This page contains information on the following:
- An introduction to the different areas that you can work as a volunteer
- A sample of the volunteer projects available with InsightArgentina
When volunteering with InsightArgentina (IA), you can choose from a large database of projects and organizations throughout Argentina. IA has volunteer opportunities in different areas across the Argentine Social Sector, and you can select to work in any of the following fields;
• Arts and Culture
• Building Projects (Group Projects only)
• Community Development
• Disability and Empowerment
• Education and Youth Outreach
• Elderly
• Environment and Community Gardens
• Health and Nutrition
• Human Rights and Law
• Indigenous Communities
• Sport and Recreation
To help you get a better idea of the type of volunteer experience that you can have with IA, we have provided below, a sample of some of the different volunteer projects available (remember we have a database of over 65 different NGO’S!).
We have included the following information on each project: a brief overview of the project/organization, it’s location in Argentina, the possible volunteer tasks involved, a potential volunteers profile and a testimonial from a past volunteer who has attended the project.
Arts and Culture
Art Organization, Buenos Aires
This organization uses art and culture as a means for social transformation. They work with local and national cultural centers and other community groups to educate people about the power of art to transform lives, whilst also training teachers, artists, organizations, and others in art education. They seek to build networks of groups and individuals who share their commitment to the arts, and this organization participates and leads a variety of educational activities with local youth and communities.
Volunteer Tasks: Primarily focused on institutional and program development via research, communications, translations, and international cooperation and fundraising
Volunteer Profile: Interest in the Arts and Intermediate level of Spanish
‘"I immensely enjoyed working with the organization. The staff and other volunteers worked effectively as a team, and the environment was relaxed and playful’ Sophie Pauze, United States
Building Projects
Building Project, Buenos Aires (Groups only)
After analyzing the specific needs of the communities we work with, our building projects tend to focus on supporting more at-risk families, through the construction and renovation of local homes. These projects seek to empower those that need it most, while fostering solidarity among the participants and the community at large.
Volunteer Tasks: Volunteers participate in the building and renovation of local housing. These projects generally are for groups and require extensive pre-planning.
Volunteer Profile: Interest in hands-on projects or program development of building projects and a basic level of Spanish.
‘The experience was extremely gratifying for me and everyone in the group. For many of us, it was the first time doing any sort of construction work’ Heather Lyu, United States
Community Development
Community Project, Patagonia
Created over 20 years ago, this organization seeks to promote the development of rural communities in Western Patagonia. Their mission is to create useful tools that help the local people to improve the quality of life through the development of their own skills.
Volunteer Tasks: From a variety of the following; school support, English lessons, assistance in the gardens, helping on the farm and general administration.
Volunteer Profile: Interested in working in a rural community and a basic level of Spanish.
'It will be difficult to leave Junín de los Andes, but I leave with a backpack full of new friendships, new ideas about my life and a new inspiration... if people work together with an important and positive mission in common, incredible things can happen.' Alice Rocca, United States
Disability and Empowerment
Disability Project, Buenos Aires
According to latest figures, around 2.2 million people in Argentina live with a disability. This organization strives to change the daily living conditions of those with a disability. Their mission is ‘to promote a change in attitude towards people with disabilities by creating awareness and promoting an active citizenship’
Volunteer Tasks: Institutional development, research, communications, and program development.
Volunteer Profile: Some background in disability issues helpful, but not a must. Intermediate to advanced level of Spanish.
' I felt honoured to be part of a project that can affect people's lives nationwide. I can't recommend this volunteering experience highly enough and I feel privileged to have had this opportunity' Fraser McLeod, Scotland
Education and Youth Outreach
Educational Support, Buenos Aires
This is an organization that works in Lomas de Zamora (southern area of Greater Buenos Aires) and offers after school programs for kids from underprivileged backgrounds. Their main activity is school support but they also have recreational activities for the kids, such as English lessons, drama lessons, folk dance classes and computer lessons. The organization offers these activities to more than 100 kids aged 1 to 12 that attend the center in two shifts (morning and afternoon)
Volunteer Tasks: Teaching English during the lessons, planning games and any other fun activities with the language! You can also help the staff in the kitchen and participate in the recreational activities during recess.
Volunteer Profile: Interest in working with children, Basic to intermediate level of Spanish.
‘Having no experience of teaching before I arrived, I was a bit apprehensive, but I quickly gained confidence. It is one of the best things I have done!’ Christina Clare, England
Elderly
Elderly Care Home, Buenos Aires
This elderly care home in Buenos Aires has the following mission ‘To provide a place for the elderly to enjoy life with their peers in a cheerful environment and where specially designed activities and loving care make daily life meaningful.’.
Volunteer Tasks: Participate in weekly activities such as: reading, bridge, board games, exercise, writing or music. Be a friend to a particular elderly resident and lead workshops on a particular area of interest. Please note that the majority of residents like to speak English.
Volunteer Profile: An interest in working with the elderly and a basic level of Spanish
Testimony to follow soon!
Environment and Community Gardens
Community Garden Project, Buenos Aires
In 1999, this organization set out to construct an acre of school gardens (for the cultivation of vegetables) in rural primary schools, that tend to be isolated and lacking resources. The aim of the project is to reduce the levels of malnutrition in the area, whilst educating the local youths about the processes involved in cultivation.
Volunteer Tasks: From a selection of; fundraising, administration, event management, research projects or teaching English to staff.
Volunteer Profile: Interest in cultivation and a basic level of Spanish
‘It was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had. It felt great to see a positive physical impact of the work we had completed’ Kate Franczek, United States
Health and Nutrition
Malnourishment and Prevention, Mendoza
Founded in 1993, this organization looks to incorporate volunteers in a prevention center for children in the province of Mendoza. The center’s main functions is to provide attention and support to more vulnerable children and their families who may suffer from malnutrition. The centre also seeks to educate the local community on the importance of nutrition.
Volunteer Tasks: Can include providing daily care to children, assistance to medical staff, organize recreational activities or assisting families.
Volunteer Profile: Interested in caring for children, advantageous (though not essential) to have a degree in Social Sciences, Health, or Education. Basic to intermediate level of Spanish.
'My volunteer work led me to pursue a degree in health care, I returned home to go to graduate school for nursing and public health. The experience created a real shift in who I am as a person, I hope to return one day and thank them in person' Alison Duffy, United States
Human Rights and Law
Institute for Civil Rights, Buenos Aires
In 2002 a group of young people came together to form an institution that created a space where citizens can participate, create proposals, and channel their enthusiasm to construct a more just and equal society. Their mission is ‘to contribute to the strengthening and healing of Argentine institutions, to foster within each citizen
a commitment and respect for all fundamental rights and to defend the most vulnerable groups of our society.’
Volunteer Tasks: Edit/translate documents, Fundraising, Research on comparative public policy/best practices, Institutional development and networking with local government/NGOs.
Volunteer Profile: Interest in Human/Civil rights, current University Student or Graduate preferred. Advanced level of Spanish.
‘I love, love, loved my time at the organization, I learned a tremendous amount and everyone was helpful’ Stephanie Luckham, United States
Indigenous Communities
Assisting Indigenous Communities, Salta
This foundation has been working for more than 10 years helping isolated communities in the North-West of Argentina. Some of the activities that have been developed in the past years include; the setting up of a new irrigation system in the community farm, the creation of a cooperative for strengthening the production of Algarroba flour and the construction of a water pump, to name but a few!
Volunteer Tasks: Co-exist with the Indigenous community of La Estrella and develop different activities in the framework of the school, the health program and the productive projects of the community.
Volunteer Profile: Ability to live and work in an isolated community where access to certain comforts is minimal. Preferably a University Student/Graduate. Intermediate to advanced level of Spanish.
‘I felt so fortunate to have spent a month living and working with such a unique community and to have gained such insight into their culture, and consequently my own’ Sarah Cassidy, Scotland
Sport and Recreation
Sport and Education Foundation, Buenos Aires
Founded by the Argentine and Inter Milan Football player, Javier Zanetti, this organization looks to support children in low-income neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires and gives them a chance to help alleviate social problems through Sport and Education.
Volunteer Tasks: Assisting staff with tutoring and educational support. Participation in sports activities at neighboring sports clubs with children and staff, activities include: football (soccer), swimming, and other general activities. Assisting staff with other activities, events, institutional support.
Volunteer Profile: Interest in Sport and Education, ability to work with disadvantaged children. A basic level of Spanish.
Testimony to follow soon!
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