Childcare Volunteer Program in Argentina - Cordoba
Curious about Childcare volunteering in Argentina - Córdoba? International Volunteer HQ’s Childcare project enables volunteers to help out in local daycares, kindergartens and soup kitchens where children come from disadvantaged communities. Volunteers will gain childcare experience while giving their time, care and attention to children who will have a better chance of continuing their education and later finding the kind of job that could make a real difference to their lives and families.
Highlights:
- Programs start every Monday
- Affordable fees from $325 for 1 week
- Includes accommodation, breakfast and dinner, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
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Help with play, care and education for disadvantaged children
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Check out Córdoba’s rich history and beautiful ancient buildings
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Stay in a home with other volunteers in a peaceful neighborhood of Córdoba
Who is this program suited to?
Key information
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
Children in disadvantaged parts of Córdoba often have to quit school early so they can work to support their families. Investment in early childhood education is seen as being key to helping break the poverty cycle by building life skills and strong support systems from a young age. With these in place the children have a better chance at staying in school and gaining employment in the future.
As a Childcare volunteer you’ll be assisting local teachers and staff at daycare centers, kindergartens and soup kitchens. You will act as a positive role model introducing new cultures and ideas that broaden the children’s perspectives and stimulate their curiosity.
Tasks will vary on different placements but are likely to include:
- Giving children care and affection
- Setting up and playing educational games
- Arranging sports and physical activities
- Supervising arts and crafts
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 two-week school vacation in July, and volunteers are required to switch to another project during this time.
Why do Childcare volunteering in Cordoba with IVHQ?
While volunteering on the Childcare project in Córdoba, you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Improving access to quality education
- Helping students grow and learn in a safe space
- Practicing your Spanish
- Developing your communication skills
- Gaining childcare experience
- Immersing yourself fully in the Argentinian culture
- Exploring the stunning region and city 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
Fluency in Spanish is not a prerequisite for the IVHQ Argentina volunteer program, however on some projects volunteer work will be limited by a lack of language ability. We strongly recommend that all volunteers take advantage of the free Spanish lessons offered exclusively to IVHQ volunteers by our local team in Argentina. Past volunteers feel that taking these lessons help immensely with day-to-day volunteer work and communicating with local people. Volunteers interested in taking the free Spanish lessons can arrange these directly with the local team once in Argentina.
Argentina photo gallery
Recommended online TEFL course
We encourage volunteers on IVHQ’s Teaching and Childcare projects to come prepared by completing some relevant training, such as a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) course. Although formal teaching qualifications are not required on these projects as volunteers are supported by local staff, taking a TEFL course enables you to gain more from the experience. Visit our Online TEFL Course page to learn how to gain an internationally recognized TEFL certification at a discounted rate.
Get TEFL certified online”Thank you for the wonderful experience - Argentina has changed my life! I loved the open-minded experiences, meeting locals who showed us around (very genuine good people) and I ended up adopting a dog during the program.”
Jennifer, American , 27
Read reviews from Childcare volunteers in Cordoba
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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 large homestay in Rivera Indarte, a peaceful neighborhood, 15 - 20 minutes drive from Córdoba airport, and 30 minutes drive to the city center.
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.
Single or double private bedrooms can also be requested at an additional cost of $70 per week, to be paid to our local team in Córdoba and needs to be arranged prior to arrival. If you would like additional nights of accommodation before or after your program duration, this costs $20 per night, which can be paid to our local staff and should be arranged prior to your arrival.
WiFi is available for volunteers to use at the volunteer house. You can also purchase a local SIM card with data for an unlocked mobile phone to keep connected.
Meals
Breakfast and dinner are served each day at the volunteer accommodation. Volunteers can buy lunch from the restaurants, bars and food deliveries within a 5-10 minute walk from the volunteer house.
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
Duration |
Program FeeDue 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
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|---|---|
| 1 week | $325 Equivalent to $47/day |
| 2 weeks | $540 Equivalent to $39/day |
| 3 weeks | $725 Equivalent to $35/day |
| 4 weeks | $910 Equivalent to $33/day |
| 5 weeks | $1,095 Equivalent to $32/day |
| 6 weeks | $1,275 Equivalent to $31/day |
| 8 weeks | $1,625 Equivalent to $30/day |
| 10 weeks | $1,965 Equivalent to $29/day |
| 12 weeks | $2,265 Equivalent to $27/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
- Certificate of International Volunteering
Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.
- All programs attract a Registration Fee of $299 in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
- 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$80 to be sufficient for weekly expenses, including in-country tours and optional Spanish lessons.
Spanish language lessons
Spanish language lessons are available for all levels. IVHQ strongly recommends taking Spanish lessons as they help you communicate and make a bigger impact in your volunteer placement. Taught by professional Spanish teachers and tailored to each person’s specific needs, the classes run for either one or two hours, Monday through Friday. The lessons are arranged with the local team and paid for at orientation. You can choose from:
- 2 hour, small group lessons (10 hours per week): $75 per week
- 1 hour, private lessons (5 hours per week): $80 per week
Check what's required to visit Argentina
Fill out the quick form below to find out what the Covid-19 restrictions and visa requirements are for Argentina, based on your country of residence.
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.
Protecting against COVID-19:
Volunteers tested for COVID-19 within 72 hours of travel
Health & safety information provided during orientation
Strict disinfecting standards for programs & accomodation
Greater physical distance between volunteers
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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