Supporter for Native Community

Our Mission

As a volunteer of this program, you will live with a small native community of the Ashaninka tribe. You will have the opportunity to have a positive impact on the families, especially the children, who need support in academic as well as social skills, in the development of self-esteem, and ecological awareness.

Location and Climate

This small communal tribe consisting of about twelve families resides and animals like many dogs, cats,  birds, etc,  on top of a small mountain in the rainforest about 20 km from the city of Satipo. The climate here is warm to hot with varied levels of humidity, depending on the season. 

Economy

This community still lives in a traditional, simple way. Their livelihood is farming, growing mostly their own food which consists mainly of yucca, bananas, and oranges. They also grow coffee and cacao. These families live in very basic houses or huts constructed of natural materials.

Schools

This community has an elementary (or primary) school consisting of one large room that only the children of this community attend. There are currently 11 students aged 5-12 in grades 1 through 6.

Volunteer Work

Among several opportunities to support this community, you could help the children of the family sharing with them positive activities to help them learning to use their social skills,

 children would appreciate help and attention with their homework. You could also provide support with organization by providing a schedule and developing a routine for them. This will give the children a sense of reliability, security and a sense of independence. This routine could include physical hygiene, helping with household chores and time for play. Teaching them to play together will foster establishing and following rules. Team sports, and board games, which you could bring as a gift, are especially beneficial.

You might also want to help with chores, farming, construction or anything else for which you see a need or benefit. Be part of the community!

What to expect

Please be aware that living with this tribe is very, very basic! Food is prepared over an open fire. Bathrooms are outhouses without sit-down toilets and tap water for flushing.  There is running water from faucets outdoors, not in the houses. There is an outdoor shower with solar heated water and one in an outhouse. The water is supplied from a waterfall!

 There is electricity, meaning some outlets are available to charge your phone. There is a TV in the volunteers’ quarter and a signal for your cell phone.  Your bed is simple with a mosquito net. If other volunteers are there, you will share the room (with four beds). The village has a store where you can buy basic items.

The nature around is gorgeous with hiking opportunities and a beautiful view from the top of this small mountain. 

During your freetime you can go hiking around the mountain area where the Ashaninka tribe is located as well visiting various beautiful water falls close to tribe.
The next city, Satipo, is also worth visiting. There you can find food markets, restaurants, churches, parks and a tourist information desk.
In the tropical rainforest you find many magnificient water falls. Some of them contain also natural swimming pools.
The rainforest area is famous for birdwatching and finding some special amazing plants, like orchids that are typical plants of the Amazon region.
Around Satipo there are a lot of agricultural sites where various tropical fruits are grown There are for example coffee, cacao, pineapple, orange, lemon, papaya and banana plantations. Next to Satipo you can find wonderful natural beaches along wide rivers, for example the Playa de Bellavista or Playa Meratari. On some rivers you can take a boat tour to view the spectacular natural wildlife.
Besides the Ashaninka tribe there also live the Nomatsiguengas tribe that is native to the region too and can be visited as well.
Furthermore close by you can find some ancient rock paintings of former cultures.