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4 Reviews
90%Overall
Rating
Program Description
Maximo Nivel - Volunteer & Internship Programs in Peru
Description
Maximo Nivel offers volunteer and internship projects in and around Cusco, Peru as well as in the Manu and Tambopata Jungles. These projects provide the unique opportunity to live and work in Latin America while experiencing the country's rich cultural diversity and building your proficiency in Spanish. Through the various project opportunities you are able to make a contribution to global society while at the same time bettering yourself.
Ratings and Reviews
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
medical volunteer in cusco, peru
90%Overall
Rating
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Cusco, Peru
100%Overall
Rating
i volunteered with Maximo Nivel for four weeks over Christmas and new year of 2011/12. I spent two weeks doing Spanish classes, which were extremely beneficial in a country where hardly anyone knows more than 'I give you good price lady' or 'lady, you want a massage?'. whilst doing this three weeks in Cusco working at a Police Station with children off the street. It was the hardest, heartbreaking, most rewarding thing I have eve experienced and wish I could have stayed for longer and helped ou forever! the children were adorable, some quite cheeky, but not once did I ever feel threatened or uncomfortable. the program made me grow so much as a person opening my eyes to such a different lifestyle to my own, and certainly made me extremely grateful, yet heartbroken that there could be such a difference in social classes. I have travelled quite a bit before to lower economic countries, but this program, being involved with the locals, was definitely the biggest eye opener and to see that even with nothing, you cannot get rid of the smile off their faces.
After three weeks spent with the children, I decided to see a different side of Peru, the Amazon! I spent a week near Manu, about a 10 hour bus ride from Cusco(definitely an adventure) helping out with nature conservation, plantations and taking care of the two pet monkeys.
Maximo Nivel are a very organized and friendly company who I would reccomend to anyone! They are flexible as I spent two of my weekends over Christmas and New Years on Lake Titicaca and doing the four day trek to Macchu Picchu which were both highlights of my trip, and can be done through PATAS, a company closely associated with Maximo Nivel!
9 of 22 people found this review helpful
Cusco-Peru
100%Overall
Rating
Had a blast teaming up with Maximo Nivel in Cusco Peru! The staff were welcoming, helpful and treated us like family! Cusco is rich in culture and you can definitely meet people from around the world there. Lastly, the volunteering part was a very great experience and I wished I had stayed longer!
Marty
9 of 18 people found this review helpful
My Cusco Experience
70%Overall
Rating
A a 58 year old first time volunteer I had chosen childcare as my volunteer work and spanish lessons as my reward. I applied via GVN which partnered me with Maximo Nivel in Cusco.My day commenced 7.30am with a 10 minute Combi trip to work place : Manco Capac preschool. Initially it was difficult as we took stock of each other They did not speak english and I did not speak a lot of spanish and I needed to get used to "Cusco time" sometimes things started later than planned!! After 2 days of this I just got stuck in by getting jig saw puzzles out of shelf and putting them together, this led to children joining me while teacher did some bookwork.Then teacher gave me things to do and I became teacher-aid and helped teacher Maryline with preparing crafts, teaching children "Ringa-ringa-rosie" playing "pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey" and helping children to write letters and numbers. The children helped me with spanish words.Midday parents picked up their children I returned to SanPedro house for a lovely lunch and then walked for 20 minutes to Maximo Nivel for my 2 hour spanish lesson. My class had 3 Australian students, one American and myself..the New Zealander.Our teacher Kris was excellent although she shocked us at start when she wrote all instructions in spanish and spoke in spanish with only occasional help in english!!! After class I would stroll home via various routes and savour Cusco by day. Pop into a church, sit in a park bench and watch the people or meet a tandem partner who would help me with my spanish and I with their english. I always felt safe and, as I had been in Cusco before as a tourist, I was familiar with the area and had done most of the sight seeing in 2009. This left me time to learn spanish with the staff at San Pedro house and socialise with the teacher from Manco Capac while fellow volunteers went sightseeing.I ate all my meals at San Pedro house and rarely frequented restaurants and bars...did not feel the need as I found food to be excellent at San Pedro house which became my home for 5 weeks.Albeit things were not as I expected the overall experience was a great one as I learnt more about myself, Cusco and life in general.One just has to knuckle down accept and enjoy the experience and be aware of where and why you are going before you go and take the good
( people,places, experiences) with the not so good ( unexpected costs, unexpected changes in volunteer placements, misunderstanding how "volunteering" works.)
I worked in the Dignidad Nacional clinic in Cusco, Peru. I had a great experience there, meeting the doctor, dentists, nurses, and obstetrician, and learning from them. They were overall very helpful and welcomed me in as a volunteer. What I liked the most about volunteering at Dignidad Nacional was that I was able to work in different parts of the clinic and I was able to experience different types of patient care. This included obstetrics, general, emergency, dentistry, and children's and baby's health. I would have had a better experience if I understood Spanish better. I felt that I helped a good amount, but I would have liked to be more helpful and more effective. But, I understand that it is hard to help without a medical degree. Overall, I had a great experience and I would recommend it to other medical volunteers!