SKIP stands out from other grassroots NGO's because of our professional approach, structured programme and qualified staff. In order to provide this high level of training and support to volunteers, we have needed to find ways to bring in funds for salaries and other associated costs. "The training is really thorough. A highlight for me was the Child Protection training. I've worked with kids a lot, but I've never had a training like this one. It was very helpful – a different way to look at the job I'm doing." Training week feedback from volunteer, Alex.

One extremely important funding source has come from within our own volunteer community and these donations currently provide around a third of our funding. We recognise that the financial burden of volunteering can be intimidating and we have made some suggestions about how volunteers can work towards fundraising costs below: how to fund your volunteer placement.

In order to facilitate volunteers who wish to stay for a longer period of time, we have introduced a system whereby as you stay for longer, the contribution fee amount decreases. 

There are some Coordination roles  (for those with qualifications and experience and who are able to commit to a minimum of 1 year) that are exempt from contribution fee and some include an incentive/living allowance - please see positions available. We also offer scholarships to South American volunteers - please get in touch for more details.

Accommodation will be provided and the cost of this is included in the contribution fee. Usually volunteers share rooms so please let us know if you really want a private room and we will do our best to make that happen.

Contribution fees according to length of stay:

• 1st month: 1600 Nuevos Soles / (approx £380 GBP)
  
• 2nd month: 1600 Nuevos Soles / (approx £380 GBP)
• 3rd-5th month: 1150 Nuevos Soles / £275 per month
• 6th-8th month: 820 Nuevos Soles / £195 per month
• 9th-12th month: 570 Nuevos Soles / £135 per month

When the contribution is paid directly to the charity, ideally whilst you are in Peru, please be aware that this should be in Peruvian Nuevos Soles. We do use a standard conversion rate of 3 Peruvian soles to 1 USD - this is for ease of accounting and so we can plan for the exact amount of money to be received in Peru - the rate does fluctuate a little above and below this level.

Please feel free to get in touch with This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have any questions :)

Volunteers are encouraged to fundraise and spread the word about the amazing work we are doing here in Peru, we have put some information together in the following  comprehensive fundraising guide

Alternatively, the following are a few resources that can be used by those who are looking for grant for volunteering:

• Omprakash is a non-profit organisation that offers volunteer opportunities. Grants are available to help qualified volunteers defray travel expenses. The core goal of Omprakash is not just to connect volunteers and fundraisers with its grassroots partners, but also to offer these connections as a resource for meaningful research and service-learning projects for middle and high-school students.

   Omprakash has evolved in response to the popular model of “voluntourism” in which   foreign volunteers visit underprivileged communities for short periods of time and sometimes inadvertently patronise the very people they are trying to serve. A central principle of the Omprakash ethos is that volunteers should humbly attempt to live and serve in the same community for at least a month, and should approach volunteering as an opportunity to learn from and with their host community. To learn more, visit www.omprakash.org today.

• One other option is to make a fundraising page which you email out to friends and family asking for donations. You can raise generally for SKIP, or for a specific project, please get in touch for our current campaigns. We are registered with 'Your Cause' in the US, the pages are easy to set up and simple to use and US residents can register to make a tax deductible donation - see the YourCause website for more information and examples of fundraising pages that other people have set up. In the UK we are registered with Just Giving and UK residents can register so we claim 20% extra on the donation through gift aid.

• Here is a link to a brilliant article on the Mattador Network "31 travel scholarships, fellowships and grants to fund your next trip abroad" In addition the Mattador Network runs the "Glimpse" programme where aspiring travel journalists and writers can apply for grants. You need to be quick, the application deadline for 2013 is at the end of July.

For residents of the UK and the EU:

SKIP has an ongoing contract with an organisation called 'Everything is Possible', which is based in Leeds, England. Everything is Possible works in coordination with The European Voluntary Service, a part of the new EU Youth in Action Programme, which is being implemented between January 2007 and December 2013. The programme has received the large sum of 885 million Euros to be used over those seven years.  

The Youth in Action Programme helps provide young people with opportunities for informal learning abroad. To be eligible for assistance from the EU, you must be between the ages of 16 and 30. It is possible to obtain funding to work with us for 1-12 months, cost of flights are included in addition to accommodation, food and a small spending allowance each month.

Anyone from Europe can obtain a grant from Youth in Action (EVS) but you will need to submit a full application, this will mean searching for a Sending Organisation in your country (see their websites for more information and locations of Sending Organisations). Alternatively, for those in the UK, please approach Everything is Possible and request to apply for a placement with SKIP. The process will be faster with Everything is Possible as we already have the contract with them.

Read about one EVS volunteer's experiences with SKIP on the volunteer blog

For more information, check out the Everything is Possible website

Also, here is the youth in action programme guide

And there is also a data base which will search for the sending organisations closest to where you live

For US residents: 

Foundation grants to individuals, online : http://gtionline.fdncenter.org/