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Volunteer in Argentina

While volunteering in Argentina, you will experience the famous Argentinean barbeque, or asado, a very festive, communal event enjoyed by the locals, and explore a country known for its unique European flair in the heart of South America. AIDE works with a variety of projects in Argentina, and we will work with you to find the perfect fit for both you and the local host organization. The majority of projects are located in Buenos Aires and Córdoba.

Positions and start dates are limited. To reserve your placement, click here.

Eligibility:
* At least 18 years old
* Intermediate level of Spanish. Languages courses prior to the volunteer placement are available for beginners.
* Eligible to receive a tourist visa to Argentina
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Location: Placements are located primarily in various neighborhoods in Buenos Aires and Córdoba.
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Length of program: 2 weeks – 12 months. Customizable 1-week Spring Break trips are available.
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Start dates: Throughout the year, on sundays.
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What you get:

Accommodations: During your Spanish lessons and/or your volunteer project, you will live with an Argentinean family. You will be provided with 2 meals a day, and an invaluable insight into the “real” Argentina. Some host families will be able to launder your clothes, but if your family does not have a washer and dryer in their home, then you will need to plan to spend around $4.50 USD per week on laundry. You may live in a host family by yourself or with a small group of other volunteers. A handful of volunteer projects offer on site living instead of homestay accommodations. You may also choose the option of living in a student residence facility on a local school campus, for an additional fee.

Visa Documentation: Most tourist visas are valid for up to 3 months. If you are interested in a longer program, we will assist you in applying for a visa extension. We recommend checking with your local Argentine consulate for the most up-to-date visa information.

Language Classes: Optional language classes are available in Buenos Aires. Language classes are a great way to be introduced to a new country and to improve your Spanish skills. Classes are held prior to starting your volunteer work, and you will be placed in a small group of four to five others to receive lessons from a local Spanish teacher. Classes include home-stay accommodations and  2 meals per day.

Volunteer projects: Below is a brief sample of the kinds of projects we have personally chosen for you in Argentina. If you are interested in volunteering in an area you don’t see below, please consult your AIDE coordinator. We do our best to accommodate all requests. 
 
Community / Education Projects

Provide support and guidance to female teenagers and young adults

This project's mission is to help troubled female teenagers and young adults re-integrate into Argentinean society, by assisting in workshops, offering homework support and providing emotional guidance. The young adults that come to this project for help have typically endured a difficult past, and find themselves living in risky situations. Volunteers will help local staff members provide these young women with a renewed sense of self-confidence, and will help them through workshops to learn how to feel secure about themselves and their place in society. *Please note: This project only accepts female volunteers.

Provide support to children, community residents, and the elderly and disabled

AIDE works with a variety of community centers, non-governmental organizations, day care centers and orphanages (also referred to as children's homes) that provide assistance to local communities that need help with anything from providing English lessons and help with homework, to free health care, sports activities for children, and workshops and daycare for children whose parents are cartoneros (those who collect garbage and separate it in order to make their living.) Other projects offer day care services for single parents, art and science educational activities at a local museum or cultural center for children, food programs, milk programs, and run side ventures such as a bakery and second-hand clothes shop to secure funds to continue their community projects. These projects aim to help children living in poverty by giving them love, care, and education, and to help elderly and disabled citizens by organizing and leading recreational activities for them. As a volunteer in one of these projects, your skills and compassion will be utilized to help these different groups learn and grow in their society.
AIDE also works with a local organization that serves as a home for disabled teenagers, and provides education and recreational activities for them, to teach them how to live independently. The main goal of this organization is to enable all of the residents to be able to say one day, "Now I can live on my own". Volunteers will work with a very passionate staff at the home, and assist in all educational and recreational activities.

Provide English lessons

The mission of this project is to provide English language lessons to locals, focusing on terminology that will help them in their professional environment. Volunteers will assist teachers with creating lessons plans and instructing students in basic English.

Community/Health

Free Dental Clinic for Children

This organization in Buenos Aires offers two free dental clinics for children that live in nearby towns. In Argentina, few children who live in severe poverty receive dental care, and as a result of this, their teeth are generally in very poor condition. Volunteers may be professional dentists, or advanced students of dentistry.

Support for children living with HIV

Volunteers are sought by two different projects in Buenos Aires to provide educational support, love and guidance to children that are living with the reality of HIV or AIDS. Both centers serve as a home or day-care center for children ranging from 6 years old to 16 years old, who have lost family members to this disease or are struggling with living with HIV/ AIDS. Volunteers are especially encouraged to initiate activities such as singing, arts and crafts, providing English lessons, and simply serving as a mentor in a child's life to help them experience a normal, healthy childhood. * As the children at these projects are quite vulnerable and become easily attached to volunteers, the minimum commitment to this project is two months.

Food Centers/ Soup Kitchen for the homeless

In both Buenos Aires and Cordoba, AIDE works with small projects that provide warm meals to children, adults and the homeless population. These projects are very eager to receive volunteers, and allow volunteers the opportunity to not only provide meals to local residents, but also to assist them with English workshops, arts and crafts workshops for the children, and advice with legal/ financial matters that they may not have been educated about.

Conservation/ Sustainable Development

Organic/ botanical gardening

Help a small local project in Córdoba with maintaining a beautiful vegetable garden, that feeds three local families. Volunteer duties will include weeding the garden, seeding, planting, and harvesting the crops. Volunteers with green thumbs are very welcome!

Summary:
* Pre-departure orientation
* Volunteer placement
* Travel medical insurance
* Visa assistance (if needed)
* Airport pick-up
* Arrival orientation
* One way transportation to the city of your project
* Accommodations and meals
* Full-time local representative in Argentina
* 24/7 personal support and emergency number
* Optional activities and tours
* Certificate of completion (upon request)
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Price:
AIDE is a non-profit organization. Donations contributed in excess of the fair market value of services you receive from AIDE may be tax deductible. Please consult your tax adviser.

2 Weeks: USD$ 1,700
Additional week(s) with individual bedroom in host family house: USD$ 350
Additional week(s) with shared (double occupancy) bedroom in host family house: USD$ 300

Language Classes Fees
1 week: USD$ 500
2 weeks: USD$ 1,000
3 weeks: USD$ 1,500

Prices are subject to changes. Prices do not include airfare, visa fees and personal expenses.
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Any questions?
* Request more info
* Call our toll free: 1 866 6ABROAD ext. 137
* Chat with us live

You might also consider volunteering in: Ecuador • Peru • Costa Rica • South Africa • Guatemala • India

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