Volunteer in Argentina

Childcare in

Children born into marginalized communities in Buenos Aires have fewer opportunities available to them, and have a higher likelihood of not fulfilling their potential. However, with good support networks and strong nurturing, their outlook on life can be much improved.

Volunteers on the Childcare project in Buenos Aires play an important role in providing support by working in a local soup kitchen. You create a safe environment for the children, by encouraging them to stay off the streets and engage in activities that develop their skills and provide valuable exposure to the English language.

Volunteers support the local staff by facilitating games, activities and providing meals for up to 45 children and teenagers each day. Activities can vary, but typically include arts and crafts, songs and games.

This project is perfectly suited to volunteers with plenty of energy and enthusiasm for working with children. Previous experience or qualifications in early childhood education will be an advantage, as will basic Spanish-speaking skills, but these are not required as you’ll be working under the guidance of local staff.

Childcare in

For school children in disadvantaged areas of Córdoba, it’s not uncommon to have to leave school in order to financially support their families. Investment in early childhood development is seen as being critical to breaking the poverty cycle in Argentina and volunteers play an important role in this respect.

If you’re someone who loves interacting with young children and sparking their enthusiasm to learn, this is the project for you! By introducing new cultures and ideas, you can help to broaden children’s perspectives and stimulate their curiosity.

Volunteers work with children in either a kindergarten, daycare center or soup kitchen placement. Typical activities on this project include educational games, arts and crafts, sports or simply playing and sharing affection with the children.

As you will be volunteering with the support of local placement staff, you don’t need to be a qualified or experienced in childcare to participate. A passion for working with children and initiative is key to being a successful Childcare volunteer.

Please note that during the holiday period from mid-December to the end of February, volunteers will either assist in outdoor children’s summer holiday programs at local public swimming pools, or on other projects, subject to availability. There is also a 2-week school vacation in July, and volunteers are required to switch to another project during this time.

Community in

For those looking to work in a range of areas in local communities, look no further! The Community project can involve all aspects of making a neighborhood area more beautiful and useful for those living there.

As a volunteer, you’ll work alongside local staff in carrying out activities in vulnerable communities. You can assist with feeding programs, helping community elders, recreation, sports and social gatherings, cultural and educational events and job skill workshops.

With so much variety on offer, this project is perfect for volunteers with initiative and enthusiasm. It enables volunteers to get involved in tasks that are prioritized at the time you’re there, so you know your work is worthwhile and appreciated by the local community.

Please note this program is closed during school holidays from mid-December until March. Volunteers can instead assist on government-run Summer School programs for children at swimming pools, and adding value to other outdoor leisure activities. It also closes for another two weeks for holidays in July, during which time volunteers can join another project.

Construction and Renovation in

Charities are responsible for running a number of important community projects in Buenos Aires, but they do so with no financial aid from the government. They often rely on local volunteers and donations for their day-to-day operations, and it makes vital renovation and maintenance work much harder to accomplish.

Construction and Renovation volunteers in Buenos Aires play a crucial role in providing the hands-on help needed to support these local initiatives that, in turn, support the people who live in the local community.

You’ll focus on renovation and maintenance activities within local schools, soup kitchens and other community spaces in low-income areas of Buenos Aires.

This project is well suited to hard-working volunteers who don’t mind getting their hands dirty and are willing to provide support wherever help is most needed. Your tasks can include painting, repairing furniture and equipment, tiling, gardening, or assisting in the construction of internal walls and bathrooms. This kind of work goes a long way to make the buildings safer and more attractive, making them more appealing to members of the community and enhancing the impact they can have.

You are not required to have previous experience in construction or renovation in order to join this project, as you will be volunteering alongside local staff and volunteers from the surrounding communities.

This project has an extra cost of $35 per week for supervision, materials and the logistics involved. This amount will be included in the Program Fee quoted that is quoted to you when you apply for the program.

Construction and Renovation in

For smaller communities around Córdoba, community spaces are popular hubs for local people to meet and socialize. They can help with childcare, leisure activities and other aspects of daily life, but can equally fall into disrepair without regular maintenance.

As a volunteer on this project, you will have the unique opportunity to work alongside local people to help improve their community infrastructure. Your tasks may include renovating buildings, painting, landscaping, gardening and building new rooms or spaces. Projects and volunteer roles will vary during the year, depending on where help is most needed in the community.

This project is well suited to volunteers with high levels of energy and self motivation. A good level of fitness is also recommended as the work can be physically demanding.

You are not required to have previous experience in construction, however a positive outlook and strong dedication to the work at hand will go a long way in ensuring you get the most out of your volunteer project.

Please note, this project has an extra cost of $35 per week for the extra supervision, materials and logistics that are required. This amount will be included in the Program Fee quoted to you by IVHQ when you apply.

Elderly Care in

For some elderly people in Córdoba, their latter years can pose new and confronting challenges as they deal with a lack of resources, loneliness and even abandonment. However, local community centers, and the volunteers that contribute to them, are a safe place that provide important care and company.

As a volunteer, you will provide encouragement, protection and assistance to older people. By keeping the elders company during their scheduled activities you can provide valuable assistance to local staff, as well as socialization and interaction that can make someone’s day.

You’ll help with daily meals and recreational activities, including art workshops, yoga, singing, adapted gymnastics, hairdressing, podiatry and professional psychological assistance. When the need arises, you may also be sent to a local nursing home, where you will work alongside staff and help take care of elders who may be ill and will need special care.

This project is well suited to volunteers who are patient and caring by nature and willing to interact, learn from and provide care to older people. As you’ll be volunteering alongside local staff members, you don’t need to have any prior experience working with the elderly to take part in this project.

Please note that some knowledge of Spanish is recommended so that you are able to easily interact with locals. The project is closed from mid-December until March, and for two weeks in July. Those looking to volunteer during this time will change to a different project.

Healthcare in

Shadowing and observing practicing medical professionals can be a huge learning opportunity, particularly for medical students. This project provides an excellent chance to observe healthcare practices in real life, and in a different cultural setting. There’s also a wide variety of medical specialties that volunteers are able to get involved in.

The Healthcare project in Buenos Aires is open to medical students, nursing students and healthcare professionals. Argentine law prevents students from doing hands-on medical work with patients unless it’s under the supervision of a local professional, which means this only happens rarely. However, there is still plenty to be gained by seeing a modern healthcare system in action.

As a volunteer on this project, you’ll assist the local medical staff in one of the biggest teaching clinics in Buenos Aires. For those interested in working in specific areas of healthcare, you can also volunteer in other nearby clinics which provide a wide range of minor, moderate and major healthcare services to the community. Specialty services provided by these clinics include general medicine and surgery, nursing, pediatrics, physiology, dentistry, gynecology, x-ray, ultrasound and mental health.

Qualified professionals may be able to assist in more of a hands-on role, but that should not be expected. All volunteers will be shadowing local staff when you first begin the program and familiarize yourself with the environment. Further duties will be determined by your level of training, demonstrated expertise, Spanish language level, personality and ability to take initiative.

This project is open to medical and nursing students at all levels, including pre-medical, as well as fully qualified healthcare professionals. An intermediate (B2) level of Spanish is also required.

There is a $65 per week surcharge on this project, for the extra supervision, materials and logistics involved. This amount will be included in the Program Fee quoted that is quoted to you when you apply. It is also recommended that volunteers bring your own medical scrubs, latex gloves and stethoscope.

Once you have registered, you will need to provide a copy of your qualifications and certificates to our local team in Argentina. If you are studying, please provide a copy of your academic transcript. These must be received by our local team at least two weeks prior to your arrival in Buenos Aires.

Healthcare in

The healthcare system in Córdoba is built around many small community clinics that provide general and specialist care, particularly across low-income neighborhoods. These clinics provide general medical care, nursing services, vaccinations, gynaecology, dentistry, social support and other primary health attention.

Volunteers are able to get involved in these different areas, acting in a shadowing capacity with local professionals and socializing with patients. Argentine laws prevent students from touching patients without the supervision of a professional, but there are plenty of learning experiences to be had by observing a modern, functional health system in action.

If you’re someone who has an interest in international healthcare systems within vulnerable communities, this project will be a great choice for you.

Your independence will be determined by your level of training, demonstrated expertise, Spanish language level, personality and ability to take initiative. Depending on your supervisor, you may be able to take blood pressure, administer vaccinations, weigh/measure babies, treat small wounds and carry out other minor tasks.

This project is open to pre-medical, medical and nursing students as well as fully qualified doctors and healthcare professionals. However, because of the mostly observational nature of your duties, experienced volunteers wanting hands-on work may be able to better utilize their skills on another project. Intermediate Spanish is also required, and you also need to bring your own medical scrubs.

Please note that this project has a 2 week minimum duration requirement. Although the Healthcare project operates year-round, during January and February volunteers can expect reduced volunteer hours (morning shifts only). In these times, you can use your spare time to contribute to another project, subject to availability. You will need to bring your own medical scrubs to wear while volunteering in the clinics. Once you have registered for the program, you will need to provide a copy of your qualifications and certificates to our local team in Argentina. If you are studying, you’ll be asked to provide a copy of your academic transcript.

Special Needs Care in

For young people growing up with disabilities, being able to have effective, regular care can make a genuine difference to their lives. The aim of this project is to provide these young adults with useful tools for their active development, stimulating independence and integration within their families and local communities.

Your tasks may include facilitating workshops or classes, organizing events and supporting therapeutic activities. Working with the disabled can be emotionally challenging but also extremely rewarding, and this project is well suited to volunteers with a warm, caring nature and a basic understanding of Spanish.

You aren’t required to have experience working with the disabled to participate, as our local placement staff are on hand to support and guide you in the daily tasks.

Please note this project will experience disruptions during the Christmas and New Year holiday period due to some placement closures, and from January to mid February. During this time, and for a two week holiday period in July, volunteers can supplement their time on other projects, subject to availability.

Sports Education in

Sports can be an effective tool to strengthen communities, improve someone’s quality of life and support their education.

As a volunteer on the Sports Education project, you’ll help local Physical Education teachers to achieve this goal. You’ll be placed on an integrative educational project, which aims to address the holistic issues that lead to poverty and illiteracy in low-income communities in southern Buenos Aires.

You’ll assist a qualified local teacher to facilitate coaching sessions, drills, games and activities for children and teenagers in primary schools and on after school programs.

The local children particularly love football and hockey, although volunteers are encouraged to introduce new games and sports of your own. If you’re passionate about a particular sport, we encourage bringing some equipment from home, or purchasing it in Argentina, as the placements typically have limited resources beyond the main local sports.

Volunteers with an interest in swimming may also have the opportunity to help during swimming lessons at a local pool.

Please note this project is closed during the school holidays, from mid December to end of February/mid-March.

Sports in

For children and teenagers growing up in disadvantaged areas of Córdoba, time spent on the street can often see them fall into bad habits. It’s important to keep them occupied in their leisure time with positive activities, and sport is a fantastic way to do that.

The aim of this project is to provide young people with fun sports and recreational activities outside school. Volunteers work with local staff to help arrange and run sports games such as basketball and football. You’ll typically help out on this project Monday to Friday, from 6pm to 9pm.

This project is well suited to volunteers with high energy levels and a passion for sport and healthy competition.

Please note this project takes place in outdoor areas and the daily activities will therefore depend on the weather. During school holidays from December-February, volunteers assist on government-run Summer School programs for children at swimming pools, and adding value to other outdoor leisure activities.

Teaching/Education in

This is a unique opportunity to assist in an integrative educational project that addresses issues relating to poverty and illiteracy in low-income communities.

Volunteers work in local schools in southern Buenos Aires, which are typically regarded as having fewer opportunities. There, the integrated approach focuses on education and social inclusion with whole families instead of individual children. It also involves bringing different social groups within the school together.

Volunteers can be hugely influential on this project by helping local teachers with English lessons, adding skills as a fluent or native English speaker to help both primary and secondary school-aged children. Your support in assisting with pronunciation and providing additional guidance and support to the children within the class can make a big difference. You may also have the opportunity to assist in other areas, including music and art lessons.

This project is well suited to volunteers eager to help teach English abroad, especially to enthusiastic children who will gain a lot by improving their language skills.

As you will be volunteering with the support of IVHQ’s local team and placement staff, you do not need to be a qualified or experienced teacher to participate on this project. However, we encourage you to come prepared by completing some relevant training. Visit our Online TEFL Course page to learn how to gain an internationally-recognized TEFL certification at a discounted rate.

An intermediate (B1/B2) Spanish-speaking ability is recommended, though is not required as you’ll be working alongside local placement staff.

Please note that due to school holidays, this project is closed from mid-December to between the end of February and mid-March.

Teaching/Education in

As a volunteer on this project, you will act as a positive role model to students from a range of backgrounds. By helping to stimulate and educate young students, you can also impress the value of education and its power to help families to improve their situations.

This project is well suited to volunteers with a positive outlook and passion for education, as your role will be to model positive behavior and engage the students in cross-cultural learning.

Volunteers can act as tutors assisting students aged between 6 and 12 years-old with their assignments and helping to reinforce lessons in Mathematics, Science, English and other subjects.

As you will be volunteering with the support of IVHQ’s local team and placement staff, you don’t need to be a qualified or experienced teacher to participate on this project. However, we encourage volunteers to come prepared by completing some relevant training, like a teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) course. Visit our Online TEFL Course page to learn how to gain an internationally-recognized TEFL certification at a discounted rate.

Please note that volunteers on this project are required to have an intermediate knowledge of Spanish to participate. This project closes for school holidays from mid-December to the end of February, and for two weeks in July. Volunteers will switch to another project during these periods.