The city of Pisco is located in the desert coastal region of Peru approximately 3 hours by bus south of Lima. It is a quiet community that suffered the greatest impact in the worst national disaster to strike Peru in three decades, the earthquake in 2007. The situation in Pisco was catastrophic; an overwhelming number of homes, buildings and schools were reduced to rubble leaving countless Pisco residents without adequate shelter or sanitation facilities. According to the official United Nations count, 40,035 families were rendered homeless.

Although it has been almost 3 years since the earthquake, there are still many families living in terrible conditions, such as houses made of plastic and scrap wood, with dirt floors and only a bucket in the corner for a toilet. Reconstruction is slow and there are not many options for those who are suffering the most. Middle income families are starting to move back into permanent brick houses but low income families remain in poverty with little or no hope of escape. Communities have been forced together out of the necessity for a space to live, but there is little community spirit amongst them. There is still a lot of work to be done in rebuilding Pisco and the surrounding area. Not only do people need materials and labor, but they need encouragement and motivation to be able to get back on their feet and improve the quality of their living conditions and their lives.

Pisco Sin Fronteras is always looking for enthusiastic, hard working volunteers (skilled and unskilled) to help the people of Pisco rebuild their lives. Volunteering here is opportunity to learn new skills and get involved with both construction and community-based projects. For those who wish to get more involved in the workings of the organization, there are always opportunities in administration, fundraising and project development. As a volunteer organization, the volunteers are the organization.

Projects:

• Construction
• Community Involvement
• Biodiesel
• Administration

PSF is also looking for specialists in: Carpentry, Concrete Work, Brick Laying, Plumbers, Good Spanish Speakers, Administrators, and Bio Diesel.

The volunteer experience varies from working on site at various ongoing construction projects, working with locals by helping with community engagement projects, or helping to engineer grassroots operations and positive change in Pisco.

Capacity: over 80 volunteers

Accommodations:

• Option 1: PSF House
  • Dorm beds (and private rooms for long term volunteers). Dorms range from 4-14 beds, and some are en suite.
  • The price for a dorm bed is 6 soles (included in price above).
  • Beds are on a first come, first served basis. This means that if there are no beds available when you arrive you may have to stay in a hostel for a couple of nights until a bed is available. House can accommodate up to 80 volunteers.
• Option 2: Nearby Hostel
  • If you would prefer to stay in a nearby hostel there are several within one block from our house. These charge a discounted volunteer rate and do not need to be booked in advance. We can help to find you a room in one of these hostels.
  • This is paid directly by volunteers and the 6 soles daily, from housing, be taken off of cost.

Typical Day

The PSF volunteers work Monday – Friday and a half day on Saturday. There are often activities planned for weekends such as birthday parties, and trips to Paracas (the nearby National Park) or Huacachina (oasis surrounded by sand-dunes and sand boarding).
Volunteering in Pisco is hard work, but it is also fun. In their spare time volunteers participate in a range of activities, from football and basketball to music nights and Spanish lessons. On the weekends, volunteers hang out down the beach, around the house, or take a trip to the nearby oasis of Huacachina for some sand boarding, relaxing by the pool and disco dancing! Added together with board games, books and television, there is something for everyone to enjoy during their relaxation time.

Tom Jones
"And yet ask a PSF volunteer about their work and they glow with excitement. They will talk about the familial bonds that grow within the group. They will brag about bruises and cuts and the huge freaking wall they just tore down. They will tell you about the stranger who came up to them out of the blue with tears in his eyes and said thank you, thank you."

Laura Morgan
"I've only spent a short time here in Pisco, Peru... but it has been amazing! Pisco is impoverished and greatly damaged from an earthquake that hit several years ago, which destroyed a significant portion of the town, as well as took many lives. Pisco Sin Fronteras is an amazing organization that is helping to rebuild in all sorts of ways. The people who make up Pisco Sin Fronteras are individuals from all parts of the world who have come together for a common purpose, and we work hand in hand beautifully together... This is how the entire world should operate. I've only been here a short while, but I already feel like I have become part of not only a group dedicated to helping the people of Pisco, but also part of an amazing family... people so full of love for the world."

Lisa Bradford
"PSF is a great organisation that is doing a lot of good things in Pisco for people who really do need a lot of help. It has been almost 3 years since the earthquake and there are still people living in tents because they have no money to rebuild their homes and lives. I am proud to be a part of this organisation even though it was for only a short time. Thank you to PSF for making me feel so welcome and for everything I have learnt while I have been here."

Will Smith
"At Pisco Sin Fronteras the skill of brick laying is passed down from one volunteer to the next. Arriving in Pisco with very little skills, you can expect to leave with the confidence to begin your own project and one day pass your skills on too."

Eoin Barry
"At Pisco Sin Fronteras the skill of brick laying is passed down from one volunteer to the next. Arriving in Pisco with very little skills, you can expect to leave with the confidence to begin your own project and one day pass your skills on too."