Volunteer or Internship in Argentina - Buenos Aires

Language Courses and Cultural Exchanges Worldwide

Volunteer or Internship in Argentina - Buenos Aires

Program

Our local partner

Our internship and volunteer work programmes offer you the unique chance of living and working in Argentina. Our students directly experience a rich cultural diversity, all while cultivating a superior level of Spanish language ability.

Work experience abroad: an advantage for your CV

Having experience working abroad always boosts your CV. Not only that, the majority of interns and volunteers end their programme fluent in Spanish. The combination of this with work in an entirely different cultural context would be greatly appreciated by future employers.

Living and working in Argentina: a challenge?

Our local partner organisation offers very professional support and will be the key to success during your time working in Argentina. You will have access to constant support which will guarantee a successful involvement in our programmes.

Beyond the fact that we have the experience of finding volunteer work and internships, we can also help you in terms of your Spanish lessons, your accommodation, cultural activities and excursions, all of which would allow you to relax and make the most of your time in Buenos Aires.

Before leaving

Before setting off, you will receive all the necessary information concerning your internship or job, so you will then be able to ask any question that comes to mind and share any and all of your worries. Our partner in Argentina organises monthly information workshops on history, working abroad in Argentina, cultural differences, and the social hierarchy present in Argentinian society.

Destination

Buenos Aires, with its population of almost 3 million people, is the hub of South America. Its port, which is the gateway for trade to all of Argentina as well as Paraguay, Uruguay, and large portions of Brazil, is one of the busiest in the world. Its busy streets packed with points of interest will please even the most cosmopolitan of visitors.

Buenos Aires is the birthplace of Tango and the centre of the Argentinian cinema industry. The University here has produced 5 Nobel prize winners and the city was considered the cultural capital of Argentina for the latter half of the last century (having wrestled this honor from the equally impressive city of Cordoba).

Buenos Aires is a busy, stimulating, and fun place to improve your Spanish and enjoy life.

Volunteer

Our volunteer programmes break down as follows:

Spanish lessons (4 weeks)

All of our programmes start with four weeks of Spanish lessons in order to keep your Spanish skills up to date, which would then help you in the second part of your trip, when you undertake your volunteer placement. You will have 20 hours of lessons per week, from Monday to Friday. Group classes are limited to a maximum of 6 students.

During these first four weeks, you will have the choice of staying either with a host family or in a student residence.

Volunteer programme (4 weeks minimum)

Volunteers work on average 4 to 6 hours a day, Monday to Friday. Volunteer activities take place between 8am and 8pm, depending on the project. Each project tends to take on up to 4 volunteers.

Take part in one of the possible activities out of a range of sectors, including: social work, education, ecology, tourism, culture, restauration. You could be placed in: clinics, hospitals, extra-curricular projects, projects for homeless children, retirement homes, playschools and primary schools.

While the majority of these projects take place within Buenos Aires itself, some may be outside it. A complete list of work locations can be sent to you upon request.

When you arrive, you will take part in a seminar on Argentinian society and the particular volunteer project in which you are involved. The project's coordinator will then take you the site, or you will have to find it yourself and make your presence known.

You will be invited to take part in Spanish lessons designed exclusively for volunteers, once a week. This would allow you to maintain your Spanish skills in a friendly and informal setting.

You will also be invited to participate in all our student activities and receive any help necessary from staff at the school. All services provided to local students will also be available to volunteers, like the telephone service, a 24 hour emergency number, and access to the cybercafé. Volunteers will be welcome at our free cultural activities, such as cookery, music, and tango lessons, as well as cultural seminars.

During your volunteer programme you will be housed in the school's residence.

Volunteer Plus programme (for stays of 16 weeks or more)

If you have particular skills or qualifications, and would like to have a more specific volunteer role in order to use them, then we recommend enrolled for the extended volunteer placement, which requires an extra time commitment. Field of interest can include medicine, dentistry, hairdressing, gardening, mechanics, electrical work, education, among others.

Pre-requisites

In order to participate in this programme, you must:

Be at least 16 years old. If you are younger than 18 you must provide permission from a parent or guardian.
Have a minimum level of Spanish. Volunteers must be able to communicate with the local population.
Be flexible and able to take initiative.
Be capable of committing to your selected programme's minimum duration.

Internship

This programme requires a 20 week commitment and breaks down as follows:

Spanish lessons (4 weeks)

All of our programmes start with four weeks of Spanish lessons in order to keep your Spanish skills up to date, which would then help you in the second part of your trip, when you undertake your internship. You will have 20 hours of lessons per week, from Monday to Friday. Group classes are limited to a maximum of 6 students.

During these first four weeks, you will have the choice of staying either with a host family or in a student residence.

Internships (minimum 16 weeks)

Currently we offer internships for students and new graduates in different fields such as:

Tourism
Gastronomy
Medical fields
Social and legal work
Education
Administration
Cultural work
Arts & culture
Sports

Activities vary from working in a hospital to organising events, teaching children, or working in local organisations. Talk to us about your experience and we can look into what we have on offer to match your profile.

In addition, you will be invited to take part in our Spanish lessons designed exclusively for interns once a week. This would allow you to maintain your Spanish skills in a friendly and informal setting.

During your work placement, you will be housed in a self-catered residence.

Pre-requisites

In order to participate in this programme, you must:

Be at least 18 years old.
Have a minimum level of Spanish.
Send a CV and cover letter in Spanish.
Be capable of committing to your selected programme's minimum duration.

Accommodation

For the first stage of the programme, studying Spanish, you have a choice of staying in a student residence (half board) or with a host family (half board), to complete your immersion.

While volunteering, accommodation will be in a student residence. Breakfast and lunch are included in both these options. For interns and qualified volunteers, accommodation is in a good quality self-catered apartment.

Host Family

The host family option has been developed particularly for those who wish to make a cultural journey with the aim of not only learning the language, but also learning about the country through immersion into an Argentinian family. Host families are carefully chosen and monitored through regular inspections and student feedback. Most of them live about 20-30 minutes walking distance from the school. The student will always have his/her own private room and share other facilities with the family. Guest families provide two meals a day. Special diets, such as those for vegetarians and diabetics may be catered for.

Student residence

Our residences are 20-25 minutes from the school, with 6 to 12 rooms per residence. These are big houses (residences) where students of the school live together with Latin American students who attend University in Buenos Aires. There is a common room, a big fully equipped kitchen, toilets and shared bedrooms. Some of the residences have a garden, a balcony or even a swimming pool.

This is a great option to share daily life with fellow students and volunteers from the school while having the opportunity to meet Latin American students and practice your Spanish. Weekly cleaning and bed linen are included, as are breakfast and an evening meal.

Apartment

This option guarantees complete independence with a single room and shared bathroom, kitchen, and common room.

All of the apartments are secure and situated around 30 minutes from the school. No meals are included. Communal spaces are cleaned once a week.

Prices & Dates

Dates 2012

Programmes run throughout the year upon request (subject to demand), beginning on any Monday.

Holidays: 01/01 - 20 & 21/02 - 24/03 - 2 & 6/04 - 1 & 25/05 - 20/06 - 9/07 - 20/08 - 15/10 - 19/11 - 8 & 25/12

There are no lessons on these days and they cannot be reimbursed nor replaced (although generally an activity is offered on the same day as a replacement).

Programme prices - 2012 -

Includes all taxes & enrollment fees, the selected programme, course, and accommodation