Teaching and Education Volunteer Project in Argentina, Buenos Aires

• Making a positive impact on children living in poverty
• Immersion in a culture different to your own
• Meeting new people and making new friends

Volunteer on a teaching project in Buenos Aires in Argentina and help in the education of children who are from low-level income communities. You will help to provide an important service which will help to address the issue of poverty in the area. The project is ideal for anyone who wishes to volunteer and teach while travelling.

An area of high poverty and low literacy levels, the shanty towns in southern Buenos Aires are where your volunteering will be most appreciated. While education rates in Argentina are good, there are still those who are left on the edges of society who are missing out on valuable opportunities. During this project you will be working alongside a local teacher and will help to carry out English lessons to primary and secondary school-aged children. In these lessons you will typically be assisting with pronunciation, and providing additional support to children who may need an extra helping hand.

Your days might not always end with English lessons, and you may have the opportunity to help with lessons which inspire creativity in the children, such as art and music. Not just helping with lessons, your camaraderie with the teachers and other volunteers, interaction with the children, and exposure of the English language will all work together to make this experience rewarding – both for the children and for you.

An optional introductory Spanish course is available which you can do during your first week in Argentina. This is highly recommended as there are a number of Argentine expressions that may be lost in translation if you are not aware of them. Participants can also refresh their knowledge of Spanish vocabulary that will be most relevant and useful for your participation in this project. If required, you can also book more than one week.

The teaching project will take place in a full week from Monday to Friday and you will work every day, either during a morning or afternoon shift.

A typical morning shift will look something like this:

7.20 am: depart from your accommodation to travel to your project location
8.00 am: arrive at your project location and prepare your lesson
1.00 pm: finish your teaching shift and travel back to your accommodation to spend the rest of your day at leisure

The weekends will be spent at your leisure and will be full of opportunities for excursions and social activities with the other volunteers.

Criminal Records Check
We require you to complete a criminal records check in order to take part in this experience. We can accept those that have been done in the last two years if you have the certificate. In the UK it can be done through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), in the USA further details can be found on Travel.State.Gov, otherwise please search for your local service provider. We may also request a reference from a reliable source. You must supply these to us before departure and also take a copy with you to present to the in-country team.

Why do we require a criminal background check?
1) Ensuring a safe environment is conducive to learning, productivity and overall positive experiences for everyone involved.

2) We implement thorough screening processes and we are committed to safety and integrity, fostering trust among participants and the local community.

3) Conducting background checks serves as a preventive measure, deterring individuals with questionable backgrounds from attempting to participate in our programme.

4) Safeguards vulnerable people from potential harm within the programme.

You can arrive any Sunday of the year from the first weekend in January, ready to start activities on the Monday. We ask that you vacate our accommodation on the last Saturday of your trip, either for independent travel or to return to the airport for your international departure.

We run trips until the second weekend in December.

Please note that at times bank holidays and other factors may disrupt trips but we will make every effort to provide adequate activities whilst you are with us.

The City of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is one of the safest countries to travel to in South America, and has a wealth of culture, colour, and landmarks to see. The efficient public transport service will be able to take you to surrounding districts – or barrios. The city centre is buzzing with energy, and includes a mixture of architectural styles and historical influences where you can wander past nineteenth-century buildings, classic cafes, high-rise blocks, and unique boutiques. The heart of the city is the Plaza de Mayo, which is the perfect place to begin a tour of the city, located in the very centre. Begin here and take in the government buildings before making your way to the Avenida de Mayo, the main boulevard of the city.

The Reserva Ecológica in Buenos Aires is an area of wild waterways and grasslands, which offers a unique juxtaposition of nature and city. Buildings may be visible through the trees, however you will feel truly immersed in nature here. Guided walks are available through the reserve as well as a range of tours – including one at night. A variety of species are visible here, including 200 species of birds, ducks, snail hawks, herons, swans, and gallinules. Some small mammals which inhabit the park include lizards, rodents, and coypus, making it a must-see destination for a nature lover.

Social Life in Argentina
Social Life in Argentina represents an important part of daily life. People from Buenos Aires are commonly know as the “porteños” who have the reputation of being quite talkative. Not surprisingly, you will come across loads of cafeterias where people meet up and have long conversations. This particular porteño`s characteristic will easily help you to meet likeminded people who love sport and love travelling. Therefore, by joining a local team club you will meet a great bunch of locals who will help you settle in rapidly and also teach you some Spanish slang!. In addition, our in-country team organises a variety of social activities to bring volunteers together, to share their experiences and, above all, have a good time.

Travel and Adventure in Argentina
Argentina is well-known for its amazing diversity of landscapes and also its vast extension from North to South. It is not by chance that it has become a very popular volunteer travel destination over the last couple of years. You will get ample opportunities to head out of Buenos Aires and explore the local area at weekends. A popular volunteer activity is to visit a farm on the outskirts of Buenos Aires and discover the beauty of the surrounding landscapes while getting to know local villagers!

There are plenty of things to do in Buenos Aires; from attending tango sessions to experiencing a traditional Argentine steak. Lets us know if you can finish it! It is a cosmopolitan and cultural city which has been developing over recent years. The so called Paris of South America gives its name to historical buildings and impressive palaces. Therefore, if you love sports and would also like to experience a taste of an interesting and colourful culture then Buenos Aires is a must-visit!

Spanish Lessons
Argentina is a Spanish speaking country so you will really benefit from having a basic understanding of the language. If, however, you are not a confident Spanish speaker, you can take lessons at our language school in Buenos Aires when you arrive, and also throughout your visit. The school offers a personal one-to-one tuition from native Argentineans who will help develop your understanding of both the local language and culture in which you are living. Beginners, intermediates and advanced levels are all very welcome at the school and all will benefit greatly from their time there.

The language lessons are usually for 2 hours a day to fit in around your placement activities. It does cost a little extra to attend the language school, but the benefits really are priceless. Not only will you be able to build stronger relationships and immerse yourself in the local culture, you will leave Buenos Aires with a transferable skill you can use for the rest of your life.

Accommodation
Accommodation represents an important part of the social atmosphere in Argentina. You will be placed in our shared volunteer guesthouse in Buenos Aires, living with other participants who are in-country at the time. The accommodation is centrally located to your volunteer project with shops and other useful amenities close by.

Airport Pick-Up
Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you are arriving early.

Accommodation
Shared house / student residence accommodation; Basic but comfortable; Shared rooms; Shared kitchen; Shared toilet / shower facilities; shared with other volunteers.

Breakfast
Breakfast is included at the accommodation, so please budget for lunch and dinner.

Training
Full project induction and local orientation given on arrival.

Support
Pre-departure help and advice; Local in-country team; 24 hour emergency support.

Flights; Travel Insurance; Visas; Vaccinations; Lunch and Dinner (Budget GBP £8 -GBP £10 per day), Spending money; In country travel; Laundry service; Extra activities not on itinerary.

Spanish course costs GBP £185 to book pre-departure or USD $210 in country for one-to-one tuition, 2hrs per day.

Preferred Duration
There is no preferred duration but we believe that the longer you can stay the more you will experience and benefit. We also prefer a minimum of 4 weeks given the nature of settling in and building relationships but if you are short on time we also welcome people given the value that can come from the trip rather than not at all.

Pre-requisites
No prior experience or qualifications are required, but an interest in teaching and/or working with children, and a desire to help others through education is required.

Ideal for
Teaching Volunteer Holidays and Placements in Argentina; Community Work and Activity Breaks in Argentina; Volunteer Teaching Gap Years and Career Breaks in South America; and Student Summer Holidays to Argentina.