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Construction & Renovation Volunteer Program in Cordoba - Argentina

Construction & Renovation Volunteer Program in Cordoba - Argentina

Keen to volunteer on the Construction and Renovation project in Argentina - Córdoba? International Volunteer HQ’s Construction project enables volunteers to gain experience and skills in building, renovation and maintenance at important community spaces in low-income parts of Córdoba. These spaces require hands-on help with the upkeep and improvement of their facilities so they can continue the vital work they do supporting local communities.

Highlights:
  • Programs start every Monday
  • Affordable fees from CA$550 for 1 week
  • Includes accommodation, breakfast and dinner, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
  • Build, paint and garden to improve vital community spaces

  • Discover Córdoba’s natural beauty

  • Stay with a local family and other volunteers in a peaceful neighborhood

Key information

Support disadvantaged communities
Based in diverse neighborhoods in Córdoba
Local homestay accommodation
Volunteers aged 16+ and families
Fully hosted experience from CA$550 for 1 week
Durations from 1 - 24 weeks
Spanish language lessons available
Up to 5 hours volunteering a day

This program is ideal for:

Physically active volunteers who don’t mind rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck in. No previous experience is needed because you’ll be teamed up with experienced local staff and volunteers from the surrounding communities.
Who is this program suited to?

What to expect and how you'll make an impact

In smaller, rural neighbourhoods around Córdoba, community spaces are important social hubs where people gather and connect. They usually help with childcare, leisure activities and other important aspects of daily life. There’s often no money or support available for crucial repairs, regular maintenance or improvements that would make their buildings safer, more fuctional and attractive.

As a Construction and Renovation volunteer in Argentina - Córdoba, you’ll assist local teams with the maintenance and renovation of their community spaces, meaning the organizations who run them will be better able to support local communities and make a bigger impact.

Construction volunteer work varies, but tasks may include:

  • Painting
  • Renovating buildings
  • Landscaping
  • Gardening
  • Building new rooms or spaces
Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

As job losses escalate as a result of Covid-19, it is estimated that nearly half of the global workforce is at risk of losing their livelihoods. We must improve access to jobs, decent work conditions and community services in order to achieve peace, sustainable economic growth and a better quality of life for all.

Why do Construction and Renovation volunteering in Cordoba with IVHQ?

While volunteering on the Construction project, you’ll be helping out local neighbourhoods while also developing personally and professionally by:

  • Making community spaces more safe, useful and appealing
  • Supporting local projects that serve low-income communities
  • Practicing your Spanish
  • Developing your communication skills
  • Gaining construction skills and experience
  • Immersing yourself fully in Argentinian culture
  • Exploring the stunning region of Córdoba

Volunteer requirements

  • Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate in this program
  • Volunteers aged 16-18 are required to provide IVHQ with parental consent and may be asked to provide additional documentation to the local team
  • All volunteers aged 13+ are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ prior to departure. Those aged 13-17, if unable to obtain a criminal background check, can provide two character reference letters instead
  • All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance
Are you eligible to volunteer?

Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.

Apply For Free

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What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience

AP
Alice Pedretti
11 Aug 2023

I gained a greater knowledge of who I am as a person as well as of the culture I was immersed in. I was able to improve my Spanish a lot as I was immersed in the language all the time. This program is great for growing as a person and meeting people you wouldn’t normally meet in your daily life. It forces you to grow in a positive way. The programs I have done always find a way to take up a special place in my heart as I always feel like I made a positive impact as well as the program impacted me greatly.

...
OK
Olivia Kocot
06 Jun 2023

DO IT! This experience changed my life! I loved staying in a homestay with a family because I got to really see the culture of the country through the food, routines, and day-to-day lifestyle. In all honesty, I really thought about staying another week and if my personal schedule allowed it, I would have. I really didn't want to leave. DO IT!

...
IJ
Isaiah John
06 Jun 2023

If someone was hesitant about volunteering abroad I would tell them to go through IVHQ since they make the process safe, clean, and efficient for the volunteer.

...
AT
Anna Taraboletti Segre
06 Jun 2023

It is a great, safe way to travel. You feel less like a tourist and have the opportunity to be immersed in the local life and see another country from "within".

...
MD
Maggie DeVine
19 Dec 2022

If someone was hesitant about volunteering abroad, I would tell them that it is a life changing experience in the best way possible. The friends that I made while I was there and the people that I met made me fall in love with Argentina as a whole, but especially Cordoba. I think that the community positively impacted me more than I impacted the community but I truly loved it! The local team were also truly the best in every way! They were welcoming, kind, fun, helpful, and made me feel right at home :)

...
JR
Jacob Rusen-Steele
29 Jan 2021

I just want to say there is an amazing group of people working as well as volunteering in Argentina, and I am so happy I was able to meet and get to know them all during my stay!

...

To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.

Academic course credit through International Volunteer HQ and Intern Abroad HQ.

Academic course credit

Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!

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Volunteer Abroad in Argentina, Córdoba with IVHQ

Location

In the middle of Argentina, IVHQ’s Córdoba projects are set against the breathtaking backdrop of rolling hills and valleys which surround the city. Córdoba is home to Argentina’s second largest university and hundreds of thousands of students who give it a lively, modern flavour. You’ll find great markets, picturesque parks, pumping nightlife and masses of museums, cathedrals and cultural icons just waiting to be discovered.

Arrival and orientation

After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at the Ambrosio Taravella International Airport (COR) in Córdoba. Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee. We recommend that volunteers under the age of 18 travel internationally with a notarized letter of consent from their parents to support their documentation.

When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and taken to the volunteer accommodation in Córdoba. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation.

If you are traveling in Argentina prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up in Córdoba on the day before your program orientation. Orientation is hosted by our Córdoba team and begins on the morning of your chosen start date. It covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Córdoba – an introduction to Argentina, culture and customs, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities, and an introduction to project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing.

Volunteer schedule example

First Day

On your first day of volunteering, you will be escorted to your placement by a local coordinator and introduced to the placement staff you will be working with.

Weekdays

Volunteers will have a morning or afternoon shift, which will last around 2 to 5 hours. A typical morning schedule is as follows:

7:30 AM Breakfast at the volunteer accommodation.
8:00 AM Volunteers travel to their placements to join local placement staff. Start time and daily workload depends on the project that the individual volunteer is participating on.
1:00 PM Work at the placement usually ends. Volunteers are free to travel back to the volunteer accommodation, go sightseeing, or do some shopping. If volunteers are taking Spanish language lessons, they will usually do this in the afternoon (or in the morning if they are volunteering in the afternoon).
8:00 PM Dinner at the volunteer accommodation.

Weekends

Maybe the rhythm of Córdoba’s famous cuarteto music will call to your feet, maybe you’ll forage for a flea market bargain, take a trip to the Che Guevara Museum, adventure in the mountains, try Argentina’s beloved Fernet and Coke or spend your time discovering the Jesuit Block. Maybe you’ll do it all and more, or just relax in a peaceful park and sip a coffee. In any case there’s no shortage of things to see and do during your free time in Córdoba. But if it’s time for a change of scene, Córdoba’s central location means it’s easy to hop on a plane or jump in a car or bus and visit Argentina’s buzzy capital, Buenos Aires, or pay a visit to the Mendoza wine region or the city of Rosario. If the outdoors are your thing, there’s plenty of trekking, mountain climbing, horseback riding, paragliding, and abseiling fun to be had in the Córdoba region and nearby.

Accommodation and WiFi

Volunteers are accommodated in a family homestay in Barrio El Refugio, a peaceful neighborhood, 15 - 20 minutes drive from Córdoba airport, and 30 minutes drive to the city center. Your hostess is also your coordinator so our local team will be very easy to approach and always available in case you need anything.

This two-story homestay has great facilities for volunteers, including a barbecue area and a swimming pool which is available in the summer. Bedrooms have single beds and bunk beds and you can expect to share a bedroom with one to three other volunteers of the same gender. Bathrooms with hot showers and western toilets are shared between no more than three other volunteers, and bedding and towels are provided.

A private room (without a private bathroom) can also be requested at an additional cost of US$70 (approximately CA$100) per week for a single room or US$105 (approximately CA$150) per week for a double room. This needs to be paid to our local team in Córdoba and needs to be arranged prior to arrival.

WiFi is available for volunteers to use at the homestay. You can also purchase a local SIM card with data for an unlocked mobile phone to keep connected.

Meals

Breakfast and dinner are served every weekday at the volunteer accommodation. On the weekend you will only be provided with breakfast, however, you will be provided with supplies so that you can prepare your own dinner.

If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know ahead of time so that we can make arrangements for you. Remember that you should be flexible and open to trying new foods and we will do our best to see that you are well taken care of.

Pricing

  • USD
Duration
Program Fee
Due 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
  • USD
1 week CA$550 Equivalent to CA$79/day
2 weeks CA$908 Equivalent to CA$65/day
3 weeks CA$1223 Equivalent to CA$58/day
4 weeks CA$1538 Equivalent to CA$55/day
5 weeks CA$1852 Equivalent to CA$53/day
6 weeks CA$2160 Equivalent to CA$51/day
8 weeks CA$2761 Equivalent to CA$49/day
10 weeks CA$3348 Equivalent to CA$48/day
12 weeks CA$3877 Equivalent to CA$46/day
16 weeks CA$4936 Equivalent to CA$44/day
20 weeks CA$5994 Equivalent to CA$43/day
24 weeks CA$6996 Equivalent to CA$42/day
  • Accommodation
  • Breakfast and dinner
  • 24/7 in-country support
  • In-country program orientation
  • Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
  • Airport pick-up
  • Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
  • Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
  • Discounts on language lessons
  • Discounts on travel and tour add-ons
  • Certificate of International Volunteer Service

Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.

  • All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$329 (approximately CA$470) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services. IVHQ fees are priced in USD but you may elect to pay in CAD.
  • A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
  • Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check, lunch, public transport to and from your placement each day and return to the airport when your program finishes.
  • Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Cordoba generally find US$50 to be sufficient for weekly expenses, including in-country tours and optional Spanish lessons.

Free-time experiences & tours in Argentina

Take your volunteer experience to the next level with IVHQ's affordable activity and tour add-ons in Argentina! Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto the IVHQ Argentina program.

BBQ Night
BBQ Night

Experience an authentic home-made Argentinian BBQ with plenty of meat and vegetables.

CA$42
Buenos Aires Overnight Tour
Buenos Aires Overnight Tour

Experience a 2-day round trip tour to Buenos Aires.

CA$223
Cordoba Mountain Tour (Full Day)
Cordoba Mountain Tour (Full Day)

Enjoy a captivating 10 hour guided tour to any of the six different valleys and towns that you have to choose from.

CA$77
Buenos Aires Overnight Tour
Buenos Aires Overnight Tour

Experience a 2-day round trip tour to Buenos Aires.

CA$223
Cordoba Mountain Tour (Full Day)
Cordoba Mountain Tour (Full Day)

Enjoy a captivating 10 hour guided tour to any of the six different valleys and towns that you have to choose from.

CA$77
Cordoba Mountain Tour (Half Day)
Cordoba Mountain Tour (Half Day)

Enjoy a 4 hour guided tour to any of the six different valleys and towns that you have to choose from.

CA$51
BBQ Night
BBQ Night

Experience an authentic home-made Argentinian BBQ with plenty of meat and vegetables.

CA$42
Iguazu Falls Trip
Iguazu Falls Trip

Embark on a captivating three-day journey to witness the largest waterfall system in the world.

CA$1286
Private Virtual Spanish Language Lessons
Private Virtual Spanish Language Lessons

Improve your Spanish skills before volunteering abroad on the Buenos Aires program with our interactive one-to-one online language lessons.

From CA$185

Spanish language lessons

Fluency in Spanish is not a prerequisite for the IVHQ Argentina - Córdoba program, however on certain projects volunteer work will be restricted with limited language ability. IVHQ, therefore, strongly recommends that volunteers take advantage of the very affordable language lessons offered exclusively to IVHQ volunteers. Past volunteers feel that taking these lessons help immensely with day-to-day volunteer work and communicating with local people. Taught by professional Spanish teachers and tailored to each person’s specific needs, the classes run for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. The lessons are arranged with your IVHQ Program Manager prior to departure.

  • 1 hour, private lessons (5 hours per week): CA$111 per week

Check what's required to visit Argentina

Safety and support with IVHQ

Safety and support

IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.

  • All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
  • All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
  • All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
  • All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Learn more about IVHQ's safety

Essential country information

Capital Buenos Aires
Population 45.1 million
Languages Spanish
Currency Argentine Peso
Time zone UTC-03:00

Weather and climate

Like its topography, Argentina’s climate varies greatly. The climate ranges from subtropical in the north, to humid in the central regions, to sub-Antarctic in the south. Winter, from June to August, is the driest period of the year. The coldest months are June and July and the warmest month is January. Average annual temperatures in Buenos Aires range from 51°F to 83°F (11°C to 28°C).

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How to get started

Pick a destination + project and apply for free
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Pay the Registration Fee to secure your place and upgrade your MyIVHQ account
Get ready to volunteer abroad, we’ll support you every step of the way!