Purpose of Discover True Friendship Service Tour:

The purpose of this Service Tour is twofold.  Most obviously, it is an opportunity for those of us living in America and other affluent countries to serve our brothers and sisters who live without the many luxuries that we take for granted in a very real way.  More importantly, the Service Tour is a chance for people of different races, nationalities, religions and languages to break down the barriers of division and create “true friendships” of understanding and appreciation through working towards a common goal.

Components of the Discover True Friendship Service Tour:

• Service Project: Build a multi-purpose community center to be used for village meetings, trainings and workshops, and as a comedor popular - a place where meals are prepared for needy families in the community.

• Educational Experience: Learn about international development, issues related to poverty, microfinance programs and sustainable development practices.

• Discover ‘True Friendships’: Work with local villagers and college students from Peru and other Latin American countries, and learn about their lives and cultures. 

• Visit Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Non-Profits: Meet with UNICEF, UNESCO, local schools, orphanages, agencies working with children infected with HIV/AIDS and others to learn about their work in Peru.  Learn about microfinance and the ways that it is empowering families in communities like San Juan del Alto. 

• Visit Machu Picchu: A once-in-a-lifetime chance to explore the storied and mysterious hidden city of the Inca and one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.

 The ruins of Machu Picchu, rediscovered in 1911 by Yale archaeologist Hiram Bingham, are one of the most beautiful and enigmatic ancient sites in the world. While the Inca people certainly used the Andean mountain top (9060 feet elevation), erecting many hundreds of stone structures from the early 1400's, legends and myths indicate that Machu Picchu (meaning 'Old Peak' in the Quechua language) was revered as a sacred place from a far earlier time. Whatever its origins, the Inca turned the site into a small (5 square miles) but extraordinary city. Invisible from below and completely self-contained, surrounded by agricultural terraces sufficient to feed the population, and watered by natural springs, Machu Picchu seems to have been utilized by the Inca as a secret ceremonial city. Two thousand feet above the rumbling Urubamba river, the cloud shrouded ruins have palaces, baths, temples, storage rooms and some 150 houses, all in a remarkable state of preservation. These structures, carved from the gray granite of the mountain top are wonders of both architectural and aesthetic genius. Many of the building blocks weigh 50 tons or more yet are so precisely sculpted and fitted together with such exactitude that the mortarless joints will not permit the insertion of even a thin knife blade.

• Other Sightseeing and Activities: Visit Lima, Arequipa and Cusco, see Juanita, a frozen 500 year old Incan mummy, go horseback riding and more…

Participants Must:

• Be 16 years of age or older
• Agree to abide by the Participant Guidelines
• Complete the application and return it by May 1, 2008
• Participate in an interview if requested
• Pay all fees in a timely manner

Cost:

• A fee of $700.00 will cover lodging, meals, excursions and all ground transportation, as well as our trip to Machu Picchu.

 We regret that the cost of this trip is high, but due to the price of arranging a visit to Machu Picchu, it is necessary. 

• The flights to Peru will cost $750 - $1,000, depending on when tickets are purchased.

o We will be flying as a group from New York to Arequipa.  For our return, however, we will fly from Lima to New York.

o Participants are welcome to coordinate their travel to Peru through the IRFF International Office if they wish to do so.

Further Notes:

• We are looking for approximately 15 participants for this project, but the number of participants needed is subject to change.

• Applications will be reviewed and candidates will be selected from the information provided, including the essay.

• Interviews by phone or in person may be requested at the discretion of the organizers of this project.

• All participants are responsible for all necessary documents such as passports and vaccinations.

 A visa is not needed for participants holding American passports.

For more information, please contact:/

Paul Byrne
Phone: (845)826-0618
Email:byrneIRFF@yahoo.com