Teach English
Social Impact
Medical
Health Education
Ayudando Amigos
Animal Health
LOCATIONS &
ACCOMMODATIONS
PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO
Located in Mexico’s Pacific Coast in the state of Jalisco. It’s a popular resort town well known for its beautiful beaches and palm-covered mountains of the Sierra Madre Occidental. Apart from Puerto Vallarta’s beautiful natural scenery, it offers fantastic art and delicious cuisine from seafood to typical Mexican plates. Our project worksites are located in communities on the outskirts of Puerto Vallarta.
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES & EXCURSIONS
- Orientation/Welcome Lunch
- Marietas Island boat tour and snorkeling
- Participate in a turtle release event
- Visit nearby local sandy beaches
- Ziplining in the tropical forest
PROJECTS:
- TEACH ENGLISH
- SOCIAL IMPACT
- AYUDANDO AMIGOS
TRUJILLO, PERU
The second-largest city with the largest population known as La Ciudad de la Eterna Primavera (City of Eternal Spring) is located in the northwestern part of Peru. Trujillo is a culturally enriched city surrounded by colonial architecture and Pre-Inca civilization archaeological sites. The climate in Trujillo is enjoyable, with mostly sunny and warm weather all year long. The Capital of Culture is also nationally well known for its traditional marinera dancing and gastronomy. The culinary is delicious and is famous for its fresh seafood and other typical eateries such as duck, goat, and cow heart. If you need a break from city life, located just a few miles away is the famous surfing beach Huanchaco.
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES & EXCURSIONS
- Orientation/Welcome Lunch
- Tour the Catacombs of Lima at the Monastery of San Francisco (Lima, Peru)
- City Tour
- Visit archeological sites and museums such as Chan Chan, Huaca del Sol y Luna, Huaca Esmeralda and Huaca Arcoiris
- Enjoy a show of traditional dances of Marinera and Caballo de Pasos
- Sandboarding in local sand dunes
PROJECTS:
- TEACH ENGLISH
- MEDICAL
- HEALTH EDUCATION
- ANIMAL HEALTH
- SOCIAL IMPACT
AGALLPAMPA, PERU
A rural town located in the highlands of the La Libertad, and is one of the ten districts of the province of Otuzco. It is approximately two hours from the city of Trujillo. The climate is cool and mostly cloudy. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 41°F to 65°F. It has a population of approximately 10,000 people and 38 villages. The primary economic source is agriculture and eucalyptus wood. In the rural town, you can find a small health center, primary and secondary school, municipality, police station, and Catholic Church. Surrounding the town is beautiful natural scenery, including the crops. Typical plates in this region are cuy frito (fried guinea pig), lamb stew, and pachamanca.
PROJECTS:
- HEALTH
- TEACH ENGLISH
HUARAZ, PERU
The second-largest city in the central Peruvian Andes known as the “Switzerland of the South” because of its beautiful glacier peaks visible from the center of the town. It is located in the central part of the Callejon de Huaylas Valley. Huaraz climate is warm, moderated weather of tropical mountain. During the morning it is sunny, and past the evening it is cold. Huaraz is a popular destination for tourists attracted by its winter sports, outdoor adventures, and biosphere park, Huascaran National Park. Its streets are surrounded by farmers’ markets with beautiful handmade crafts, silver and copper jewelry, and its famous delicious manjar blanco (dessert). The cuisine is recognized by its Peruvian Andes popular dishes such as the Picante de Cuy (guinea pig).
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES & EXCURSIONS
- Orientation/Welcome Lunch
- Tour the Catacombs of Lima at the Monastery of San Francisco (Lima, Peru)
- Visit Regional Museum of Ancash
- Tour to Chavin de Huantar archaeological and cultural site
- Visit the astonishing glacier of Nevado de Pastoruri
- Participate in Laguna 69 hike (Optional)
PROJECTS:
- TEACH ENGLISH
- MEDICAL
- HEALTH EDUCATION
LODGING
Volunteer placement depends on the number of participants per session. Volunteers will be either placed with a local host family or apartment with other volunteers. Usually, we will place 2-4 volunteers per home. Volunteers will have access to all necessary accommodations, including, hot/cold water, Wi-Fi, personal bed, and storage for personal items. Volunteers will also be provided with three meals a day at their lodging site.
Please include in your application if you have any food restrictions or allergies.
TRANSPORTATION
Volunteers will use the public transportation system, which includes buses or taxis for worksite and activities. The volunteers will be shown the routes and safety measures to take during in-country orientation.
Volunteers are responsible for flight accommodations to the indicated airport for Puerto Vallarta (Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport) and for Peru (Jorge Chavez International Airport, Lima, Peru).
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND EXCURSIONS
We want volunteers to enjoy the stunning scenery and emerge in the enriched cultures. Volunteers will take part in our different activities on weekends, depending on location. The activities are an excellent way for our team to bond. Cultural activities and excursions include orientation, visiting sandy beaches, sand-boarding, hiking, visiting museums and archeological sites, and more!
Cultural activities and excursions can change depending on the season. Volunteers will be provided with a schedule of events before arrival. If a volunteer does not wish to participate in an activity, they can advise their in-country coordinator. Volunteers will also be provided with a list of other excursions available that are not included in the project fee.
HEALTH & SAFETY
We strive to ensure that our volunteers have a safe and positive experience abroad. Our team and volunteers are required to collaborate to secure the safety of everyone in the organization.
Volunteers must consult with a medical professional and disclose any medical conditions. Including any chronic physical or behavioral health conditions and or disabilities to assure it will not interfere with their safety and ability to effectively participate in our projects abroad.
Vaccinations are essential to staying safe when traveling to a different country. Volunteers should speak with a physician or travel clinic before traveling in addition to consulting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website to determine appropriate vaccinations. Volunteers are required to purchase Travel Medical and Evacuation Insurance. Proof of insurance is required before departure.
For additional health and safety information, you can visit:
Please note that IChange Volunteer reserves the right to decline applicants whom we believe are not a good fit for the project experience. We are happy to speak with any potential volunteer in more detail to determine if our projects will be a fit for you. You can contact us at info@ichangevolunteer.org
Must be 18 and over to participate in our projects.
COST / DATES
Our projects are financed almost entirely by volunteer contributions. The project fee support community development projects and cover-onsite volunteer expenses. As well IChange will use part of your project fee to pay for supplies donated to schools and community being served.
PROJECTS
On-site projects in Mexico and Peru are postponed until further notice.
Remote Volunteer projects no fee required! Apply now: https://ichangevolunteer. org/apply
PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO
- May 18-June 14
- June 15-July 12
- July 13-August 9
- August 10-September 6
Projects: Teach English, Social Impact, Ayudando Amigos
TRUJILLO, PERU
- May 18-June 21
- June 22-July 26
- July 27-August 30
- August 31-October 5
Projects: Teach English, Social Impact, Health Education, Medical, Animal Health
AGALLPAMPA, PERU
- May 18-June 14
- June 22-July 19
- July 27-August 23
- August 31-September 28
Projects: Teach English, Health Education, Medical
We are flexible with late arrivals and early departures, accommodations will still be arranged, and the fee will remain the same. If the sessions above do not work for you, email us at info@ichangevolunteer.org, we can discuss possible modifications.
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
Volunteer Handbook:
The handbook provides essential information and helpful tips to prepare you for your trip. The handbook information will cover health, safety, visa, lodging, volunteer project worksite, activities, rules,policies, and payments.
IChange Coordinator:
You will be assigned a coordinator that will be available to guide you during pre-departure and during your volunteer experience.
DURING YOUR TRIP
Lodging:
Volunteers will have access to all basic accommodations, including, hot/cold water, Wi-Fi, own bed, and storage for personal items. Volunteers will have their private bathroom or share with others.
Food:
Three meals a day are provided for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Volunteers are responsible for their snacks and meals during weekend activities are not included.
Transportation:
In-country ground transportation to and from the airport, public transportation to volunteer worksite, and activities.
Cultural Activities and Excursions:
Weekend activities are included but vary depending on dates and locations. For more information: Locations/Accommodations
In-country Support:
Orientation upon arrival and 24/7 in-country support throughout your volunteer project.
Other:
IChange t-shirt, prepaid cell phone, and materials for volunteer worksite.
AFTER YOUR TRIP
Reference letter:
Upon request, we will provide you a letter for your participation in our volunteer projects. We do require 2-4 weeks for your letter to be completed.
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED?
The following are not included in the project fee:
- Airfare.
- Travel Medical/Evacuation Insurance
- Visa Fees (For more information visit: Travel.State.Gov)
- Weekend Travel
- Miscellaneous Spending
PAYMENT
Payment methods accepted include checks (made payable to IChange Volunteer), money orders, or credit cards through Paypal. Cash is not accepted by mail.
To initiate the enrollment process to become a volunteer, you will complete the application form and submit your non-refundable processing fee of $25. Once you are accepted into the project, you will need to make a $250 non-refundable deposit to secure your spot. The $250 non-refundable deposit will be credited toward your total project fee. The remainder of your fee is due at least 30 days before your departure to your project country.
FAQS
As a non-profit organization, IChange projects are financed almost entirely by your contribution. The fee will cover volunteer expenses, including lodging and accommodations, transportation, excursions, and donations to the community being served.
We don't offer scholarships and financial aid to our volunteers. This is due to not receiving any outside financial support for the organization. The project fees you pay help support impactful projects and provide you with everything you need to volunteer abroad. We're also happy to help with suggestions and ideas on fundraising for your trip.
The amount you will be spending depends on your activities outside our projects. We usually recommend $300-$500 extra for miscellaneous spending money.
Deposits and payments made to IChange Volunteer non-profit are considered donations. Due to this, all payments are non-refundable, no matter if you participate or not. If you have already secured your spot and made any payments, we will hold it for a year. You can participate in future projects within a year using any payments made. After a year, any payments will be considered as a donation to IChange Volunteer.
Spanish is not a requirement for most of our projects, but we do recommend to learn basic phrases before your arrival.
Our coordinators do have an intermediate level of English, but the staff at worksites do not speak English. Some host families have a basic level of English, but most likely, you will need to communicate in Spanish.
We are not affiliated with any university. Still, if approved by your advisor, you can email us any forms that need to be completed to get internship hours or college credit.
Vaccinations are essential to staying safe when traveling to a different country. Volunteers should speak with a physician or travel clinic before traveling in addition to consulting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine appropriate vaccinations.
The schedule varies depending on your project, but volunteers are required to volunteer 5 hours a day Monday through Friday. Usually, all weekend activities are scheduled on Saturday and Sunday is a free day for volunteers.
If you get sick while overseas, the team will know where the most suitable medical care can be found. You will receive information on this during your orientation when you first arrive. You can also reach our team by phone 24 hours a day if you get sick.
In the unlikely event that you are seriously ill, all volunteers are required to get traveler's insurance that covers evacuation and medical costs.
For U.S. citizens, a tourist visa is free and allows you up to 180 days in Mexico and Peru. For more visa information, visit Travel.State.Gov
Due to varying airline prices, we do not arrange or cover the cost of flights to and from the project worksite country. Volunteers should arrive 2 days before the project start date to Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport in Puerto Vallarta or Lima Chavez International Airport in Lima, Peru. We will arrange transportation to and from the airport.
You'll be greeted at the airport by our IChange team. When you walk through the arrival gates, a team member with a sign will be waiting for you. All transfers to and from the airport are paid for and arranged by us.