Healthcare & Medical Volunteer Program in Buenos Aires - Argentina

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The Buenos Aires volunteer program is based in and around Argentina’s cosmopolitan capital city, Buenos Aires, with the volunteer accommodation located in the Recoleta neighborhood. Volunteer placements are located in the Barracas area, within 20 to 40 minutes travel time from the volunteer accommodation.

The program begins on the first and third Monday of each month and volunteers can choose to volunteer for periods ranging from 2 weeks to 12 weeks.

The program orientation begins on the first and third Monday of every month and volunteers need to arrive in Buenos Aires on the day before orientation.

After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Ministro Pistarini International Airport, known as Ezeiza International Airport (EZE). Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee.

When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation. 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 Buenos Aires on the day before your program orientation.

Orientation is hosted by our Argentina team and begins on the morning of your chosen start date. Orientation covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Buenos Aires – Introduction to Argentina, Culture and Customs, Rules and Expectations, Safety, Travel Opportunities, 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.

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 may have a morning or afternoon shift, or both, and can expect to work a minimum of 3 hours, Monday through Friday. A typical daily schedule would be as follows:

8.00AM – Breakfast at the volunteer accommodation.

8.30AM - 9.00AM – Volunteers travel to their placements.

9.30AM - 1.00PM – Work at the placement commences, if you have been assigned a morning shift.

1.00PM - 2.00PM – Break for lunch

2.00PM - 4.00PM – Work at the placement commences, if you have been assigned an afternoon shift.

5.00PM - 7.00PM – You are free to travel back to the volunteer house for your Spanish lessons, go sightseeing or do some shopping.

Please note, this is an example schedule as some projects take place in the afternoon. Start time and daily workload depends on the project that the individual volunteer is participating on.

Volunteers are accommodated in a multi-story, dormitory-style volunteer hostel in the neighborhood of Recoleta in central Buenos Aires. It has free WiFi and great facilities for volunteers, including a top terrace and deck for socializing, communal kitchen and living areas.

Volunteers can expect to share a bedroom with up to three other volunteers of the same gender. Bedrooms are comprised of single beds and bunk beds with bedding provided, however volunteers will need to bring their own towels. Bathroom facilities are shared between volunteers with hot showers and western toilets.

The volunteer accommodation is located within walking distance to a medical school from the University of Buenos Aires; which makes the area very vibrant. Supermarkets, grocery shops and greengrocers are all found nearby. There are also three metro lines and many bus lines at walking distance which will take you anywhere within the city.

Extra nights of accommodation are subject to availability and cost $13 per person, per night.

You will be provided with groceries to make a continental style breakfast every day, which is prepared in the kitchen/dining room of the volunteer house and includes toast and spreads, cereal and fruit.

For lunch and dinner, you can cook for yourself in the generous and well established communal kitchen of the volunteer accommodation which has a gas hob, oven, microwave, fridge and pantry space. Alternatively, you can purchase lunch and dinner from restaurants nearby the volunteer placements and accommodation at a cost of between $5 to $10 per meal.

Virtual Spanish Language Lessons

If you would like to improve your Spanish language ability before starting your volunteer program, our team in Buenos Aires deliver interactive online Spanish lessons that are popular with IVHQ volunteers.

These virtual lessons are highly recommended to help settle any language barriers or culture shock you can face when arriving in Argentina.

If you would like to sign up for virtual Spanish lessons, just make a note in your application or contact your IVHQ Program Manager who will assist you in booking the lessons.

The lesson content is created and delivered by qualified teachers of Spanish as a second language, who have extensive experience teaching both online and in the classroom. The online Spanish course focuses not only on teaching Spanish but also providing you with valuable vocabulary and tools needed to help you prepare for your volunteer project.

The virtual language classes are taught from Monday to Friday via Zoom and Google Classroom. Volunteers can choose to join small group classes or personalized private classes which cater for all language abilities from beginner to advanced.

• 1-week virtual group lessons (80 minute classes, 5x per week): US$100
• 1-week virtual private lessons (60-80 minute classes, 5x per week): US$130

Class timetables will be set with the provider once a volunteer has secured their place. Outside of these contact hours volunteers will complete assignments and have access to a Q&A forum.

Volunteer progress will be assessed by the coordinator and teachers through the online syllabus which will be used to track the progress and performance of each student. All volunteers will be provided with a Certificate of Completion at the end of each week and can request a formal final assessment if they wish.

Spanish Language Lessons in Buenos Aires

A 1-week Spanish language crash course is offered in Buenos Aires for those volunteers who are new to Spanish and want to learn the basics. The lessons are held from Monday to Friday.

1-week group lessons (2-hour classes, 5x per week): US$195

If you have an intermediate or advanced level of Spanish, and would like additional classes while in Buenos Aires, our local team will assist you in arranging classes at a nearby Spanish language school.

Please contact us or your IVHQ Program Manager for more information or to sign up for any of these language lesson options.

On the weekends, volunteers have free time to relax or explore the bustling and vibrant city of Buenos Aires. You can also spend your weekends exploring nearby areas, or take a boat over to Uruguay! Many volunteers also take advantage of the short flight or overnight bus to Mendoza (wine region near the Andes), Córdoba, or Rosario. Argentina offers plenty of activities for adventurous volunteers, including trekking, mountain climbing, horseback riding, paragliding, and abseiling - just to name a few! Our local team in Argentina will be happy to advise you on any weekend travel arrangements you might like to make when you arrive in Buenos Aires.

See our Argentina travel and tours page for more volunteer travel options in Argentina!

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 is the driest period of the year (June to August). 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).

Volunteers need to be 18 years or over to participate on this program, unless volunteering with a parent or guardian. If you are under the age of 18, IVHQ offers alternative volunteer opportunities for teens. Visit our High School Volunteer Abroad page to learn more.

All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance and upload a criminal background check via MyIVHQ before arriving in Argentina.

For the Medical project, volunteers must be studying or qualified in a relevant field and have an intermediate level of Spanish.

Free Interactive Volunteer Training - All volunteers are encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training, which is available exclusively to registered IVHQ volunteers. The training is designed to build an understanding of important aspects that need to be considered before embarking on an IVHQ program. It helps volunteers to prepare in the right way by providing advice on what it takes to be a safe, responsible and valuable volunteer. Try a sample of the training here.