Service Learning Trips
Summer Break Service Learning Trip
- Peru
June 19- July 10, 2010
Ucayali Region of the Central Peruvian Amazon
Isla offers a unique opportunity to live, learn, and serve in Peru in coordination with Village Earth and the Shipibo Nation. Immerse yourself in three weeks of a rich cultural, service learning experience that combines cross-cultural and sustainable community development training with short-term, high impact hands-on service projects in a Shipibo village in the Ucayali region of the central Peruvian Amazon.
Isla Service Learning Trips provide the undergraduate or graduate student with an introduction to
international development in an intensive three week program designed to provide a practical education in
sustainable community development, assist communities with their worthy endeavors, promote cross-
cultural understanding, and encourage reflection and evaluation of the experience.
Training is conducted by Village Earth whose founder, the late Maury Albertson, worked with Sergeant
Shriver to establish the Peace Corps. Village Earth is one of the leading training organizations focusing on
community-based sustainable development.
Service Projects are offered to individuals with a background or interest in the areas listed below:
Youth Development and Education
Health and Nutrition Education
Natural Resources and Wildlife
Environmental Conservation
Environmental Education
Ecotourism
Upon arrival, the Group Leader will meet participants at the airport. The first night will be spent in Lima
before embarking on a flight to the regional capital port city of Pucallpa the following day. From Pucallpa,
participants will travel by boat to the Shipibo community of San Francisco. Participants will settle into their
housing, and begin their training and cultural activities followed by a hands-on community project.
Participants are housed in shared rooms in either a group guest house or with host families.
Meals are served to the participants by locals.
Qualifications
Isla applicants should be 18 or older and possess a desire to learn about and live in another culture.
Candidates should be undergraduate or graduate college students, though “gap-year" students, working
professionals and retirees will be considered. It is most important to be highly motivated and enthusiastic because the work can be quite demanding.
Qualities required are: dependability for your service-learning assignment, adaptability, strong people-
skills and a desire to have fun by serving and learning from new communities and environments through
cross-cultural exchange.
The Isla Experience and Highlights
Isla facilitates unique short term volunteer, internships, and group trips using a service learning model
that focus on sustainable community development.
Cross-cultural orientation, reflection sessions , and program support by an experienced Group Leader.
training is conducted by Village Earth, a leading expert in sustainable community-based development.
An opportunity to gain authentic international work experience beneficial in a competitive economy.
Isla’s programs will upgrade your resume or professional profile and provide opportunities to get
involved in further international sustainable development initiatives.
Cost: TBA
Program fees include all program costs such as your placement, cross-cultural, sustainable community
development training, materials, and reflection sessions, flight from Lima to the Ucayali Region, basic
language training, room and board, final debriefing and evaluation, medical and emergency evacuation
insurance, safety and security, in-country ground transportation from the airport to the training site, and
experienced Isla and Village Earth staff. Not included: U.S. domestic and international airfare, airport taxes,
the cost of your passport, visas, and immunizations, and laundry service.
Scholarships and Fundraising Resource Kits
A large number of service-learning participants fund the majority of their program fees through scholarships
and fundraising. Isla provides an easy-to-use Fundraising Resource Kit and will direct you to scholarship
opportunities.
Application Process
Online Application
Statement of Purpose, Resume/CV
2 References
Non-refundable application fee of $85
