At a glance
- Gain practical experience working alongside nurses and continuing our research to improve health in disadvantaged communities.
- Help people with problems such as malnutrition, for which children remain the most common victims.
- You will visit families during home-to-home visits and raise awareness by delivering presentations to vulnerable groups.
Start Dates:
Completely flexible dates
See DatesMinimum Duration:
Two Weeks
Age:
17 or over
You need to speak intermediate Spanish.
Is the Nutrition internship in Peru right for me?
If you would like to gain first-hand nutritional experience in a developing country while making a difference to local communities, this Nutrition Internship in Peru is for you. You will be able to work with professionals and learn from their years of experience in nutrition, adding relevant experience to your CV.
This internship also lets you reach out to vulnerable groups who suffer from consequences of malnourishment. Share knowledge that will inspire people to change their habits for improved living for many years
You need to have finished high school to join this internship. You must also be able to communicate in Spanish on an intermediate level, because you give presentations in Spanish as part of your work.
You can join a nutrition placement in Peru at any time of year, but please note that some of the organisations we work with are closed between January and March.
What do you do on the Nutrition internship in Peru?
You will gain nutrition work experience in Peru, by working with nutrition experts to raise awareness in local communities of the importance of healthy diets. Your project work can include the following activities:
- Improve maternal and infant health through educational courses with mothers
- Conduct home visits for health checks in local communities
- Develop nutritional educational materials to improve knowledge and awareness
- Empower local people to live healthier lives
- Do research into improving nutrition in Peru
Your work will be split in five main areas:
Improve maternal and infant health through educational courses with mothers
Build relationships with mothers and their children through conversations and home visits, so that young children develop with healthy diets and lifestyles.
Conduct home visits for health checks
During home visits, you’ll distribute educational materials to help people improve nutrition. You’ll explain why healthy diets are important and what they can do to eat better. You’ll also share how to identify signs of malnourishment.
In the communities you visit, you‘ll also give presentations and run workshops. The goal of these sessions is to share knowledge of healthy meals, anaemia prevention, effective teeth cleaning and hand-washing.
Empower communities to live healthier lives
You will get to spend time with more focused groups, like high risk youth and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers. Share, for example, tips on correct micronutrient intake, healthy hygiene practices, and dietary guidelines for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Further reasearch in nutrition
Depending on your level of experience or interest, you can play a key role in expanding on the nutrition research we do. This research focuses on identifying disorders in children. You’ll develop materials to address these disorders, and measure the progress of the ongoing programme. Some of these programmes were implemented by the Peruvian Ministry of Health.
Build eco-gardens
You can be involved in building and maintaining eco-gardens in the communities you visit and reach out to.
Where do you work on the Nutrition internship in Peru?
Cusco
You’ll work in rural communities in and around the city of Cusco. The city is surrounded by lush green mountainous landscapes where llamas roam freely. You’ll also spend time in farming villages and other outlying communities during home visits.
Cusco was once the capital of the ancient Incan Empire, and is a World Heritage Site today. The city is lined with cobblestoned roads and beautiful architecture. Try out delicious soups for lunch and sharpen your Spanish skills with street vendors.
Typical day at your Nutrition placement in Peru
You will travel to communities around Cusco, reaching out to people where they live. Many mornings are spent going house-to-house, sharing important nutritional information with mothers, children, and other members of local communities. Spend time in conversation with people to discover the realities causing malnourishment, and provide valuable information to help people adjust their lives.
You can dedicate afternoons to preparing workshop presentations. Put together materials that you will hand out during your house-to-house visits or use in presentations, such as posters. Show local people what healthy meals look like, tell them how to prevent anaemia, how to properly clean teeth, and wash hands.
As part of your research into malnourishment, you will perform tasks like measuring and weighing babies to assess the level of health in the communities you visit.
During your evenings, spend time with your fellow volunteers, learning about each other’s home countries and cultures, and exchange stories about your days of work and adventure.
Peru is an adventurer’s heaven. During your weekends, you can explore some of the best hiking trails in the world, enjoy water rafting in the Urubamba River, or visit the enigmatic Nazca Lines.
Aims and impact of the Nutrition internship in Peru
The main aim of the project is to improve the maternal, infant and young child nutritional status in Peru. Malnutrition remains a persistent and serious problem in Peru, in particular for poorer or more rural communities, and needs serious attention.
In Peru, malnutrition amongst babies and children remains a serious issue, particularly in rural families with lower income. These families tend to have more children (5-6 in a family), sell nutritious food crops and consume foods with lower nutritional value (e.g. instant noodles). This results in a higher rate of malnutrition among children. In some areas of the country, as many as 40% of children suffer from stunting.
Through outreach work and an emphasis on education, this internship allows you to improve the health standards of vulnerable groups, particularly those living in rural communities.
We have committed to four goals, as outlined in our Medical Management Plan:
- Encourage an understanding of medical practices and promote an exchange of medical knowledge
- Improve the quality of healthcare provided to patients
- Improve access to basic healthcare to disadvantaged groups
- Improve hygiene standards
Join us in Peru and be part of our efforts improve nutrition in disadvantaged communities.
Volunteering for professionals
This project is also perfect for qualified professionals. With your skills backing up our ongoing efforts, we can make an even bigger difference together. We'll match you to the placement where your skills are needed most.
This means you can share your training and and knowledge with others. You can work hand-in-hand with our partner organisations and local communities to support sustainable development.
If you have relevant skills or qualifications, read more about how you can make use of them with Projects Abroad.
Management plans
We set out the aims and objectives of our projects in documents called Management Plans. We use them to properly plan the work you’ll do. They also help us measure and evaluate our achievements and impact each year.
Ultimately, our Management Plans help us make our projects better. This in turn means you get to be part of something that makes a real impact where it’s needed. Read more about our Management Plans.
Measuring our impact
Our projects work towards clear long-term goals, with specific annual objectives. Every volunteer and intern we send to these projects helps us work towards these goals, no matter how long they spend on our projects.
Every year we take a step back and look at how much progress we've made towards these goals. We put together a Global Impact Report, which documents our achievements. Find out more about the impact our global community of volunteers, interns and staff make, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll stay with a host family in Cusco. They will welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and have you teach them about your own culture. We believe that this is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of Peru and have a truly unique experience.
We will always try to let you live alongside at least one other Projects Abroad volunteer or intern at the same host family. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.
Your programme fee includes three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Leisure activities and free time
Peru is a vibrant country with a mix of activities for every kind of volunteer. Whether you’re into arts, culture, history, or nature, there’s sure to be something for you!
One of the biggest attractions of Peru is the Inca history. There are awe-inspiring archaeological sites like Coricancha, Tambomachay, and of course, Machu Picchu.
Over a weekend, you can take a trip to the village of Pisac, where you can browse bright, eye-catching textile markets. Don’t miss out on seeing the llamas and alpacas too!
There are also lively restaurants, the perfect place to spend an evening relaxing and enjoying local cuisine, like ceviche.
We run a variety of projects in Peru so you’ll likely meet many other volunteers on your trip. It’s the perfect opportunity to connect and travel as a group. However, you’re welcome to travel independently if you prefer.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
This placement is fully researched, safety audited, and risk assessed in accordance with the British Standard BS8848 for the Adventure Travel Sector.
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