Villa Martha houses roughly 100 children. Most children stay at the foundation during the week, and go home to their families on the weekends. The children live in pavilions separated by age group, beginning with Cuna (0-3), then Celeste (3-6), Verde (6-8), and Ninos/Ninas grandes (8-18). Some of the ninas grandes choose to be “guias” which means they help out with a younger pavilion.
The work you do as well as your schedule will depend on which age group you are with (normally, you will be able to choose which one). You will spend most of your time with your pavilion during the week––you will sleep in the same room as the kids and staff, wake up at the same time as them, help them get ready for the day, and eat meals with them.
FAQ
Do I need to speak spanish? While knowing spanish is not a requirement for volunteering, it is highly recommended that you learn at least the basics before coming. A few staff members speak English and Portugese, but most of the staff and all of the kids only speak Spanish, so your time will be much easier if you can communicate basically.
What is the food like? Local supermarkets donate food weekly. Breakfast is usually assorted breads and nearly all lunch and dinner meals will contain meat or fish. It’s definitely possible to eat a vegetarian diet here, as long as you aren’t picky! White rice, a salad, and vegetables (which may be mixed in with the meat or served separately) are cooked daily. There is also a snack served every afternoon which is usually cake or fruit.
Can I drink the water? Peruvian tap water is unsafe to drink. There is a shop at the top of the road which is 30 seconds walking from the property, where you can buy water (2-4 soles) and other drinks and snacks.
Will I be able to wash my clothes? Yes- There is a laundry room with several washers. There is a schedule that grants specific times of access to each pavilion. Clotheslines are located on the roof of the main building, which you can access by getting the purple keyring from the ninas grandes pavilion.
Will I have free time? Since most children go home over the weekends, volunteers have the weekends free. Lima is about 2 hours away by public transportation and hostel dorm beds usually start at around 7 US dollars on the low end. Other tourist destinations popular with volunteers include Ica, Huacachina, and Paracas. If you would like to visit Machu Picchu, you should go before or after your time volunteering.
How long should I stay? Volunteers must stay at least one month.
What if I get sick or injured? There is a doctor that is on site every weekday. She keeps basic medical supplies and commonly needed medicines in her office. If you have a more urgent or serious matter, there is a 24/7 clinic located in a nearby town.
Getting here: Volunteers commonly use the service of a taxi driver to arrive, with whom we can connect you if you would like. This taxi driver charges around 20-30 USD. It is also possible to take public transportation (which you can navigate using the app moovit) but if you have large luggage with you this is not recommended.
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