Work the World elective placements in Peru, South America
Sandwiched between the tropical Amazon rainforest and the arid coastal desert, Peru is a spectacular mix of natural wonders and wildlife, labyrinth cities and ancient ruins. It is a place where cultures collide, with Inca traditions running alongside those of the Conquistadores and the Amazonians, each leaving their architectural mark and culinary impact.
We are based in the UNESCO heritage city of Arequipa, Peru’s second city and popular with tourists. Set in the stunning canyon country a couple of hours from the coast, it is the perfect place to combine the best of rural and urban Peru. Dramatic volcanoes, desert terrain, salt lakes, hot springs and the world’s deepest canyons surround colonial white buildings and leafy plazas. Rafting, trekking and ancient ruins beckon, whilst sizzling hot nightclubs and buzzing restaurants will have you mingling with Arequipenos young and old until dawn. Easy access to the local beaches at Mollendo and the tourist highlights of Machu Pichu and Lake Titicaca are the icing on top of the cake.
Where will my healthcare elective be?
54% of Peruvians fall below the poverty line, with 20% earning less than US$2 per day. For the last twenty years the Government have been working to ensure even the poorest levels of society have access to a good healthcare system. A three part plan means many workers are covered by the new employer contributed social security, whilst the private sector workers must arrange their own cover (EPS). For those who fall outside of this, Seguro Integral de Salud (SIS) provides free healthcare to those who cannot afford insurance. Although the developments have made a huge difference, there is still massive disparity between services in the city and rural locations, with travel and prescription costs often preventing the rural poor from accessing the treatment they need.
We offer placements at both a National Government hospital and one of the ten regional hospitals, providing great insight into the difficulties providing primary and ongoing healthcare across the different classes. They also both provide an introduction to tropical disease, with Dengue fever, Leishmaniasis, yellow fever and Chagas Disease all common occurrences.
To communicate with staff and patients in Peru it will really help if you have a good understanding of Spanish. We've set up our own Intensive Spanish course at the house as an Add-on available to all students. Mornings are spent developing your language skills with a focus on the kind of things you may hear on placement and language to enable you to interact with both staff and patients. Afternoons increase your confidence and conversational skills with a series of organised cultural activities – visiting markets, touring local sites and taking cookery lessons. It is a unique course that sets you up for your time in Peru, but also for your future - bilingual healthcare staff are in short supply.
Where will I live?
The Work the World house is based close to the centre of Arequipa. It accommodates up to 30 healthcare placement students in shared rooms, and has spacious living and dining areas as well as a big garden/balcony/terrace to chill out in. There is also a classroom for those who have signed up for our Intensive Spanish Course.
All meals are included during your placement, with our famous Work the World weekly barbecues the highlight. Arequipenos take pride in their food, and our caterer loves to introduce local tastes like ceviche, shrimp chowder and cuy (guinea pig!) to the menu. The majority of our students love the Peruvian spices, but for those that hanker for home (or prefer to think of their childhood guinea pig frolicking in it’s hutch rather than speared on a kebab stick!), we make sure we include lots of Western favourites and vegetarian options. Our caterer will also keep the kitchen stocked with snacks and drinking water. Our Peruvian staff know the city inside out, and our housekeeper, Spanish teacher and manager will give you lots of insider info about where to go, what to see and how to make the most of your time in Arequipa!
What can I do in my free time?
Arequipa combines some of the countries best adrenaline activities with the colonial grandeur and buzzing culture of city-life. Just a short trip away is the Colca and Cotahuasi Canyons, both over twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, with Cotahuasi ranking the world’s deepest chasm. Treks to the bottom are easy to arrange, as are daytrips to the some of the most dramatic viewpoints - perfect for spotting condors. There is also the hike up or around El Misti volcano, whose dominating presence will set you a challenge from the moment you arrive.
If you would rather relax, or get a bit of culture in your free time, Santa Catalina monastery is one of the most fascinating religious buildings in Peru; it’s high walls hiding a city within a city. There are plenty of opportunities as well to explore the fascinating indigenous culture of the unspoilt villages around Arequipa. You could also visit Juanita, a 500-year old Inca maiden, sacrificed in the Andes and preserved in ice. We understand that sometimes you just want to chill out after placement - Arequipa has plenty of bars, restaurants, coffee houses and nightclubs where you can pass sunny afternoons eating ice cream and evenings drinking pisco sour.
Heading out of Arequipa on your weekends is easy and there is so much to do! Buses and flights go directly to the tourist hub of Cusco, the start point for most Machu Pichu treks and a great place to enjoy the backpacker bars and tourist craft markets. You will also find buses to Mollendo, the closest beach resort; Puno, for trips to the manmade reed islands of Lake Titicaca; and Nazca, where you can fly over the mysterious Nazca lines one day and surf the tallest dunes in the world the next. There are also regular flights to Lima, where you can transfer to Iquitos and spend the weekend canoeing the Amazon alongside pink river dolphins There are also international buses to Argentina and Chile.
