It's difficult to put into words what I gained from this experience, because it was a deeply personal and emotional experience. I think that every teacher in the United States should have to volunteer in another country- I gained a perspective and an appreciation for what teachers in Buenos Aires manage on a daily basis. I did not want to leave the students, and each day with them was a gift. I would love to come back and work with them again. I have nothing but deepest gratitude to the team and the work they are doing.
Teaching Volunteer Project in Argentina - Buenos Aires
Purpose
Start dates
Duration
Volunteer hours
Age
Accommodation
Who is going?
Group video calls
Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
This program is ideal for:
Volunteers who enjoy working with children, are aspiring teachers or want to help a community through education at a grass-roots level. No previous experience is required as you’ll be working alongside qualified local teachers. Intermediate level of Spanish language recommended.
Project details
Inspired to be a Teaching volunteer in Argentina - Buenos Aires? International Volunteer HQ’s Teaching project will see you helping teachers, students and their families in a disadvantaged part of the city. By sharing your invaluable English language skills, you’ll gain classroom experience and help improve access to education within the local community. This enables local people to get better paying jobs to support themselves and their families.
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
In some parts of Buenos Aires, poverty and exclusion are everyday realities, affecting students’ access to education. This project seeks to change that narrative by bringing the community closer together and promoting literacy for all, focusing on whole families rather than individuals. It’s about more than just reading and writing – it’s about empowering each member to shape their own future.
Join us as a volunteer teacher in Argentina and immerse yourself in classrooms and community centers where your support can make all the difference. Here, the chance to practice English, especially pronunciation, with a fluent or native speaker is a rare gem. Your assistance alongside local teachers will not only help students improve their language skills but also boost their confidence. It’s a rare and valuable opportunity to make a meaningful impact while experiencing the rich culture of Argentina.
Volunteering as a teacher involves a range of activities on a daily basis, which typically include:
- Supporting local teachers
- Offering tutoring sessions to students
- Providing guidance on pronunciation and language usage
- Assisting with various classroom tasks
Why do Teaching volunteering in Buenos Aires with IVHQ?
When you join the Teaching project in Argentina - Buenos Aires, you’ll be giving a hand up to the local community while also developing personally and professionally by:
Improving access to education in Argentina - Buenos Aires
- Helping students develop the skills they need to find long-term employment
- Practicing your Spanish
- Developing your communication skills
- Gaining teaching abroad experience
- Exploring Argentina’s bustling cosmopolitan capital
Volunteer requirements
Volunteers need to be at least 16 years or over to participate on this project independently and provide IVHQ with parental consent.
Volunteers aged over 18 on their start date are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ before departure.
All volunteers must speak English and 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.
Who is going?
Group video calls
Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
Argentina photo gallery
Academic course credit
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!
Learn about course creditRecommended online TEFL course
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 onlineLocation
Location
On IVHQ’s Buenos Aires projects, you’ll find yourself volunteering in one of the world’s largest and most diverse cities. Millions of immigrants make this a dynamic city with a unique fusion of European heritage and South American roots. You’ll be staying in the upmarket and culturally-rich Recoleta neighborhood where you can visit Eva Peron’s tomb or enjoy numerous statues, world-famous museums and art galleries. The city center is a short trip by metro.
Arrival and orientation
The program begins every Monday 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 taken 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 IVHQ’s Argentina team and begins on the morning of your 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.
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 may have a morning or afternoon shift, or both, and can expect to volunteer a minimum of three hours, Monday through Friday. A typical daily schedule would be as follows:
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast at the volunteer accommodation. |
| 8:30 - 9:00 AM | Volunteers travel to their placements. |
| 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM | Work at the placement commences, if you have been assigned a morning shift. |
| 1:00 - 2:00 PM | Break for lunch. |
| 2:00 - 4:00 PM | Work at the placement commences, if you have been assigned an afternoon shift. |
| 5:00 - 7:00 PM | You are free to travel back to the volunteer house for your Spanish lessons, go sightseeing or do some shopping. |
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.
Please note that the schedule may occasionally change due to weather, public or school holidays, or other unforeseen events that could affect your placement. We recommend checking in advance whether your intended travel dates coincide with any public or school holidays.
Weekends
Relax and take the time to discover the beauty of Buenos Aires. Hit the dancefloor and learn to tango, take in a football game, see the city’s highlights by bus or try Argentina’s famous steaks at one of the many restaurants and cafes. It’s only a short trip to the nearby cities of Córdoba or Rosario, or to sample wine in the Mendoza region and experience the Iguaçu Falls and National Park. If you’re in the mood for an adventure there’s trekking, mountain climbing, horseback riding, paragliding and abseiling opportunities. And for something different, find beautiful beaches and practice your Spanish in Uruguay - only a quick boat ride away.
Looking for more ideas of things to do in Argentina - Buenos Aires? Check out our Argentina Tours & Experiences!
Accommodation and WiFi
Volunteers in Buenos Aires stay in a welcoming hostel located in the vibrant San Telmo neighbourhood, one of the city’s most popular areas. With cafés, restaurants, parks, shops and public transport all within easy walking distance, the hostel provides an ideal base for both your volunteer placement and exploring Buenos Aires in your free time.
Volunteers are accommodated in comfortable, gender-separated shared dormitories, with shared bathroom facilities. The hostel offers a range of modern amenities, including free Wi-Fi, a fully equipped communal kitchen, spacious indoor and outdoor common areas, and coworking spaces.
Breakfast is provided each morning, while lunch and dinner can be purchased from the many affordable cafés, restaurants and supermarkets located nearby, giving volunteers plenty of flexibility to sample Argentina’s renowned cuisine.
Meals
Every morning, a continental-style breakfast is available in the kitchen/dining room and includes a selection of eggs, toast, spreads, cereal, fruit, tea, and coffee. Volunteers must prepare their own breakfast.
For lunch and dinner, you have the option to cook your meals in the spacious and well-equipped communal kitchen at the volunteer accommodation. The kitchen features a gas hob, oven, microwave, fridge, and ample pantry space. Alternatively, you can enjoy meals at nearby restaurants, with prices ranging from $5 to $25 per meal.
Pricing
Spots are limited. For a Registration Fee of just US$329 (approximately $329) you secure your spot and unlock all our preparation and training tools.
You don't need to worry about paying your Program Fee until you get closer to your start date.
|
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.
|
|---|---|
| 1 week | $455 Equivalent to $65/day |
| 2 weeks | $675 Equivalent to $48/day |
| 3 weeks | $830 Equivalent to $40/day |
| 4 weeks | $985 Equivalent to $35/day |
| 5 weeks | $1,140 Equivalent to $33/day |
| 6 weeks | $1,295 Equivalent to $31/day |
| 8 weeks | $1,605 Equivalent to $29/day |
| 10 weeks | $1,915 Equivalent to $27/day |
| 12 weeks | $2,225 Equivalent to $26/day |
- All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$329 (approximately $329) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
- A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
- Breakfast
- Airport pick-up
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country emergency support
- In-country program orientation
- Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
- Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
- Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
- Comprehensive in-country day to day support and guidance
- Discounts on language lessons
- Discounts on travel, tours, and experiences
- Certificate of International Volunteer Service
Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.
- Lunch and dinner
- Transport to and from your placement each day
- Return to the airport when your program finishes
- Flights
- Visa (if required), travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check.
- Personal spending money for snacks, laundry, public transportation, drinks and leisure activities during your free time.
Popular tours & experiences in Buenos Aires
Take your volunteer experience to the next level with these popular tours and experiences. Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto the IVHQ Buenos Aires program.
For the nature lover who also wants to explore the nightlife of the urban jungle and have plenty of time on the beach, this nine-day adventure offers the perfect combination of natural beauty and cosmopolitan culture. Travel from the tango palaces of Buenos Aires to the samba pulse of Rio de Janeiro and discover spectacular wilderness in between. Encounter thundering Iguassu Falls with views from both Argentina and Brazil. Then continue to the coast and soak in the sun on Ilha Grande’s beaches and colonial culture in Paraty. Go beyond a vacation — and step into adventure!
As a destination for active travellers, Patagonia is nothing short of iconic. The very best way to do this South American region justice is to hike all over it. Trek through the crisp air of El Chaltén (with its crazy beautiful Fitz Roy mountain) and then to the area near the imposing Perito Moreno Glacier. In between, marvel at the giant sky, vast views, and big city appeal of Buenos Aires while you revel in a sense of personal triumph. Patagonia’s ready and waiting for you.
Enjoy a stress free ride from Buenos Aires back to Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) arranged by our local team.
Recommended Spanish Language Classes
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 join personalized private classes which cater for all language abilities from beginner to advanced.
- 1-week virtual private lessons (60-80 minute classes, 5x per week): $132
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 private lessons (2-hour classes, 5x per week): $197
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.
Check what's required to visit Argentina
Entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important you monitor this right up until you depart for your trip.
Safety and support
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.
Essential country information
Essential country information
| Capital | Buenos Aires |
| Population | 41.09 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 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).
What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience
I would highly recommend joining the program in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The local team is wonderful—supportive, dedicated, and truly inspiring. The organization is fully committed to making a real difference in the lives of disadvantaged children living in the slums of Buenos Aires.
This experience has the power to transform your perspective and bring lasting joy to your life.
I received the best local team support and met the most wonderful people who all left a lasting impression on me. The social aspect of the program alongside doing your project with others is amazing and I would highly recommend it. My flatmates quickly became my close friends and it was a very welcoming environment to volunteer in.
I feel like I have gained a whole new found confidence. Before this project I had never taught English, with IVHQ I was able to aid in English classes in some schools and in others I taught full lessons. Volunteering helped to immerse me into Argentinian culture more as we worked in an area that we would not have gone to if we had not volunteered through IVHQ. I really recommend IVHQ to anyone thinking about volunteering - you will make great friends, make amazing memories, and make a difference even if it is small.
To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.
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