Volunteer Handbook
November 8th, 2012
Welcome to the Sacred Valley Project (SVP) of Ollantaytambo, Peru! We are a registered
US Non-Profit Organization and Peruvian Foundation. Founded in 2009 by a group of 7
Americans and Peruvians, our main objective is to facilitate better access to education for
young women from remote and rural communities in the Sacred Valley of Peru to
promote their personal growth and empowerment as they continue and complete their
secondary education.
The Sacred Valley Project operates a dormitory in Ollantaytambo, Peru. The dormitory
houses a group of young women attending secondary school. These girls enter the
program for economic and geographic reasons and all exhibit a desire to study and
enhance their educational and vocational opportunities. Within the dormitory, we provide
meals, housing, professional tutors, homework support and extracurricular courses on the
weekdays.
We are able to run our dormitory thanks to international donors and grants. Donations are
greatly appreciated and can be made either directly to the dorm (both material goods such
as books, computers, household appliances or monetary donations are accepted) or online
through our website: www.sacredvalleyproject.org
We are happy to take on volunteers of all nationalities and interests who are dedicated to
development, education and women’s empowerment. All support from volunteers is
greatly appreciated and we value the diversity and unique skills that volunteers bring to
the program.
Volunteer Prerequisites
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21 years or older
Minimum commitment of 3 months
Intermediate to advanced Spanish comprehension, reading and writing skills
Must have a clean criminal record
Living in Ollantaytambo
Ollantaytambo, known locally as the “living Inca city” is a small town located within the
region of Urubamba. It is situated in the Sacred Valley, about an hour and a half outside
of Cusco. A beautiful and calm city, most tourists merely pass through it on their way to
Machu Picchu. However, those who choose to stop and stay for a while find it to be
charming and immersed in culture and history. An Incan fortress flanks the town itself
and the streets are scattered with Incan buildings. Aside from visiting the ruins within the
town, other activities around the city include downhill mountain biking, white water
rafting, hiking and trekking.
If you choose to volunteer with us, the Sacred Valley Project can provide help in finding
accommodation. We understand that volunteers are often looking for different
experiences, so housing arrangements are flexible and can be designed to meet each
individual’s needs. Please note that our ability to find desired accommodation depends on
housing availability in Ollantaytambo.
We are able to help our volunteers find a private room or a more traditional home stay.
Staying with a home stay family in Ollantaytambo would enable you to learn about local
culture, try traditional cuisine and practice your Spanish. Home stay costs may be sent
prior to your arrival and payments are made directly to the family upon arrival.
If you need for us to help arrange your accommodation, please be in touch with us with at
least 2 weeks notice.
Please email us with your housing and/or other requests at:
volunteer@sacredvalleyproject.org
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I get from Cusco to Ollantaytambo? Ollantaytambo is located
approximately 1.5 - 2 hours from the city of Cusco and one can get there
comfortably via public transport. All shared taxis and minivans depart from Cusco
to Ollantaytambo at Calle Pavitos. To get to Calle Pavitos you should either take a
taxi from the Cusco airport (s/5-s/10) or from your hotel (s/3-s/5). There you will
find a slew of individuals shouting ‘Ollantaytambo’ and ‘Urubamba’. Taking a
shared taxi or minivan directly to Ollantaytambo is the most comfortable way to
travel and should cost s/10-s/12 per person. Alternatively, at Calle Pavitos you
can also contract a private car from Cusco to Ollantaytambo for approximately
s/40. Upon arrival to Ollantaytambo be sure to get off in the plaza de armas and
not at the train station.
2. Does the SVP arrange pick-ups from the Cusco airport? As we are a fairly
small organization with only 2 full time employees, it is essential that our
employees be at the dormitory supervising the students throughout the day. We
therefore do not arrange airport pick-ups. Nonetheless, by following the above
instructions you will get to Ollantaytambo just fine!
3. When I arrive to Ollantaytambo how will I know where to go? Upon arrival to
Ollantaytambo you should go directly to the Coffee Tree located in the main town
square, sit down and have a coffee! Please let the owners/staff know that you have
just arrived and are here to volunteer with the Sacred Valley Project. They will
give us a call so that we may know that you have arrived and we will come and
meet you. Prior to arriving to Ollantaytambo, please provide us with an estimated
time of arrival so that we will be sure to be there! In addition, before you travel to
Ollantaytambo, our Volunteer Coordinator will provide you with a list of
important phone numbers just in case you have some kind of difficulty.
4. What’s the weather like in Ollantaytambo? The town of Ollantaytambo is
located at an elevation of 2,800m or 9,200ft and you can expect typical mountain
weather. When the sun comes out during the day it can be quite hot and some find
a t-shirt to be sufficient. Once the sun sets, temperatures can plunge to near
freezing levels so it is important that you bring a warm jacket and plenty of layers.
The rainy season runs from November – April and you should come prepared
with a rain jacket. The dry season, from June – September, coincides with the
winter season and while the days are very sunny and hot, nights can be
exceptionally cold, especially in June and July. Moreover, as Ollantaytambo is a
small town with plenty of cobble stoned streets and dirt paths, we highly
recommend that you bring a pair of sturdy sneakers and/or hiking boots.
5. Is living in Ollantaytambo safe? Ollantaytambo is a small town of
approximately 2,000. The town generally shuts down as of 8pm and there is little
to do in the evenings. The SVP dormitory is supervised 24 hours a day and we
have never had any issues with safety. The town itself is generally safe, though
during festivals, locals can get quite drunk and unruly. As with anywhere in the
world, one should make thoughtful decisions and be aware of one’s environment.
6. How much money can I expect to spend in Ollantaytambo? The cost of living
can vary greatly depending on ones personal decisions. However, to give a
general idea of costs, accommodation may cost anywhere from s/200 - s/500
($80-$200 USD) a month, and meals may cost anywhere from s/300 - s/600 ($115
- $230 USD) a month (depending on whether you choose to eat at restaurants or at
the local market). In addition, transport and communication may cost anywhere
from s/50 – s/100 ($20- $40 USD) per month depending on how often you travel
and use your phone.
7. How many hours will I be working as a volunteer with the Sacred Valley
Project? How many hours you volunteer per week depends greatly on the
projects you undertake and how motivated you are to keep working. Nonetheless,
we expect our volunteers to be independent, motivated, dedicated and commit to
at least 20 hours per week.
8. When is the best time of the year to volunteer? The students of the dormitory
enjoy their summer vacations from the end of December until the first weeks of
March. In addition, the students’ winter break usually runs from the last week of
July until the first or second week of August. During these two breaks, the girls
go home to their communities, many of our staff go on vacation and the dorm
shuts down. The best times of year to volunteer are from March – mid July and
mid July – mid December.
9. Is there a cost to volunteering? Our volunteers must commit to working at least
3 months with the project. As our volunteers are an integral part of our project, we
do not charge any fee.
10. Do the girls and SVP team members speak English? As Spanish is the second
language for most of the students living at the dormitory (Quechua being their
first language), it is important that our volunteers have a good command over the
Spanish language. Some of the students are in the process of developing their
Spanish language skills themselves and communication may be difficult if you are
only able to speak little to no Spanish. Moreover, the full time staff members
speak little to no English. During certain times of the year other English speaking
SVP board and team members live and work in Ollantaytambo. However, you
should not expect to be speaking too much English while volunteering with us!
11. How many volunteers do you usually have? As we are a small yet growing
organization, we never tend to have more than 2-4 volunteers at a time.
Nonetheless, there are several other non-profits based in Ollantaytambo and there
is a small population of foreigners either working or volunteering in
Ollantaytambo, all of whom get together in the evenings or weekends to socialize.
12. Can I propose my own volunteer project? Absolutely! We are thrilled to work
with professionals from around the globe and are open to all project proposals. If
you do have a particular project in mind, please send a summary of the project to
volunteer@sacredvalleyproject.org.
13. How does the SVP receive its funding? In our first operational year we largely
relied on private donations and international fundraising campaigns. In our second
and third years funding has come from international grants, private donors,
fundraising campaigns and partnerships with international foundations. As of
2012, we have received grants from organizations such as Be Free Global, Circle
of Sisterhood Foundation and Mary's Pence. Currently we are working on
establishing several income-generating projects within the dormitory so as to
achieve our long-term goal of sustainability.
14. What can I expect from the home stay? Staying with a host family is a
phenomenal experience as you are able to immerse yourself entirely in the local
culture. It is important that you understand that your home stay family will speak
little to no English, and that accommodations can be quite simplistic. Rooms will
come with a bed and perhaps a table and chair, and bathrooms are shared and
typically located within the main patio area. Though bathrooms will be equipped
with electric showers (with no 100% guarantee of hot water every day) and
flushing toilets, they will be much more rustic than the typical bathroom in North
America. In addition, one may choose to eat all meals or only breakfast with your
host family. Note that if you do choose to eat all of your meals with your host
family, you are expected to show up to every meal. In addition, meals tend to be
quite large and heavily laden with starches (it's typical for a meal to include rice,
potatoes and pasta).
15. Do most houses have electricity and hot water? The majority of houses do have
electricity and hot water. However, keep in mind that water and power shortages
are common in Ollantaytambo and may sometimes last an entire day or two.
16. Are there restaurants in Ollantaytambo? With increased tourism
Ollantaytambo has grown a great deal in the last years. There are plenty of
restaurants to be found serving up international cuisine as well as local, traditional
food. If you’re on a budget you can buy your own food in the town’s market and
cook at home or enjoy one of the more economical menus in the 3rd floor of the
market.
17. Is there Internet in Ollantaytambo? Several Internet cafes can be found around
the town’s main square. In addition, many restaurants now provide WiFi services
so that you can enjoy a coffee or sandwich as you catch up with your friends and
family.
18. Are there ATMs in Ollantaytambo? There are two ATMs located within the
town center. One is located in the main town square, and another is located in the
entrance to El Sauce hotel. We recommend taking out money in large chunks as
international transaction fees can be quite high!
19. Where can I do laundry in Ollantaytambo? There are plenty of hotels and
stores that provide laundry service. Laundry is priced by weight and costs
approximately s/5 per kilo. Do bear in mind that though your clothes will be
machine washed, there are no dryers and depending on climate your clothes may
take 1-3 days to dry.
20. Do I need any vaccines to travel to Peru? To live and volunteer in
Ollantaytambo you do not require any vaccines. If you plan to travel to the
Amazon jungle, a yellow fever vaccine is recommended though not required. We
recommend that you consult your physician at home prior to traveling to Peru!
21. Are there schools where I can study Spanish? Absolutely! El Arte Sano, a
language and cultural center, is located in the town of Urubamba, approximately
30 minutes from Ollantaytambo. Spanish classes may be arranged in private or in
a group setting and are highly recommended!
22. Are there ways to travel from Ollantaytambo to other parts of Peru, in case I
want to take a day or a weekend trip? While Ollantaytambo is a small town, it
is not isolated. All travelers hiking the Inca Trail pass through Ollantaytambo and
there are hundreds of tourists that stop in town on a daily basis. There is daily
public transport from Ollantaytambo to Urubamba and to Cusco. In addition,
Ollantaytambo is an excellent jumping off point to visit Machu Picchu, the
traditional handicraft market in Pisac or the jungle in Quillabamba!
Volunteer Placement
After meeting with the Volunteer Coordinator to discuss your length of stay and
individual interests in the project, we will work together to assess what volunteer
placement is best for you. We welcome any additional ideas and suggestions you may
have, or other ways in which your skills and interests can benefit the Sacred Valley
Project.
Below you will find a brief description of several potential volunteer projects. Please bear
in mind that the volunteer best suited to our program is independent and self-motivated.
In addition, we are thrilled to work with professionals from about the globe and are open
to all project proposals. If you’d like to volunteer for a project or position not listed
below, please send a brief description of your project idea to
volunteer@sacredvalleyproject.org.
Student Tutoring
Being a student tutor is ideal for individuals who have experience in education and want
to have close interactions with the students themselves. Volunteers need to be present
daily and must display a strong comprehension and articulation of the Spanish language.
Tutoring may include subjects such as geometry, algebra, physics, English, health,
Spanish & Quechua. As the timeframes for student tutoring are limited, this volunteer
position is best combined with another. It is also recommended that the student tutor has
studied or is studying education or an academic discipline related to our students’ needs,
such as statistics, engineering, Spanish literature, or physics.
Extracurricular Courses & Seminars
Though a majority of the girls’ after school hours are spent studying with private,
professional tutors, it is also important to incorporate extracurricular classes or seminars
to develop their leadership skills, creativity and confidence. In the past volunteers have
led classes in art, theater, yoga, computation and horticulture. Volunteers interested in
teaching a weekly extracurricular course or one-time seminar must display strength in
their field of interest as well as an intermediate to advanced fluency of Spanish.
Possibilities are endless in terms of extracurricular courses, and we welcome any ideas
that volunteers may have. As extracurricular courses may be one-time or once a week,
this volunteer placement is best combined with another.
Sustainable Projects
While we currently rely on international grants and individual donations, one of our most
important long-term goals is to become a self-sustainable program. Future incomegenerating projects may include a dorm-run bakery, a handicraft market or garden. If you
would like to develop a project that will help raise funding for the dorm, please send us a
proposal of your sustainable project.
Photography, Blogging & Marketing
One of the most effective ways to get our message out to the international community is
through the Internet. We are always in need of photographs and writers who are eager to
document our progress. Keeping our website and social media sites updated with the
latest photos, blogs and statistics is a phenomenal way to inform our present and future
donors. Volunteers who have experience with photography, blog writing and marketing
and can communicative efficiently in English and Spanish are always in high demand!
Social Work
The young women targeted for this project are from isolated rural communities and come
from families with few economic resources. While we are an educational facility, many
of our students have experienced hardships in their early years. Alcoholism and domestic
violence are prevalent in Sacred Valley communities. To better serve these young
women, the services of a trained Spanish and/or Quechua speaking social worker would
be greatly appreciated.
Fundraising & Grant Writing
At the end of the day, the project and dormitory can’t run without great fundraising
efforts. Volunteers interested in fundraising can start a club within their schools or
communities or can start a letter writing campaign targeting friends and family.
Volunteers can also collaborate with Sacred Valley Board members to apply for
international grants or organize fundraising events worldwide. Fundraising is great for
individuals who can make either short term or long-term commitments as volunteers may
fundraise in their own hometowns, or while living in Ollantaytambo.
Project Administration
Ideal for those individuals who find that they work best in an office environment, this
post is designed for volunteers who hope to gain administrative experience with a
grassroots non-profit. Specific tasks will vary, but may include data entry, development
and implementation of better organizational systems, editing, project cost analysis and
getting us coffee (just kidding!). Administrative work is ideal for volunteers who want to
become involved with the project at a more integral level and are independent and
organized individuals with experience in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Photoshop, etc.