Peru’s medical facilities are critically understaffed and underfunded, and many medical establishments struggle to provide even basic medical care to the people they serve. The hospitals are overburdened with patients, many of whom have illnesses preventable by basic hygiene and healthy living practices. The doctors in these hospitals lack the time and resources to teach each patient how to live a healthy life. The central goal of FIMRC’s Peru program is to provide staff support to Peru’s Ministry of Health both in medical facilities and within the community.

To work toward these goals, volunteers will:

• Assist doctors in the examination room, help with patient intake by recording vital signs for each patient and visit homes in the community with nurses.
• Run interactive health education workshops in local schools and orphanages. This includes showing children how to brush their teeth, explaining the importance of hygiene and washing hands and demonstrating the treatment of minor cuts. Students will also work with the parents to ensure safe and hygienic water treatment and cooking practices.
• Participate in cultural activities pertinent to the project location. Some groups will meet with a local shaman to learn about traditional Andean medicine. Others will tour important natural and cultural locations of interest. Part of the goal of this project is for the student to form a connection with local sites and populations.

Our project in Peru is unique in that students will be working in public hospitals and clinics rather than a FIMRC clinic, offering a unique glimpse into systems of medicine vastly different from those in the US. Students will at once witness the problem (a severely underserved population) and attempts at a solution (Peru’s socialized medical system) in three drastically different arenas: an urban center on the coast, an urban area in the Andes, and a rural area in the Andes.

FIMRC strives to develop sustainable programs within the community. Project Peru works in collaboration with many partner organizations, striving to increase health education and provide opportunities for additional preventative health activities. In collaboration with GHVP volunteers, medical students and health professionals, FIMRC realized many noteworthy achievements in 2009, including:

• Formalized partnerships with 14 organizations
• Executed regular dental hygiene lessons, including the distribution of toothbrushes and toothpaste, to nearly 700 children at the Charity Society of Huancayo
• Planned and conducted weekly English lessons to 22 adolescents at Aldeas SOS orphanage
• Distributed books, dictionaries and like donations to participants of ongoing educational initiatives
• Conducted quarterly fluoride treatment and hygiene lessons to over 250 children from three partner organizations in Agallpampa, Trujillo and Huancayo
• Planned, coordinated and executed health campaigns discussing basic health issues to 1175 children within 3 communities
• Organized and executed multiple H1N1 health education sessions to 800 children in multiple communities
• Planned and executed four Christmas campaigns in outlying communities of Huancayo and Agallpampa
• Coordinated 60 hours of classes to teach medical skills such as vital signs, sutures, and anatomy at the local university
• Facilitated art lessons to over 50 children in 1 orphanage
• Planned and executed 4 sessions on respect to children at local orphanage
• Planned and executed bi-weekly food lessons to two partner organizations and their members regarding 10 different products
• Taught 10 classes on business development
• Provided medical assistance to 25 children with HIV living in a group home
• Conducted quarterly deworming campaigns in Agallpampa, Trujillo and surrounding regions, treating more than 1000 children
• Performed English lessons in Agallpampa leading to a 65% passing rate

The Project Peru Team

The following staff members have been closely involved in establishing the clinic and volunteer program in Peru. To contact a team member with further questions please email info@fimrc.org.

Zainab Ghadiyali, Program Manager
Seattle, Washington
As Program Manager, Zainab assists in managing FIMRC's public health initiatives such as Health Tracking Systems and community health education. Additionally, she works with a highly motivated team on development of organizational policies, procedures and analytical documents. Previously, she began developing FIMRC's public health program in India as Field Operations Manager for Project Kodaikanal. Born and raised in the Indian city of Mumbai, she possesses a bachelor's degree in Chemistry, conducted research in Germany, and gained firsthand experience in public health as a FIMRC Global Health Volunteer in Costa Rica. She loves traveling, cooking Asian, Thai and Greek food, technology, logic, travel, yoga and searching for the elusive four-leaf clover.

Judith Friedman, Program Manager
Edinburgh, Scotland
Having joined Project Peru in January 2010 as Field Operations Manager of Project Peru, Judith has an intimate knowledge of the challenges and opportunities of FIMRC's diverse program in Peru. Judith assists the team in achieving FIMRC's twofold goal of improving the health of the region's children while providing eye-opening experiences for Global Health Volunteers. Judith liaises between field staff and FIMRC's headquarters office to ensure effective work across the project. She finished her undergraduate studies at the University of Oregon and earned a degree in Law from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Her specialties are in International Law, Project Development and Human Rights. Judith is currently working in Edinburgh Scotland as a consultant with the non-profit sector.

Natalia Rivera, Site Coordinator
Huancayo, Peru
Natalia studied Business Management at Huancayo University and has a professional background working with volunteer organizations that serve underprivileged populations in Huancayo. Through her work experience, Natalia is able to identify and understand the needs of these groups, which makes her a great asset to our team. Natalia’s goal is to improve underprivileged children’s standard of living through education, access to adequate healthcare, and increased economic opportunities. Natalia looks forward to serving as a link between Global Health Volunteers and the community of Huancayo.

If you are interested in volunteering at this site, please email missions@fimrc.org.

Housing
Volunteers are housed through FIMRC’s Homestay Program. Since the inception of FIMRC’s volunteer program in Huancayo, we have housed volunteers together in a guesthouse-style homestay located within a short drive of the hospital. Homestays all have telephone access and are located within walking distance of internet cafes, making it possible to communicate with friends and family at home. Volunteers are asked to indicate all housing preferences, including meal requests and pet/food allergies in the enrollment forms. The homestay is clean and comfortable with western-style toilets and showers.

Meals
Three meals per day are provided at the homestay. Volunteers are responsible for the purchase of meals during any time spent in Lima.

Transportation

All transportation is provided by comfortable coach bus or by reputable hired drivers with outstanding safety records. Upon arrival at the Lima airport, volunteers are met by a staff member or representative of FIMRC. Based on flight schedules, volunteers may spend a night in a backpackers’ hostel in Lima after arrival or prior to departure. FIMRC arranges all transportation from Lima to Huancayo, as well as transportation back to the airport at the conclusion of the volunteer mission.  Once in Huancayo, we provide van transportation between the homestay and volunteering site(s).

The following cost structure reflects individual participation in the Global Health Volunteer Program at Project Peru:

• Peak (January, March, May, June, July): $1149 per week
• Semi-peak (December, February, August, September): $1049 per week
• Non-peak (April, October, November): $949 per week

This cost includes the program donation that supports our project sites as well as housing, food, & transportation.  Housing, food and transportation include airport pick up/drop off and transportation to/from project site during volunteer days, and three meals prepared by the homestay family for the duration of the volunteer’s stay. Excursions and trips for non-volunteer related activity as well as the associated costs are the responsibility of the volunteer.

Additional approximate costs include:

• Roundtrip airfare generally ranging between $700-$900
• Recommended spending money of $150 per week, at the discretion of the volunteer

Passport
US citizens can enter Peru with a valid passport. Volunteers who do not hold a US passport must check with their respective embassies for information on travel eligibility. Volunteers are responsible for obtaining or renewing their passports.

Visa
US passport holders are not required to obtain a visa prior to travel. A tourist visa can be purchased at the Lima airport upon arrival in-country. Non-US passport holders should check with their respective embassies for current visa requirements and regulations. Volunteers are responsible for ensuring that they are legally eligible to travel abroad.

Vaccinations
We refer all volunteers to the information provided by the Centers for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov/travel for the most up to date vaccination recommendations. Please note the different recommendations not only for the country you are visiting, but also for the region in which you will be staying.

Flights
Volunteers are responsible for arranging their own flights and must fly in and out of Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima (code LIM). Please click here for further information on flights. We require all volunteer groups to arrive and depart together on the same flights in order to provide transportation for everyone.

Insurance
Volunteers are responsible for possessing health insurance which covers emergency medical evacuation. Please click here for further information.

FIMRC Payments and Enrollment Forms
Once you work with our team to confirm your volunteering site and trip dates, you will be sent a welcome message via email which will contain instructions for enrollment, as well as deadlines for the submission of materials. If you have questions about this process, do not hesitate to contact missions@fimrc.org or 1-888-211-8575.