Peru: Service in the Sacred Valley

The ancient Inca Empire is yours to discover while making a difference in the lives of families.

Highlights

Volunteer to improve the health and education of children

Visit the lost city of Machu Picchu
Bike through the Sacred Valley
Visit key archaeological sites of the Inca Empire
Hands-on workshops on Andean music and dance
Whitewater rafting through the Andes mountains
Be dazzled by the colors of the indigenous craft markets

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Peru: Service in the Sacred Valley

Discover Cusco, the cultural heart of the ancient Inca Empire, a 5,000 yearold civilization shrouded in mystery and tradition. Volunteer with non-profit
organizations that work to improve the health and well-being of indigenous
children. On the weekends, explore the Sacred Valley by bike, raft and even
hike to the lost city of Machu Picchu.

Spotlight on Community Service

Our community service projects focus on improving public health of women
and children.
Depending on the needs of the community at the time we arrive, you may
help build clean burning stoves to improve the respiratory health of women
and children. Currently, many families use open-air wood-burning stoves that
emit a lot of smoke into the kitchen. This primarily hurts the women and
children, who spend long periods of time in the kitchen. Clean-burning stoves
prevent this respiratory damage and also use less firewood, thereby reducing
deforestation.

21-Day Flagship Program

June 16 July 6, 2015
July 10 July 20, 2015
August 3 August 23, 2015
Tuition: $4,899
Max. Group: 32 students
Student / Staff Ratio:
6:1
Service Hours: 51
Airport: Cusco (CUZ)

14-Day Program
June 8 June 21, 2015
June 24 July 7, 2015
July 10 July 23, 2015
July 26 August 8, 2015
August 11 August 24, 2015
Tuition: $3,399
Max. Group: 32
Student / Staff Ratio:
6:1
Service Hours: 33
Airport: Cusco (CUZ)

We also build adobe greenhouses to allow families to grow plants during the
harsh Andean winters. These greenhouses will allow families to grow vegetables for their children, and
thereby reduce the prevalence of malnutrition. Additionally, families can grow traditional medicinal plants so
they can treat illnesses. We may also volunteer at a village school, helping to build and repaint classrooms.

Sample Schedule
IMPORTANT NOTE: Actual schedule of activities will vary by program session.
The information detailed here is typical for what you can expect to experience. Please note, however, that
service work and activities vary depending upon the needs of our local community partners, various
celebrations and customs, as well as the weather and specific needs of the student group. This information
is designed to give you an example of a typical program and provide a clear idea of the experience. Some
activities may be changed during the summer as the staff sees fit, and along the way circumstances and
opportunities may arise that change our course.
Days 1-3: Getting Oriented
Most students arrive into the airport in Lima very late at night, wait a few hours in the airport and catch an
early morning flight to Cusco. Due to the long journey and the high altitude in Cusco, students will be given
time to rest and acclimatize their bodies before we start team-building activities. To orient ourselves with this
fascinating city, we will visit the most important sites in Cusco: the Cathedral, San Blas Church, and
Koricancha, the Inca Temple of the Sun. Well also get out of town and discover other ancient ruins
scattered in the hills outside of Cusco: Sacsayhuaman, Pucapucara, Qenqo, and Tambomachay.
Days 4-8: Service & Adventure
Each morning we will work at the community service project from approximately 8am to 12pm. Students will
break up into teams to work collaboratively towards the successful completion of the project. In the
afternoons, we will visit a dynamic non-profit organization that is working on public health issues in the
region, engage the local children in a soccer match, and even sample guinea pig a local delicacy! One
afternoon, well take part in a hands-on workshop to learn Andean music from a family of professional
musicians. Try your hand at playing the zampoa, quena and charango and learn more about the role these
instruments play in the local culture. There will be time one afternoon to visit the internet caf so you can
share your experiences in Peru with family and friends back home!

Life-Changing Journeys for High School Students

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Days 9-12: Weekend Excursion

You will rise early in the morning and head to kilometer 104 of the Inca Trail. You will begin one of the most
spectacular hikes in the world, traveling through the Andes, visiting archeological sites and viewing the
different crops locals grow. With rugged snow-capped mountains and clouds floating at your eye level, you
will be stunned every step of the way. At mid-day, we will encounter our picnic site, a glorious opening in our
path surrounded by glaciers. We climb to a summit of 14,000 feet at the top of Salcantay Mountain, where
we will then descend to camp for the night under the incredible stars. The second day of the hike descends
into a tropical forest and eventually leads us to the town of Aguas Calientes, where well spend the final
night of the hike.
On the last day of our excursions, after an early rise, you will spend the morning inside the walls of Machu
Picchu, a city that was discovered in 1911 after four hundred years in hiding because it was so remote and
difficult to reach. You will roam the city alongside alpacas and llamas, and encounter ancient guard towers,
palaces, and places of worship like the Temple of Moon. Lunch will be served back in Aguas Calientes
before taking the afternoon train back to Cusco.
Days 13-14: Service & Adventure
Well jump back into our community service project and keep pushing towards completion during the second
week. The afternoons will be filled with activities to further immerse you in the culture and also learn more
about the social challenges facing the people of the region. Well also meet with womens groups and learn
about traditional weaving and the meaning behind the colorful designs found on their traditional cloth. Youll
have a chance to try traditional Andean dance. Throughout the week, well have time for leadership sessions
and meaningful discussions about what were experiencing.
[14-Day Program Ends]
Students on the 14-day Program will depart on the Day 14. Theyll fly out of Cusco to Lima and catch their
connecting flight back to their home country. All flights back to Lima depart Cusco by 1pm.
Day 15: Whitewater Rafting Excursion
In the morning, you will embark on a whitewater river rafting adventure down the Urubamba River. You will
cruise between the towering peaks of the Andes, navigating river rapids until you reach the village of Pisac.
There, you will visit one of best known open air markets of Peru and have the chance to buy handmade
gifts. After a traditional lunch, well set up camp and have time for some exploration.
Day 16: Andes Exploration
You will take a bike tour of the Sacred Valley for a
fascinating downhill cruise through the Andes. Along the
way, you will visit the Inca ruins of Calca, a small town
that offers breathtaking views of snow-capped
mountains. You will stop for a picnic lunch and then visit
Awana Cancha, which means the Palace of the
Weaver in Quechua. Afterward, you will return to Cusco
and enjoy a traditional dinner.
Days 17-20: Service & Adventure
Community service will continue in the mornings. In the
afternoon, you will visit an orphanage in one of Cuscos
poorest neighborhoods to share your love, passion, and
skills with orphaned children. In a home where there are
so many children and not enough staff, your time with
them is highly valued.
Well also participate in a traditional ceremony, led by a shaman. We will make offerings to Mother Earth, or
Pachamama. Well also have a chance to do last-minute shopping at the artisan craft market before we say
our final goodbyes to new friends.
Day 21: Departure
Well get up early this morning and fly back to Lima. All flights back to Lima depart Cusco by 1pm. From
Lima, each student will catch their connecting flights back to their home country. GLA staff members will
ensure that all students check-in for their flight and are prepared for their journey home.

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Lodging
The GLA Home Base is located in the quaint mountain town of Cusco (elevation: 10,850 feet, 3300 meters)
in a hotel that is home to both the 14-day program as well as the 21-day program, which occur
simultaneously.
The Home Base has a common dining area and smaller meeting rooms. There are two or three students per
room; each bedroom has a private bathroom. Accommodations are comfortable and safe. Students will be
staying in gender-segregated rooms with roommates. Laundry will be done once during the 14-day program
and twice during the 21-day program. During weekend excursions, we will camp in tents provided by GLA,
but students should bring their own sleeping bag.
Internet
At times, there may be Wi-Fi in parts of the Home Base. Service is sporadic. We ask that students do not
bring computers. If needed, internet-enabled phones are significantly easier for traveling. We also
encourage all students to minimize their time online so as to fully take advantage of their time in Peru!
Food
Our local cooks will prepare authentic Peruvian cuisine, which is among the most diverse and delicious in
the world. While breakfasts are very simple and typically include fresh rolls, eggs and jam, the lunches and
dinners feature a vide variety of flavors found in traditional Peruvian cuisine. Be ready for a culinary
adventure- you wont be disappointed!

Leadership and Transformation

Leadership is at the core of every GLA program. We empower students to discover what they are
passionate about and teach them how to begin affecting change within themselves, their communities, and
the world. Through group discussion, meaningful service, workshops, speakers and excursions, GLA
students work with skillful mentors and local partners to tackle tough questions: Where do we fit in? How do
we connect our knowledge and talents to those in need? How do we create and motivate change, both at
home and abroad? These conversations happen throughout your time in Peru, both formally and informally.
Whether youre developing resilience while hiking through high mountain peaks on the way to Machu Picchu
or meeting rural grassroots leader, this is a journey full of moments that will allow you to reflect on your
develop as an individual and as a global citizen.

About Global Leadership Adventures

Global Leadership Adventures ("GLA") presents a fresh, new approach to service-learning abroad for
intellectually-curious and socially-oriented teenagers. Programs are offered in Africa, Asia, and Latin
America. Participants explore historic and natural sites in different countries while they learn the local
language and history, and serve the community through meaningful volunteer efforts. GLAs goal is to
provide life-changing experiences that will cultivate a global perspective and open-mindedness in students,
and that will ultimately inspire them to become great leaders and global thinkers, seeking positive change in
their own comunities.

GLA is a division of Terra Education (Terra), a leader in the field of international service-learning. Terra
also operates Discover Corps, one to two week volunteer vacations for adults and families, in collaboration
with the National Peace Corps Association. For more information, please visit www.discovercorps.com.

Life-Changing Journeys for High School Students

www.experienceGLA.com

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Life-Changing Journeys for High School Students

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