Paving the Way for Sustainable Futures through Education

In the developing world, an education is the gateway to employment and a better quality of life. Add the ability to speak English and a booming tourism industry to the mix, and creating sustainable development becomes a reality! This is especially true in Peru, where international volunteer organization Projects Abroad is working toward sustainable futures by developing education and helping local teachers and students.

Projects Abroad have worked hand-in-hand with the Peruvian Ministry of Education to design and implement an English curriculum that will benefit schools long-term in the Sacred Valley area of Peru.

With a wealth of resources to draw on and the support of Projects Abroad staff (including former UNICEF education specialist and current director of Projects Abroad Peru, Tim DeWinter), volunteer teachers are able to build upon the work of volunteers before them and ensure that students have a meaningful classroom experience. This is a great project for volunteers new to teaching who feel they need more guidance and support.

For experienced teachers who want to volunteer abroad, we run an innovative teacher training program for improving local teachers' English skills during school vacation. This program takes place over six weeks, with volunteers working in conjunction with the Ministry of Education to help develop education in Peru. This training is crucial as it is often the only in-service training that local teachers will receive all year. It is an excellent opportunity for teachers to learn from fellow professionals and share ideas and classroom techniques, as well as develop their Spanish skills.

"Both volunteers and the teachers benefit from our teacher training program," says Geneviève Therrien, a Program Advisor for Projects Abroad Canada. "The volunteers leave with a huge confidence boost from teaching in a classroom and learning from fellow teachers and a unique experience in Peru that touches the lives of thousands of students. Local teachers leave the program with improved English, new classroom techniques, and knowledge that they can impart on their students."

The teacher training program runs for six weeks at the start of January each year, while regular projects run throughout the year. For more information, visit www.projects-abroad.ca/projects/teaching/peru.