An intern gains nutrition work experience in Peru by planning and presenting at a workshop on healthy foods.

Nutrition Internship in Peru

Help rural communities in Peru live healthier lives to reduce malnutrition, and add overseas experience to your CV

Destination

Peru

Age

17+ y/o

Minimum Stay

2 weeks

Start Date

Anytime

Accommodation

Homestay

Requirements

You need to speak intermediate Spanish.

What’s Included

24/7 Support

Round-the-clock support on the ground and 24/7 back up from our global teams.

Accommodation & Amenities

Clean, safe, and welcoming accommodation. A home away from home with comfortable amenities.

Activities, Training & Equipment

All programme activities and equipment, including training and workshops from experienced professionals.

Certification

Certified record of service hours, workshops, and activities for your CV.

Request Info

Starting at £1,775 for 2 weeks

Flexible 0% Interest payments

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Trip Overview

Deliver maternal health education

Lead educational courses for mothers, conduct home visits, and build relationships to promote healthy diets and lifestyles in Cusco’s communities.

Conduct nutritional health checks

Perform home visits, distribute educational materials, and run workshops on healthy meals, anaemia prevention, and hygiene practices in rural areas.

Encourage healthier living

Work with high-risk youth and pregnant mothers, advising on micronutrients and dietary guidelines, and contributing to long-term health improvements.

Engage in nutritional research

Assist in research on childhood disorders, develop educational materials, and participate in building eco-gardens to improve food sustainability.

Discover the culture of Cusco

Live with a host family, experience Peruvian cuisine, explore Incan sites like Machu Picchu, and enjoy hiking through the surrounding Andes region.

What you need to know

Overview

If you would like to gain first-hand nutritional experience in a developing country while making a difference to local communities, this Nutrition Internship in Peru is for you. You will be able to work with professionals and learn from their years of experience in nutrition, adding relevant experience to your CV.

This internship also lets you reach out to vulnerable groups who suffer from the consequences of malnourishment. Share knowledge that will inspire people to change their habits for improved living for many years

You need to have finished high school to join this internship. You must also be able to communicate in Spanish on an intermediate level, because you give presentations in Spanish as part of your work.

You can join a nutrition placement in Peru at any time of year, but please note that some of the organisations we work with are closed between January and March.

Activities

You will gain nutrition work experience in Peru, by working with nutrition experts to raise awareness in local communities of the importance of healthy diets. Your project work can include the following activities:

Improve maternal and infant health through educational courses with mothers
Conduct home visits for health checks in local communities
Develop nutritional educational materials to improve knowledge and awareness
Empower local people to live healthier lives
Do research into improving nutrition in Peru

Improve maternal and infant health through educational courses with mothers

Build relationships with mothers and their children through conversations and home visits so that young children develop with healthy diets and lifestyles.

Conduct home visits for health checks

During home visits, you’ll distribute educational materials to help people improve nutrition. You’ll explain why healthy diets are important and what they can do to eat better. You’ll also share how to identify signs of malnourishment.

In the communities you visit, you‘ll also give presentations and run workshops. The goal of these sessions is to share knowledge of healthy meals, anaemia prevention, effective teeth cleaning and hand-washing.

Empower communities to live healthier lives

You will get to spend time with more focused groups, like high-risk youth and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers. Share, for example, tips on correct micronutrient intake, healthy hygiene practices, and dietary guidelines for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Further research in nutrition

Depending on your level of experience or interest, you can play a key role in expanding on the nutrition research we do. This research focuses on identifying disorders in children. You’ll develop materials to address these disorders and measure the progress of the ongoing programme. Some of these programmes were implemented by the Peruvian Ministry of Health.

Build eco-gardens

You can be involved in building and maintaining eco-gardens in the communities you visit and reach out to.

Day in the Life

You will travel to communities around Cusco, reaching out to people where they live. Many mornings are spent going house-to-house, sharing important nutritional information with mothers, children, and other members of local communities. Spend time in conversation with people to discover the realities causing malnourishment, and provide valuable information to help people adjust their lives.

You can dedicate afternoons to preparing workshop presentations. Put together materials that you will hand out during your house-to-house visits or use in presentations, such as posters. Show local people what healthy meals look like, and tell them how to prevent anaemia, how to properly clean their teeth, and how to wash their hands.

As part of your research into malnourishment, you will perform tasks like measuring and weighing babies to assess the level of health in the communities you visit.

During your evenings, spend time with your fellow volunteers, learning about each other’s home countries and cultures, and exchange stories about your days of work and adventure.

Peru is an adventurer’s heaven. During your weekends, you can explore some of the best hiking trails in the world, enjoy white-water rafting in the Urubamba River, or visit the enigmatic Nazca Lines.

Aims & Impact

The main aim of the project is to improve the maternal, infant and young child nutritional status in Peru. Malnutrition remains a persistent and serious problem in Peru, in particular for poorer or more rural communities, and needs serious attention.

In Peru, malnutrition amongst babies and children remains a serious issue, particularly in rural families with lower incomes. These families tend to have more children (5-6 in a family), sell nutritious food crops and consume foods with lower nutritional value (e.g., instant noodles). This results in a higher rate of malnutrition among children. In some areas of the country, as many as 40% of children suffer from stunting.

Through outreach work and an emphasis on education, this internship allows you to improve the health standards of vulnerable groups, particularly those living in rural communities.

We have committed to four goals, as outlined in our Medical Management Plan:

Encourage an understanding of medical practices and promote an exchange of medical knowledge
Improve the quality of healthcare provided to patients
Improve access to basic healthcare for disadvantaged groups
Improve hygiene standards
Join us in Peru and be part of our efforts to improve nutrition in disadvantaged communities.

Map & Location

Step into the home of the Inca Empire, where the Andes Mountains meet the Amazon Rainforest. Peru is the third-largest South American nation and about 60% of it is covered by rainforest. It’s also the origin of the mighty Amazon River.

Peru is a popular tourist destination for its rich history and culture, incredible biodiversity, and, of course, Machu Picchu. If you aren’t persuaded yet, this ought to do the trick: it’s home to about three-quarters of the global alpaca population!

Cusco

Cusco, nestled in the Andes in southeast Peru, was the capital of the mighty Inca Empire. Now home to half a million people, the stunning city welcomes over two million tourists a year, many of which hike the nearby Inca Trail to find the famous Machu Picchu.

Thanks to a high elevation and subtropical climate, Cusco benefits from comfortable temperatures year round. You’ll also find a lively city centre with busy social spots, a fascinating mix of architecture, and easy transport access.

Food & Accommodation

We’ll take care of all the essentials during your time in Peru. You’ll have a comfortable living space with a carefully selected host family, three nutritious meals a day, and access to safe drinking water. We’ll also organise all your travel to and from your placement.

Your host family’s home will be clean, safe, and secure, and you’ll be welcomed as a local from the moment you arrive. Share your stories and culture with your host family and other Projects Abroad participants over incredible home-cooked meals and experience Peruvian culture and hospitality every day.

We will try to match you with another person of the same gender and similar age so you can share your experience with a like-minded traveller. Who knows, you might just make a new friend (or a few) on your travels!

Meet your team

Free Time and Leisure

Peru is a vibrant country with a mix of activities for every kind of volunteer. Whether you’re into arts, culture, history, or nature, there’s sure to be something for you!

One of the biggest attractions of Peru is the Inca history. There are awe-inspiring archaeological sites like Coricancha, Tambomachay, and of course, Machu Picchu (which is easy to get to from Cusco).

Over a weekend, you can take a trip to the village of Pisac, where you can browse bright, eye-catching textile markets. Don’t miss out on seeing the llamas and alpacas too!

There are also lively restaurants everywhere you look, the perfect place to spend an evening chatting to the locals, relaxing, and enjoying local cuisine, like ceviche.

We run a variety of projects in Peru so you’ll likely meet many other volunteers on your trip. It’s the perfect opportunity to connect and travel as a group. However, you’re welcome to travel independently if you prefer.

Your Arrival Made Easy

When you arrive at your respective airport, a member of Projects Abroad staff will be there to meet you. You can find more detailed information on arrival airports, orientation, and visas on our Peru Arrival Procedures page.