Youth Development & Education Internships in Cusco

Internship: Abroad

Country: Peru

Internship details Program fees Reviews Additional information Photo gallery Country profile

Eligibility requirement: Suitable for students with at least one year of higher education in a related field, such as education, health sciences and psychology. Teaching and/or leadership experience is desired, or a desire to gain experience in the TEFL industry. High School graduates aged 18+ may be accepted, depending on the strength of their application (including any relevant experience, with a desire to learn and grow within this field).

Language requirements: Interns must confidently speak Spanish at a basic to intermediate level. Click here if you are seeking a comparable internship which is suitable for participants who do not speak Spanish.

Associated career paths: Early Years teacher, Education Administrator, English as a Foreign Language Teacher, Learning Mentor/Tutor, Primary/Secondary Teacher, Special Educational, Teaching Assistant, Careers Adviser, Child Psychotherapist, Counsellor, Family Support Worker, Play Therapist, Youth/Social Worker

Minimum duration: 4 weeks

Internship details

This Youth Development and Education internship in Peru has a broad scope for interns to assist young people with a range of developmental activities. Interns can help in the classroom, with tutoring, role-modelling, playing games or tending to specific developmental needs. This is a highly customizable internship working with young people in ways that benefit both you and them!

This is an in-country internship, with accommodation and meals provided.

Young people have an array of different needs as they grow up, and this internship is designed to address the full breadth of those needs. This internship is well suited to anyone considering a career in mentoring, teaching, social work or providing any kind of developmental assistance to young people in particular.

Internship placements are customized for each intern based on your strengths and interests. Interns are matched with causes that best enable you to work in the area of your preference, such as helping young people with schoolwork or skill development, or providing care through basic tasks such as cooking meals.

Interns can be based in schools, kindergartens or on after school programs as an English teacher, tutor, or helping with homework, sports, music or arts. All interns must have a basic understanding of Spanish language; however, interns with a higher proficiency of Spanish language skills are also able to run health workshops on topics such as self esteem, nutrition, hygiene etc.

After-school placements provide a safe and comfortable environment for children to receive supervision and educational support, while their parents have to work. Interns can assist in a wide range of activities, with the ultimate goal of entertaining young people and helping to supplement their social and educational development.

There is no fixed structure for this internship and it is important to be proactive. Interns with a flexible approach and willingness to help out wherever it’s needed will get the most out of your time in Peru. Having basic to intermediate Spanish will help you to communicate with both students and local staff in Peru.

Cusco is world-renowned as the closest city to Machu Picchu, Peru’s most popular tourist attraction. It’s a city for adventurous travelers that enjoy the outdoors, particularly hiking and photography. There are plenty of world-class walks to explore in your spare time, and Cusco also offers a unique culturally immersive experience that’s perfect for outgoing interns!

For all interns with an interest in developing skills as an educator, we also recommend an interactive Online TEFL Certification Course. The training offers tools and techniques over a 100-hour program. Upon completion, you’ll have earned experience in planning, designing, and adapting diverse language activities and materials. No previous teaching experience or training is required. You can sign up for the Online TEFL Certification Course anytime and you’ll pay the discounted Intern Abroad HQ rate.

Youth Development & Education interns learn from a qualified and experienced supervisor, and can be involved in:

Caring for children of all ages
Tutoring and helping students with homework
Teaching English or other lessons of your choosing
Organizing and running activities and workshops
Playing games
Designing new learning activities or tasks

Professional development opportunities:

Work closely with young students to understand how they learn and develop
Learn about formal and informal education and development, both inside and outside the classroom
Experience the education system in Peru
Polish Spanish language skills in an immersive environment
Gain practical skills and boost your employability, with guidance from Intern Abroad HQ’s Experiential Learning Curriculum to support your learning and cultural intelligence.

Typical schedule:

Monday - Friday, 4 hours per day

Internship highlights:

Help young people in a holistic way to foster their development
Gain relevant experience to your specific career in youth education through a customized experience
Experience Cusco, one of the world’s most popular tourism cities
Polish your Spanish language skills

Types of host organizations:

Schools
Kindergartens
After school centers

Keen to get started?

Taking the first step is easy! It is free to apply and takes just 5 minutes.

Submit an application

Program fees

It’s free to apply for this internship. Once we have reviewed your suitability and accepted you onto this program, you’ll need to pay a deposit of US$449 to confirm your place. The remaining balance of your Program Fee (less your initial US$449 deposit payment) will be due no less than 60 days before your internship start date.

Internship Duration	Program Fee (USD)
2 weeks	2 weeks	$994
3 weeks	3 weeks	$1,129
4 weeks	4 weeks	$1,264
5 weeks	5 weeks	$1,399
6 weeks	6 weeks	$1,534
8 weeks	8 weeks	$1,804
10 weeks	10 weeks	$2,074
12 weeks	12 weeks	$2,344
16 weeks	16 weeks	$2,884
20 weeks	20 weeks	$3,424
24 weeks	24 weeks	$3,964

Please note: The medical internship programs (Physician’s Assistant, Dentistry, Midwifery, Psychology and Physiotherapy) have an extra surcharge of US$15 per week, for extra supervision, materials and logistics involved. This amount will be included in the Program Fee quoted to you when you apply.

To convert these prices to your local currency visit the XE currency converter.
All payments attract a 5% transaction fee to cover international banking fees and currency charges. International wire transfer payments attract a minimum fee of US$75.
Terms and Conditions apply

Intern review: Javan Tate

Peru - Psychology

"I’m currently studying Psychology, so being onsite for this internship allowed me to apply learned theories and developmental skills to the children first hand. I was able to interact with them in var..." read more

View all reviews

Arrival and Orientation

Programs begin on every Monday of each month and participants may choose to spend a minimum of 2 weeks, up to a maximum of 24 week. All participants fly into the Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) in order to be picked up and transported to the accommodation, unless alternative arrangements for an overland arrival have been made. Orientation is given by our local hosts at their offices in Cusco every Monday and covers important details concerning introductions, support, culture, customs, safety, rules and expectations, things to see and do, and more. Regular meetings are also held on Mondays, in order to provide long-term participants additional support.

Accommodation

All program participants are hosted in various homestay accommodations, which are usually located approximately 20 minutes walk to the central office (which is located just off the Plaza De Armas). In some cases, accommodation may be located closer to the internship placement than the central office for convenience. If so, then the central office may be about 20 minutes away via public bus. There are 2 - 5 bedrooms in most homestays and everyone has their own bedroom (unless special requests are made in advance to share). Host families typically have their own bathrooms and there is a separate bathroom which is shared amongst the program guests. Living is comfortable, however it’s important to note that the infrastructure in Cusco is different from other developed cities. Water is cut-off intermittently at various times during the day. Most of the time, the water is running early in the morning, in the afternoons and evenings. It’s advised to shower in the morning and early evening (shower pressure can be low, and the water is typically warm but not steaming hot). On occasion, the water can be cut-off for longer periods of time (but with a fair warning). There is usually 24-hour electricity but from time to time the power can be cut-off without warning. It is endeavoured to provide WiFi in the home-stay accommodation, but the signal may not always be strong and from time to time, may go down.

Meals

Internships in Cusco include three meals per day, served at the homestay. A typical Peruvian breakfast is provided and consists of bread, spreads, juice, coffee or tea, and fruit. Lunch is generally the biggest meal of the day, and often consists of a soup and a main dish Dinner commonly consists of meat (often chicken), soups, pastas, starches and vegetables. Please be sure to let us know of any specific dietary requirements that you have in advance, so that we may ensure your hosts are aware and make recommendations accordingly.

Activities and tourism

Spanish lessons

Fluency in Spanish is not a prerequisite for all of the Peru internship programs, however basic Spanish skills are required. This is in order to encourage maximum engagement and enjoyment of the learning experience. Basic Spanish skills (Level A2) includes the ability to exchange brief information with questions and answers, use and understand simple language in daily situations and cultural aspects.

We strongly recommend that all program participants take advantage of the very affordable language lessons offered exclusively to Intern Abroad HQ participants by our host organization. These Spanish lessons can be arranged directly with the local team once registered for the program (ask about online Skype lessons) or at the orientation in-country. Language lessons are tailored to each individual’s current level of Spanish and classes run from Monday through to Friday.

Online Spanish lessons (20 hours) US$280
Group Spanish lessons (20 hours) US$133
Individual Spanish lessons (20 hours) US$182
Individual Survival Spanish (10 hours) US$95
Medical, Business or Technical Individual Spanish lessons (15 hours) US$165

Weekends and travel

During the weekends, free time is available to relax, engage in tourism activities and explore other parts of Peru. The program is based in Cusco at an elevation of approximately 3,400 m (11,200 ft). As the historic capital of the Inca Empire and UNESCO World Heritage Site, there is a lot to see and do within the city center alone (not to mention all the excellent restaurants!) Spanish colonial buildings mix with pre-Columbian sites in this truely remarkable city. Buy a “Boleto Turístico del Cusco”, which covers admission to sixteen excellent attractions within the Cusco and Sacred Valley region (valid for 10 days). If you have an International Student I.D. Card, use this to secure discounts!

Machu Picchu: It’s rare to visit Cusco without planning a trip to Machu Picchu. A truly stunning creation, the 15th-century Inca citadel is the quintessential icon of Peru and the Incan empire. The town below Machu Picchu, “Machu Picchu pueblo” or “Aguas Calientes” may be used as an overnight base before and after visiting the archeological site - especially when journeying from Cusco via bus/train, which takes about 3 hours (one way). Make sure you book entrance tickets in advance (including for Huayna Picchu if you wish to access the other peak).
The Classic Inca Trail: Sanctuary authorities have imposed a limit on the number of people that are allowed to hike the Inca Trail at any given time. Therefore, these excursions book out months in advance so it’s important to plan ahead by booking through a licensed guide or tour agency if you want to arrive to Machu Picchu by foot - especially during the high season, which is from May to September. Allow four days walking to arrive at Machu Picchu via the classic Inca Trail.
Inca Jungle Trek: This adventurous route to Machu Picchu includes walking, biking and sometimes even some rafting. From Cusco, the route leads into the Sacred Valley, from where you bike to Santa Maria, then walk to from Santa Maria to Santa Teresa, before arriving to the village of Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes). After visiting Machu Picchu on the fourth day, the return to Cusco is via train. This option is not recommended during the months of January, February and March, due to unfavorable weather conditions (rainy season).
Salkantay Trek: This is considered an Inca trail alternative - it is more physically demanding but arguably offers more picturesque scenery, including waterfalls, plantations, mountains and jungle. The trek reaches a height of 4,650 m (15,255 ft) on its first two days, passing over snowy mountaintops. However, during the third and fourth day of the trek, you pass through jungle conditions in more tropical climates. On the fifth day, trekkers reach Machu Picchu.

Photo gallery

Country profile

Capital	Lima
Population	29.99 million
Languages	Spanish
Currency	Peruvian Nuevo Sol (PEN)
Time zone	UTC-05:00

Weather and climate: Peru, unlike other equatorial countries, does not have an exclusively tropical climate; the influence of the Andes and the Humboldt Current causes great climatic diversity within the country. In the mountainous region, rain is frequent during summer and temperatures and humidity diminish with altitude up to the frozen peaks of the Andes. The Jungle is characterized by heavy rainfall and high temperatures, with the exception of its southernmost part, which has cold winters and seasonal rainfall.

Apply for free