with a dusty land and lots of dreams. It has been built with the blood, sweat and tears of everyone involved: the priest, population, parents, staff, volunteers and donors; as they don’t get any public funding. Nowadays, the 4000 square-meter fenced area has 11 classrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 playgrounds, 1 library, 1 office, 1 garden, 1 kitchen, 1 small bakery and 1 canteen. In 2015, they expect the shanty town to be self-sustaining, intercultural and ecologically sustainable so the school will be able to offer entrepreneurship workshops and/or technical majors.
Currently, they offer 100% free education, school supplies and (some times) meals to around 250 students (3 to 13 years old). However, the school’s tiny budget only affords its operations and running so there’s not enough money for fully paid staff.
They need volunteers to work on construction program, school bakery or just to help out with the garden and general maintenance.
The main goal of the school is to give children an enhanced humanistic and ecological education to light their academic path so they will access to better opportunities in life. If you feel like putting another brick on the wall of their development, bring your tools and get ready to rumble!
Volunteer Roles/ Working Hours
The main task of volunteers is helping out with all the main aspects of construction, maintenance, gardening and/or bakery. It includes any combination of:-
• Helping out with the construction program, using all the resources available as effectively as possible.
• Supporting the maintenance task day-to-day to keep the facilities on good conditions at all times.
• Working on the garden, inspiring children and parents to keep it nice to get vegetable produce out of it.
• Helping in the bakery and, if you have good bakery experience, giving workshops to the staff and mothers involved in it.
The school is open most of the year (from early March to mid-December). Volunteers can get there from Monday to Friday- in the morning (08:20am till 13:30pm). Sometimes special work needs to be done outside classes’ schedule, like weekends and holidays. We can advise you in advance.
Volunteer Requirements
• Age 18+ on arrival
• No Spanish required for construction/maintenance/gardening but some always useful. We can arrange Spanish courses for you on arrival, if you wish, which can boost your Spanish before you start volunteering, but not essential or mandatory. Some basic Spanish needed to communicate in the bakery.
• Minimum commitment: 2 weeks – although 4+ weeks is better.
• Empathetic, responsible, pro-active and strong enough personality to deal with unexpected situations and ask for help when necessary.
• Good Team worker.
• Physically fit for construction, maintenance or gardening
• Gardening, bakery, construction or maintenance experience would be an advantage but definitely not essential.
