Program Photos

South America: Indigenous Culture, Volunteer Work, Spanish

Location: Ecuador: Banos, Canoa, Cuenca and 6 other cities; Peru: Amantani Island, Arequipa, Cusco and 9 other cities

Term: Fall, Spring

Program Duration: 3-6 months (includes high school academic semester abroad)

Dates: Fall and Spring

Carpe Diem Education

http://www.carpediemeducation.org

PO Box 17427 Portland, OR 97217 United States

Call Us

Phone: 503-285-1800

Fax: 866-903-1077

Download the Application Form
Description

Study Spanish, live with home stay families, and get involved with service learning projects. Explore the cloud forest and the Amazon, take an introductory course on permaculture and sustainable practices at an organic farm, and try your hand at surfing the mighty Pacific. Complement your journey by learning from local shamans and embracing the ethos of yoga at a retreat center in the Sacred Valley. Contrast life in rural areas to that in the major cities of the region, especially the picturesque Cusco. Work with your fellow group members to craft Free Travel, the student-driven portion of the program. Finally, trek through the Andes Mountains before a visit to the spectacular ruins of Machu Picchu. This program introduces you to the cultural, spiritual, environmental, and historical issues facing South America and the Incan people, all while providing college credit through PSU. FAFSA and financial aid is available.

Your journey begins on the coast of Ecuador, where you study permaculture, sustainable development, & even surfing. Home stays, volunteer service learning projects, & Spanish classes await you in the Andean cloud forest as you embrace Pacha Mama and el ritmo latino. Spanish becomes second nature as you continue with classes, interact with locals, and discover the difference between what you learn in the classroom and what you learn in the real world.

In Peru, you dive into Inca and with your improved Spanish, you are now ready for more service learning in Cusco, the former capital of the Inca and one of the most picturesque cities in the world. A trip to the Peruvian Amazon for reforestation and conservation work invigorates and inspires, and returning to the Sacred Valley, you stretch yourself physically and spiritually at a yoga retreat center, all before embarking on the student-led Free Travel portion of the program. Now you, with newfound travel skills, help direct where the group goes and what it does, the ultimate test to become an independent traveler. The program then culminates in a five-day trek through the Andes and a visit to the enigmatic and spectacular ruins of Machu Picchu, the crowning achievement of Incan engineering.

Highlights

* Trek in the Sacred Valley, finishing at Machu Picchu
* 4-weeks of intensive Spanish language study
* Live and Volunteer on an organic farm, learning permaculture and sustainability practices in Ecuadors only Eco-city
* Visit and live with indigenous and remote communities
* Volunteer with an Andean healthcare clinic
* Study the most uniques ecosystems and biodiversity while reforesting primary Amazon jungle
* Introduction to yoga practice and ayurvedic astrology
* Learn how to travel independently and safely
* Develop your leadership skills
* Group sizes no larger than 12 students and with 2 leaders
* University credit available through Portland State University
* FAFSA and Federal Financial Aid availability

Type of Programs
  • Community Service / Volunteerism
  • Cultural Exploration
  • High School Study Abroad
  • Language Immersion
  • Student Tours
  • Adventure Travel

Languages
  • Quechua
  • Spanish

Languages Used as a Medium of Teaching
  • English
  • Spanish

Cost in US$:

9,900

Cost Include Description:

* Food
* Accommodations
* Scheduled program activities for the duration of the program
* 3 months travel in country, two leaders, room and board
* Health insurance and spending money are extra.

International airfare estimated at USD 1000; internal flight estimated at USD 350.

An additional $900 fee applies to receive a full semester of college credit

Credit Available

yes

Volunteer Types
  • Community Development
  • Culture
  • Agriculture
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Arts
  • Building Maintenance
  • Building/construction Projects
  • Childcare/children
  • Community Centers
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Consciousness-raising
  • Conservation
  • Cooking
  • Eco-tourism
  • Education
  • English Teaching
  • Environment
  • Food
  • Gardening
  • Gender Issues
  • Geology
  • Grassroots Organization
  • Home Visit
  • Homelessness
  • Human Rights
  • Income-generation
  • Indigenous Issues
  • Minority Groups
  • Natural Resources
  • Nutrition
  • Organic Farming
  • Orphans
  • Parks
  • Peace
  • Planting
  • Recreation
  • Reforestation
  • Social Services, Social Work
  • Street Kids
  • Teaching
  • Tourism
  • Trail Building
  • Tree Planting
  • Volunteering
  • Women
Typical Volunteer
A typical volunteer is a Gap Year student, a recent high school graduate, or a first or second year college student who is seeking something more from their education. They are ready to abandon the class room to learn the lessons that real life, travel, and the developing world have to offer. Our volunteers begin to awaken what resides deep within themselves through community service, cultural immersion, introspection, and living locally while forging unforgettable relationships with their peers. They are engaged, motivated individuals who know there is so much more to life and realize that sometimes we need to step outside of our comfort zones in order to experience it.
Age Range
17 - 23
This Program is open to

American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African, Worldwide Participant.

Typical Living Arrangements
  • Dormitory
  • Group living
  • Home-stays
  • Independent living
  • Other
  • Guest House

Participants Travel

in Groups

Application Process Involves
  • Essay
  • Online Application plus Application Assessment
  • Phone/Video Interview
Typically The Application Process Time is
2 business days
Post Services Include
  • Alumni Network
  • Exit Debriefing Abroad
  • Job and Internship Network
  • Re-Entry Debriefing at Home
Carpe Diem Education's Mission Statement

Inspiring growth and transformation through experiential education, community, and intercultural exchange.

Year Founded

1997

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