Good Shepherd Programs in
Cusco, Peru
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**Please note that the following programs are
run by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, and are
thus potential placements for
volunteers. However, upon arrival in their host
country, Good Shepherd volunteers spend 2-3
months trying several different
programs to see where they can best use their
skills and gifts. After this “introduction
period,” the volunteers choose 2-3
programs to which they devote their energy for
their remaining service time.**
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“Panaderia Buen Pastor”
in San Blas, Cusco
Located in San Blas, a touristic artists’
neighborhood in downtown Cusco, the sisters have
a bakery and residence for girls. There are
about 15 girls age 16-22, from different parts
of the province, all emerging from situations of
poverty. They live in a residence adjacent to
the bakery, go to school and study for various
professions (nursing, teaching, business, etc),
and also run the bakery. All the profits from
the bakery go toward the schooling and housing
for the girls.
Work Options:
• Computer classes
• English classes
• Cashier at the bakery
• Working in the bakery (preparing the breads
and pastries, cleaning)
• Managing the bakery’s inventory, going to
market to buy foods
• Tutoring girls in various school subjects
• Guiding prayers with girls (there is a chapel
on the grounds)
• Fundraising for various projects (create more
dormitories for girls, expand bakery, expand
library, etc)
• Workshops such as sewing, art, music with
girls (during vacation time)
• Gardening and/or working in greenhouse (small
greenhouse with vegetables)
“Hogar
del Buen Pastor” in Accomoco, Cusco
Also in Cusco, in a neighborhood called
Accomoco, the sisters run a home for abandoned
or abused girls from age 7-18 years old. There
are 40 to 60 girls total and 16 staff. There are
3 separate houses on the same complex, plus the
sister’s residence, greenhouses, sewing/knitting
and crafts workshops, and lots of open space
like playgrounds and a farm.
Work Options:
• English classes
• Computer classes
• Workshops in sewing and handcrafts
• Workshops on health, self-esteem, etc
• Work in greenhouse and farm with girls
• Accompany social worker on family visits
• Accompany girls to/from school, talk with
their teachers
• Tutor girls in various subjects
• Help cook and serve meals for girls
• Theater, music, gym workshops with girls
“Taller de Ceramica” in Cusco
On the grounds of the Hogar, the sisters run
a ceramics workshop. It serves a population of
children separate from the Hogar girls. There
are boys, girls, and single mothers in nearby
poor communities. They are able to use the
profit from the sale of these products to pay
for their food, housing, and school.
Work options:
• Tutor children in their academic studies
• Help teach crafts and painting
• Work in greenhouse and on small farm
“Agustina Rivas Buen Pastor” in Kcauri
A 2 and a half hour drive from Cusco, the
sisters have a house and workshops in Kcauri, a
small village in the rural highlands of the
Andes. Most of their work is with
Quechua-speaking indigenous women, assisting
them in producing handcrafts and exporting them
abroad. They also have a greenhouse project,
teach classes like English, and do lots of
outreach to local communities.
Work Options:
• Create/manage webpage
• Formalize catalogue of products
• Office/admin support
• Visit local communities of women artisans
• Workshops on health, self-esteem
• “formation” workshops on leadership, rights,
etc
• teach English
• help prepare raw materials for artisans (wool
etc)
• help prepare and mail finished products
• greenhouse – help manage, and help expand
(they want to create more in 2008)
