English (US) ▾
Nederlands
English (UK)
Deutsch
Italiano
Português
Español
Volunteer Teacher Assistant in Kindergartens Cusco, Peru
Volunteer in kindergartens and assist as a “Promoter” to enable better learning and assist the local teachers, a rewarding opportunity for people who are good with kids and enjoy interactive teaching .
This program places you in rural kindergartens around Cusco, Peru, working alongside local "promoters" (community mothers who run these classrooms with basic training and periodic monitoring from professional educators). Day to day you support the promoter with hands-on activities such as cutting, gluing and drawing, help check homework and grade simple tests, give one-on-one attention to children in large classrooms, and help organize and tidy the room. It suits people from 17 who are patient, comfortable with young children, and ready for a basic, resource-light classroom rather than a polished school.
Placements run for 1–24 weeks, with new starts twice a month (Sundays), next one on 20 Sep 2026. You live with a host family in Cusco, sharing a room with other volunteers, and get three home-cooked meals a day Monday to Friday. Prices start at $744 (deposit included). The specific draw here is the setting: these are grassroots, community-run kindergartens where the promoters themselves are still learning, so an extra pair of hands with patience and focus is genuinely useful.
- Volunteer work at local schools to provide teaching assistance to the in-house faculty and help provide proper education to the underprivileged children
- Work in rural kindergartens and assist as a “Promoter” to enable better learning and assist the local teachers
- A rewarding opportunity for people who are good with kids and enjoy interactive teaching
- As a teaching assistant, one needs a lot of patience High level of focus and dedication is also required while dealing with the kids
Your role on this program
- Assist the promoter with hands-on activities such as cutting, gluing, and drawing with the children
- Give one-on-one attention to children in classrooms that can hold 30-40 kids
- Help check homework and grade simple tests
- Distribute meals to children at break time
- Organize activities and materials for the next day
- Clean the classroom
- Decorate the classroom to make it more engaging
- Support the promoter's monthly goals around language, basic math, and social skills
Exact duties vary with the placement's needs, the season and your experience.
Role boundaries
You work as an assistant to the promoter or local teacher, not as a substitute for them, and duties may vary with the placement's needs. You do not plan the curriculum, discipline children unsupervised, or take responsibility for a classroom on your own; the promoter or local coordinator stays in charge and a criminal background check is required before you can work with children.
A typical day and week
-
Sunday – Arrival in Cusco, Peru
-
Monday – An orientation session will be conducted by the local coordinator, informing the volunteers about relative topics such as safety, culture, language, places to visit, behavior, food, and other suggestion over things to do in Peru.
-
Tue to Fri – Volunteer Work.
-
Weekends: Free to explore the city/ Head out for Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley etc.
-
Breakfast – 07:00 am to 08:00 am
-
Working hours at the placement – 09:00 am to 01:00 pm and 02:00 pm to 03:00 pm (The second shifts depends on the requirement at the placement)
-
Lunch – 01:00 pm to 02:00 pm
-
Dinner – 07:00 pm to 08:00 pm
The same volunteer work schedule continues from the second week onwards.
Note: Please note, the schedule may vary depending on the particular project the volunteer is participating in.
Timings are the placement's usual pattern; the local team confirms your hours at orientation, and they can change with school terms, clinic rotas, weather and the project's needs.
Who can join and what you need
- Minimum age 17
- Parental consent form required if joining under the standard minimum age threshold set by the program
- Clean criminal background check report, issued within 12 months of the start date
- Patience and a high level of focus when working with young children
- Open-minded, flexible attitude toward a basic, resource-limited classroom setting
- Beginner to intermediate Spanish is an advantage, not required
- Travel/medical insurance, either your own policy or one arranged through Volunteering Solutions
- Proactive attitude and willingness to take initiative with the promoter
The placement, its limits and your part in it
The classrooms you work in are rural kindergartens led by local "promoters" or "entertainers", community members who receive basic training and are periodically monitored by professional educators rather than fully qualified teachers. Volunteers are added to this existing structure to give the promoter extra hands, not to run the classroom themselves.
Because the placement involves children, a clean criminal background check is required before you start, and the promoter or local coordinator supervises your day-to-day work. Your contribution is practical: more individual attention in a crowded room, help with materials, homework, and classroom upkeep. It does not amount to running lessons independently or guaranteeing any particular learning outcome for the children.
Our standards
- Responsible volunteer travel policyHow we choose, run and review every project
- Safeguarding policyBackground checks, supervision and our code of conduct with children
- Child & vulnerable adult protectionThe rules every volunteer follows on placement
- Certified B CorporationSocial and environmental performance verified by B Lab
- How we volunteer responsibly in PeruCountry-level partner context and standards
Start dates
Weekly start dates, year-round — pick any week across the next two years.
Program fees by duration
Prices include your $249 booking deposit — which is deducted from your total program fee. Your deposit stays valid for one year, during which you may enroll in multiple programs. A 5% international banking fee applies to credit-card payments in USD or AUD.
| Duration | Total price | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week | $744 | |
| 2 weeks | $894 | |
| 3 weeks | $1,079 | |
| 4 weeks | $1,249 | |
| 5 weeks | $1,449 | |
| 6 weeks | $1,624 | |
| 7 weeks | $1,824 | |
| 8 weeks | $2,024 | |
| Each additional week | +$325 / week |
Indicative conversion — your booking is charged in the currency you choose at checkout.
✓ What you're paying for
- 24 hrs Assistance and support from VS Staff
- Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
- Pickup from Cusco Airport or Bus Station
- Orientation
- Accommodation in a homestay
- Meals from Monday to Friday
- Insurance (Provided at an extra cost)
- Certificate Of Completion (Upon Request)
Not included
- Airfare
- Visa and Visa extension fee
- Return airport drop and airport taxes
- Local Transportation
- Any personal expenses
Accommodation & meals
Airport Transfer
As soon as you land at Cusco Airport, our friendly local coordinator or representative will be there to greet you. If you’re traveling overland or are already in Peru, we’ll arrange a convenient pickup at a designated meeting point or bus station. You´ll see the VolSol logo and your name at the airport door.
Orientation
Get ready for an exciting journey with our orientation! Our local staff will introduce you to key aspects of life in Peru, covering topics like culture, greetings, transportation, safety, and your volunteer placements. This session will help you feel right at home!
Accommodation
Experience authentic Peruvian culture by staying with a local host family! You’ll share a cozy room with fellow volunteers, giving you the chance to bond and make new friends. Most host families have two bathrooms equipped with hot showers, and the accommodations are clean and comfortable. Many homes also offer Wi-Fi and cable TV for your convenience.
Meals
Enjoy delicious home-cooked meals with your host family, served three times a day from Monday to Friday. The menu varies daily and typically includes mouth-watering soups, fresh salads, rice, potatoes, refreshing juices, and delightful desserts.
During your Free Time
During your free time, feel free to explore, shop, or relax! Most weekends, volunteers seize the opportunity to visit the breathtaking Sacred Valley or the world-renowned Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas. In Cusco, take a leisurely stroll around the Plaza de Armas, discovering local restaurants and vibrant shopping areas along the way.
Life on the program
Getting there and who looks after you in Peru
Airport or bus station pickup
You are met at Cusco Airport (CUZ), or at a designated meeting point or bus station if arriving overland. Look for the VolSol logo and your name at the arrival door.
First night with your host family
You are taken to your host family homestay in Cusco, where you share a room with other volunteers for the length of your stay.
Orientation on Monday
The local coordinator runs an orientation covering culture, safety, transport, and your placement, with a walking tour of the city included on some dates.
First day at the kindergarten
Volunteer work runs Tuesday to Friday; your first placement day follows the same daily schedule as the rest of your stay, with 24-hour staff support available throughout.
From volunteers in Peru
Frequently asked questions
What do I actually do as a volunteer teacher assistant?
You assist the local promoter with hands-on classroom activities such as cutting, gluing and drawing, check homework, grade simple tests, hand out meals at break time, and help organize and decorate the classroom.
Do I need a teaching qualification or experience with children?
No formal qualification is required, but you should be patient, focused, and comfortable working closely with young children aged 3 to 5.
What is a typical day like?
Volunteer work runs Tuesday to Friday, from 9am to 1pm and again from 2pm to 3pm depending on the placement, with breakfast, lunch and dinner provided around those hours at your host family's home.
How long can I volunteer and when do programs start?
Placements run for 1–24 weeks, with new starts twice a month on Sundays; the next start date is 20 Sep 2026.
What does the fee include and how much is it?
Prices start at $744 with the $249 deposit included; this covers airport or bus station pickup, orientation, host family accommodation, meals Monday to Friday, and 24-hour staff support. Airfare, visa fees, local transport and personal expenses are not included.
Where do I live and what meals are provided?
You stay with a host family in Cusco, sharing a room with other volunteers, most homes have hot showers and some offer Wi-Fi. You get three home-cooked meals a day from Monday to Friday; weekend meals are on you.
How does airport pickup work?
A local coordinator meets you at Cusco Airport, or arranges pickup at a bus station or meeting point if you arrive overland; look for the VolSol logo and your name.
What support is available once I'm there?
A local in-country coordinator runs your orientation and stays available, along with 24-hour staff assistance for emergencies throughout your stay.
Do I need a background check or Spanish skills?
Yes, a clean criminal background check issued within 12 months of your start date is required for any placement with children; beginner to intermediate Spanish is helpful but not required.
What about visas, insurance and vaccinations?
Travel/medical insurance is compulsory, either your own policy or one arranged through Volunteering Solutions; specific visa and vaccination guidance is sent in your pre-departure information rather than listed here.
Who is this program a good fit for?
It suits people from 17 who are patient, flexible, and want direct, hands-on classroom involvement in a basic, community-run kindergarten rather than a well-resourced school.
Will I be running the classroom myself?
No, you work under the local promoter or teacher, assisting rather than replacing them, and your duties may vary depending on the placement's needs.
Related pages
Schedule a meeting with a program advisor
We're here to help — a 20-minute one-on-one with detailed info, expert advice and application guidance.
Book a free meetingMore projects in Peru
1 Week Special Volunteer Program in Peru
Be a volunteer for the 1 Week Special Program in Peru with Volunteering Solutions and contribute meaningfully towards…
Volunteer Teaching English in Cusco, Peru
Join this exciting opportunity to support English teachers in local schools across Peru, working with students from diverse…
Volunteer in Peru – Cusco For Disabled Care
Volunteer with disabled children in Cusco - Peru to work in a local school for mentally challenged and…