GVI Phoenix Perú to expand into Colca Canyon with the 6 month Combo volunteers

GVI Phoenix is pleased to announce that investigations are under way to expand our existing teaching projects in the desert surrounding Arequipa to Colca Canyon, which is twice as deep the Grand Canyon in the US.

We aim to work in the small communities within and around the canyon, which are home to the Collaguas and Cabanas indigenous ancestors of the Incas, continuing our work with teaching literacy and numeracy and helping in local schools which are overcrowded and poorly staffed.

The canyon is famous for its Condors, which majestically soar and swoop thousands of feet above the River Colca, a mere trickle to the naked eye from the walls of the canyon.

We will be based in Chivay, a town situated at around 3600m, and will travel to the local communities each day, sometimes as high as 4000m. Due to the altitude, we will only be offering the 6 month combo volunteers the chance to work here, as they should have become acclimatised, having worked in the Ecuadorean Andes for 6 weeks previously.

Our investigations will continue this year and early next year, with an aim to have our first 6 month combo-ers, who arrive in Guatemala this October, starting work in March, 2009. Very exciting times.

GVI Phoenix Perú to expand into Colca Canyon with the 6 month Combo volunteers