Peace Villages Foundation 


What to Bring

What should I bring to wear?

Clothing worn while working is casual: jeans, khakis, shorts (not to be worn while working in any schools as Venezuelan teachers all wear long pants or long skirts), t-shirts. We recommend comfortable clothes. The nights in Santa Elena can be cool, so we advise bringing a jacket or sweatshirt. Pants and light long-sleeve shirts may be more comfortable to help avoid bug bites.  Also local waterfalls and our wading pool make a bathing suit a must! Good walking boots and wet-weather gear are essential if you are thinking of doing any serious treks. Vaccinations to prevent tropical diseases are highly recommended in the lowlands and on the coast (see our FAQ page for more details on recommended vaccinations).

What to bring for yourself:

You need to bring a variety of clothing. The following is a basic guideline:

  • Underwear, thermals
  • Two pairs of thick walking socks
  • Four pairs of light socks
  • Sandals
  • Water/wind proof jacket
  • 2 warm jumpers (sweaters) or a fleece
  • Four cotton t-shirts
  • Two long sleeved cotton shirts
  • Two pairs of pants/trousers: light and heavy
  • Two pairs of shorts
  • Bathing suit and towel (Peace Villages provides you with one towel)
  • Evening wear
  • Sleeping bag (needed for Adventure Tours but not in Santa Elena unless you choose to camp)
  • Small daypack
  • Insect repellent (those containing 15% DEET or more are most effective) or Baby Oil: a great natural insect repellent
  • Camera (digital photos can be burned onto CD in Santa Elena)
  • Any extras you wish to bring e.g. alarm clock, guidebook, first aid kit. If you bring a lap top remember to bring the bill of sale.

Important items:

  • Flashlight/headlamp
  • Mosquito net with fine mesh (to keep out midges, called puri-puri)
  • MP3 player & Charger/CD player & CDs
  • Hiking/walking boots
  • Sunglasses and hat (the sun in Santa Elena is very strong due to altitude and proximity to the equator)
  • Sunscreen

You must remember to bring your passport and we advise bringing 2 photocopies of the main parts of it as well. Other recommended items include: a Spanish dictionary, money belt, aspirin, anti-diarrhea medicine, Neosporin, band aids, back-up medicine, hand sanitizer, glasses (at least one spare pair is highly recommended) and contact lenses if applicable.

What to bring for the kids and our programs:

If you have room left in your bags or are happy to contact the airline to arrange special baggage allowance for excess baggage, please bring as much of the following as you can. Alternatively, most of these can be bought here and can be donated to the projects. We especially need educational material for kids between 5 and 15 and preferably in Spanish.

Educational Materials

  • Spanish story books

  • work sheets in Spanish (math, vocabulary)

  • Practice Pals/Practice Power educational products with 'write on-wipe off' surface

  • educational materials/books about geography, science, social science, ecology etc. (in Spanish)

Art and Craft Materials

  • fuzzy pom poms
  • sequins
  • glitter
  • construction paper
  • googely eyes
  • colored card stock
  • craft paper
  • beads
  • pipe cleaners
  • mardi gras beads
  • markers
  • colored sharpies (fine or thick point)
  • fishing line
  • felt
  • cloth
  • finger paints
  • tissue paper

Other Supplies

  • brads
  • index cards
  • duck tape
  • roll of magnets
  • velcro
  • bingo stampers
  • sturdy children’s scissors
  • green chalkboards spray-paint
  • expo markers
  • kids toothpaste/toothbrush
  • kids backpacks
  • pens/pencils/sharpeners/erasers
  • solid white t-shirts
  • plastic easter eggs
  • childrens craft books (in English)
  • coloring books
  • rubber bands
  • plastic gloves
  • socks

Toys & Games

  • card games (Old Maid, Go Fish, Uno etc.)
  • simple puzzles
  • Spanish games
  • Spanish flash cards
  • bubbles
  • shoots and ladders, candy land, twister
  • big bingo game
  • children’s cds in Spanish
  • jump ropes, Frisbees, nerf footballs, soccer balls (other out door games)
  • small musical instruments
  • treasure box prizes (toys under 2$)
  •  

Supplies for our therapeutic horse riding program

  • riding helmets (child size)
  • rubber boots (child size)
  • bridles/bits/saddle (large pony)
  • horse brushes
  • curry combs
  • hoof pick
  • sweat scraper
  • fly spray
  • manure fork

And if you still have extra space volunteers and staff at Peace Villages would appreciate any biodegradable cleaning products and games for adults.

What to Bring for Chirikayen:

In addition to "What to Bring for Yourself" above, the following things are recommended:

  • Mirror
  • First aid kit
  • Water purification tablets

Optional stuff:

  • Eco friendly washing powder and toiletries (for washing in river)
  • Washing line
  • Clothes to give away for all ages
 

Fundación Aldeas de Paz
Lomas de Piedra Canaima via Sampai, Santa Elena de Uairén,
La Gran Sabana, Estado Bolívar, Venezuela
Phone: 0058 - 289 - 4160820  Email: mail@peacevillages.org
We are a registered charity: RIF J-30872287-1 (Vz) 
   

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Peace Villages Foundation
 
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