Healthcare and Medical Volunteer Program in Argentina - Cordoba
Looking to volunteer in Healthcare in Argentina - Córdoba? International Volunteer HQ’s Healthcare volunteer project is an exciting chance for pre-medical, medical and nursing students or qualified professionals to gain medical experience and observe clinical practice in a cross-cultural setting. Medical volunteering in Argentina helps increase access to healthcare and improve the wellbeing of local people.
Highlights:
- Programs start every Monday
- Affordable fees from $540 for 2 weeks
- Includes accommodation, breakfast and dinner, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
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Shadow local professionals in community clinics across low-income areas
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Explore the vibrant streets of Córdoba
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Relax in the pool at the large volunteer homestay
Who is this program suited to?
Key information
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
Healthcare in Córdoba is largely provided by a series of small community clinics that assist with both general and more specialist care. These small clinics make it easier for people in disadvantaged neighbourhoods to access quality healthcare. Volunteers can make a difference by contributing their time and energy to support local staff who also benefit from exchanging ideas and knowledge with international volunteers.
You’ll shadow local staff for the first few weeks of the project, while you find your feet and settle in. After that, your tasks will be customized to your skills, experience, training, personality and Spanish language ability. You may be able to:
- Take blood pressure
- Weigh and measure babies
- Treat small wounds
- Carry out other minor tasks.
Students aren’t allowed to treat patients in Argentina without the supervision of a local professional so for less qualified volunteers, duties will be mostly observational, assisting local staff with routine tasks including:
- Check-ups and basic medical care
- Taking patient details and measurements
- Helping where needed around the clinics
Fully qualified health professionals will be able to immediately volunteer in a more hands-on capacity.
During January and February volunteers can expect reduced volunteer hours (morning shifts only). In these times, you can use the extra time to contribute to another project, subject to availability. You’ll also need to bring your own scrubs to wear while volunteering in the clinics.
Why do Healthcare volunteering in Cordoba with IVHQ?
When you volunteer on the Healthcare volunteer project in Argentina - Córdoba, you’ll be improving access to healthcare for the local community, while also gaining medical experience through:
- Assisting qualified medical professionals
- Gaining healthcare experience and skills
- Getting exposure to different clinical practices in action
- Practicing your Spanish
- Developing your cross-cultural communication skills
- Immersing yourself in Argentinian culture
- Exploring the beautiful region of Córdoba
Volunteer requirements
Volunteers need to be 18 years or over to participate on this program. 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.
Argentina photo gallery
Medical specialities on the Argentina - Córdoba volunteer project
In Córdoba you may have the opportunity to volunteer in the following medical areas:
- General medicine
- Nursing
- Dentistry
- Gynecology
- Gastroenterology
- Nutrition
- Special Needs
- Urology
Please be sure to note your area of speciality, relevant qualifications and experience in your application.
”Saying good bye to one of the nurses really stands out to me. She gave us a long speech after helping an elderly homeless woman. It was so heartfelt and just really reminded me of exactly why I want to become a nurse, and I aspire to be the kind of nurse she is - compassionate, loving, kind, dedicated and non-judgmental. She is truly a wonderful woman and I'...” read more
Kelli, American, 27
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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.
Alternatively, there is the option for volunteers to stay in a hostel in downtown Cordoba, in the heart of the city’s attractions and buzzing nightlife. If you have a preference as to which accommodation you would prefer, please let your Program Manager know.
WiFi is available for volunteers to use at the volunteer house and hostel. 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.
|
|---|---|
| 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
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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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