Rewarding Work in cosmopolitan Buenos Aires. You can teach a
variety of subjects to children of all ages in a choice of schools, orphanages
and social assistance centres. You can also assist in teaching in the Villa Soldatti Community
Project. Villa Soldatti is the name of a shanty town within central Buenos Aires
and is the location of one of our most deserving community projects.
Argentina
is stunning! Many neighbourhoods have their own
unique flair, such as the brightly painted houses of La Boca or
beautiful Belgrano. Argentina is a vast country with a dramatically varied
landscape, from the subtropical north to the sub-Antarctic south.
You don't need any qualifications to do a teaching
project.
►SUMMARY
FACTFILE
Start Dates
All year round - you choose your
start and finish dates!
Duration
2 weeks to 1 year, subject to visa
requirements
Requirements
Minimum age 17, no qualifications necessary
(just a good dose of enthusiasm!). If you're teaching English, you
must be fluent in the language.
Price
£795 for 2 weeks, ranging up to £2,245 for 12 weeks.
Full Price List
What's included
►Accommodation
►Food (excluding
lunch)
►Meeting you at BA Airport
►Transfer to your accommodation
►Transport to and from your
project
►Full
pre-departure support
►Local in-country team support and backup
►24-hr emergency
support.
►2 free T-Shirts.
What's not included
Flights, Insurance, Cost of Visas (if a
visa is required, but we'll provide necessary documents and assistance), Return transfer to
airport.
Who can do this Project?
All projects are
open to all nationalities.
Unless otherwise stated, you need to be aged between 17 and 70+
PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
Travellers have teaching placements with three
groups of people:
Children, teenagers or single mothers in
various homes across Buenos Aires
Children or teenagers in private schools
across Buenos Aires
All ages of adults in various different
institutions including community centers, hospitals, churches, etc.
WHAT YOU'LL GAIN FROM DOING THIS PROJECT:
An exciting, never-to-be-forgotten adventure into
Latin America.
The enormous satisfaction of helping disadvantaged children and
knowing that you made a difference to them.
New skills, more confidence, a greater understanding
of a different culture, invaluable personal and professional
development.
An entry on your CV or résumé that will put you head
and shoulders above most others in the job market
And best of all ... an unforgettable experience!
WORKING IN
HOMES: Teaching is available in a variety of
homes, where the residents may be children, teenagers or single mothers.
Often these children or teenagers come from deprived or abusive backgrounds
and have been taken into care by the justice department. Usually they attend
school during the week but most have to return to their homes over the
weekend, which is often not pleasant for them.
Despite these disadvantages, the children are
usually warm and friendly and they need and respond well to care, attention and
affection. In several homes children suffer from behavioural problems and may be
far behind in their classes. Volunteers are
needed to provide very basic English teaching through playing
or singing with the children. All of the children are starved of affection,
and volunteering in any home can be a challenging
task. In order to work in most
of the homes you must have a reasonable knowledge of Spanish because
these children or teenagers have no knowledge (or very limited knowledge) of
English.
"Every day is very different which is why I really love this placement!"
Olivia Goodman
An example of one of the many homes that we are
working with is "Hogar Los Querubines". This is
a home for children whose
parents are infected with HIV or whose parents have died from HIV.
There are 12 children living there. The
Home
is very poor as it gets no
money from the government, and many of the resident
children do not even have paperwork, so officially they “don’t exist”.
Travellers volunteers have taught at Hogar Los Querubinesfor the
past 5 years and this project is very special
to us; we make a financial contribution every month to help support the
home. In combination with the assistance of dedicated volunteers this has made a
vast improvement to the home and a great difference to the lives of the
children.
Another problem they face is extreme
overcrowding and therefore they are also looking to rent another
facility. Together we are trying to raise funds to help them with this new
challenge! Together we can help!
Teaching at this home is entirely optional and if you do not want
to teach here then you do not have to.
"I
am having so much fun! At Los Querubines the children
are so cute and eager to learn"Simon Hilton
"Rachel and Charlotte are
finishing their placement tomorrow and planning to go to Brazil on Monday.
It was a pity they came for such a short time as they were really
enthusiastic preparing their lessons and establishing a relationship with
the kids, especially with those at Querubines. Yesterday, as a goodbye
party, they prepared a puppet show (they hand-made the puppets) for the kids
at homes Querubines. We received a very emotional call from the director
thanking us for sending such thoughtful people to work with the children."
Adriana Saccal, Travellers Organiser, Buenos
Aires.
TEACHING IN
SCHOOLS:
We work with a number of private schools where the children
come from middle class backgrounds.
Despite this, they are not rich schools and some of the
children are there because they have been awarded a scholarship. The only
contact the children have with native English speakers in with the Travellers’ volunteers that teach them,
and this is most enriching for them!.
If you work in a school, you may be asked to help with lessons other than English, for example,
Drama, Sport, Maths or Music, particularly if you have an interest in one of
these areas.
To teach in a school you don't need to be able to speak Spanish as you will
nearly always be an assistant
to the regular English teacher.
If you would like to take Spanish lessons during the period of your
placement, this can be arranged.
TEACHING
ADULTS:
Adult courses are spread across a
variety of institutions and you could be asked to teach adults of all ages.
Often class sizes are small and you will usually be in sole charge of the
class.
Teaching is available to adults all year round.
We are currently working with several Social Assistance Centres
which are aimed at adults and typically provide economic aid to people in
the community. In addition to this, Social Assistance Centres offer
workshops aimed at job training or recreation. Students here are usually
aged twenty years and over and are very eager to learn English.
Teaching doctors: Travellers volunteers also teach a group of doctors at
different hospitals across Buenos Aires, depending on availability.
Although there is a great demand for these doctors to learn English, their
salaries do not enable them to learn English formally (sometimes their
salaries do not enable them to live). Both the Hospital director and the
doctors are very
grateful about receiving help from volunteers,
and adults such as these are often very motivated to learn
English.
Naomi Dalton was placed at the Hebracia Social Assistance centre and she
says of her placement:
“Thank you so much for everything that you did for me
while I was in Buenos Aires! I had the most amazing time and wish that I had
been there for longer!! I got home a couple of weeks ago and I've now
applied to become a primary school teacher in England, so thank you so much
for helping me find a career I'll really enjoy.” Anne Connell,
teaching volunteer
You
may be asked to teach children or adults depending on the time that you are
there and whether the schools are on holiday or not.
The number of hours of teaching a week can range from about
10 to 12 and it is likely that you will teach in a variety of different
institutions during your stay. Once classes have been scheduled for you
attendance is compulsory and you will be required to give prior notice in
order to take time off.
This is
particularly important if you are assigned to teach in a home as regular
attendance is needed to establish continuity in the lives of your students.
You will have plenty of free time during your placement to enjoy all
of the attractions that Buenos Aires has to offer!
The Teaching
placement is available all year round.
However, the schools do have holidays so during these times teaching is only available to adults or in the children's homes. If your placement commences just before a period of school holidays
you should be aware that your students may be undertaking exams and teaching
may be disrupted because of this. The school terms are
as follows:
Term 1:Mid March to 3rd week July
Term 2: 2nd Week August to Mid December.
If you're nervous at the idea of
standing in front of a class and teaching and you live in the Uk, you can enrol
in our weekend TEFL course (www.tefltime.com)in the UK before you leave, to give you some confidence and some
very efficient training.
"I really loved my 3
months here in Buenos Aires. Met so many great people. I'm going back later this
year to find work. The teaching was an excellent experience. ... Melina is
fantastic, love her to bits! I love Buenos Aires!"
Matthew Rocket
"I'm really settling in well
over here. Everyone at the hostel is friendly. I've
visited all my placements now. Places like Querubines
and Home Nuñez will be very rewarding in the long term I think. The girls at
Misericordia were so lovely and really eager to see all the postcards of
London that I had brought with me. The girls at Nuñez loved looking at the
pictures in my OK magazine, listening to my i-pod and chatting about what
music they like in English!
Buenos Aires is a great city and I can't wait to
explore it more, especially as the weather is getting better everyday!"
Becky Shellim
Villa Soldatti is the name of a shanty town
within central Buenos Aires. It is the location of one of our most
deserving community projects, one that is close to our hearts. You can work here in
combination with the various other teaching opportunities described above.
You'll be part of a team of volunteers working to promote lasting change in the
lives of the segregated families that live there. The main objectives are to:
Improve the
quality of life and promote means to obtain resources
Offer solutions
or alternatives to immediate daily problems, through education, health aid
and general labor
Raise
awareness, understanding and acceptance towards this community’s traditions
and value
Create bonds of
solidarity, friendship and acceptance among the three parties (The State,
the people and voluntary organisations) whilst respecting their common
interests
The shanty town is
inhabited by a large number of immigrants from neighboring countries such as
Paraguay, Bolivia or Peru, who share customs with the Argentinians, creating an
environment full of tradition, work, effort and, most importantly, colour and
joy. Families are large and, more often than not, four generations of parents
and children live together in the same house. They start dating at an early age,
so by the age of 18, 80% of the women have one or more children.
In general, the jobs
available require very little qualifications and the salaries are low. Commonly
the men work in construction sites, collect cardboard from the streets to sell, or
practice different crafts to sell in markets and on the streets.
Inside the
neighbourhood there are small shops, churches, little workshops such as in any
of the other neighbourhoods of the city. But unlike these, Soldatti has a great
number of refectories and canteens that feed a high percentage of the local
population on a daily basis. There are also community centers whose aim it is to
help children with their school assignments and adults with the development of
new businesses.
A great percentage
of the children attend school, although they find it difficult to do their
homework and to continue with their studies. Your help is needed in the area of
education. English is now compulsory at schools, but because of their everyday
harsh life circumstances, many children living in this shanty town get left
behind. You'll help them catch up on their English homework as well as
practicing basic writing, reading and oral skills. Ages range from 7-year-old
primary school pupils to 16-year-old secondary school students. You will go on
an “induction day” to get to know the area, the reality and the people, before
you actually start
In addition to
helping the children with their English homework, you can have the option to
help in the
kitchens, help the community with administration and paper work, teach IT, music
and drama amongst others. This is an incredibly rewarding experience that is not
to be missed! Please note that you'll be assigned to a mixture of teaching in
Buenos Aires and it is not guaranteed that you can do a placement at Villa Soldatti.
OPTIONAL
ACTIVITIES YOU CAN DO WHILE ON THIS PROJECT:
Add
to your travel experience in Argentina by doing some additional exciting
activities - you never know, you could develop a passion for Latin American
dance, or learn a new skill!
Tango Courses:
That most flamboyant and exciting of Latin American rhythms. Includes a
weekly Milonga (Tango party) – great fun!
Salsa Courses:
Salsa music is a synthesis of European and African musical influences that
was born in Cuba. You’ll learn from a Cuban teacher who will tailor lessons
to suit your level, even totally beginners.
Spanish Language Courses:
You can take a few hours of private lessons a week at the same time as doing
your project. You'll be amazed at how much it will add to your enjoyment
during your stay.
Photography Courses:
6 hours per week of photography lessons in colourful Buenos Aires where
there is a host of subjects you can capture with your camera.
This
project can also be combined with any of our other projects in Argentina, or
you could even do a second project in a different region of the country, thus
doubling your adventure and enjoyment!
Volunteers and staff with some of the children from Villa
Soldatti
ACCOMMODATION
The hostel is decorated in a modern
style throughout and is a very homely place The TV room
There are two choices for accommodation in Buenos Aires. Depending on
your preferences you can either stay in the modern hostel, in the young
and trendy neighbourhood of Palermo, with other volunteers or, if you
would prefer a more cultural experience, you can be placed with a host
family and become conversant in Spanish in no time!
HOSTEL: You'll live in a small,
modern
hostel situated in trendy Palermo, a beautiful area located near to the
heart of the city.
Palermo is the young people’s capital of Buenos
Aires and is full of restaurants, bars, and boutique style shops. Even
though on each block you can find the latest fashions and nightlife
hotspots, the neighbourhood is traditional with wide streets and old
colonial style houses. Many of the streets are cobbled and tree lined
and to the west you’ll find a huge park (similar to Central Park in New
York).
The hostel has recently been renovated with new decor and furniture.
Features such as high ceilings, wooden floor boards and friendly staff,
help create a chilled and relaxing atmosphere. Big enough to be
sociable and fun, yet small enough to feel at home. Even though the hostel is
open to the public, you will have your own room shared with other Travellers volunteers.
At time of writing, the facilities include; Reception area
with open fire and sofas: a large living room with cable TV, air
conditioning, sofas and huge bean bags; two computers with FREE internet
access 24/7 with Skype and MSN; a large dining area with music/stereo:
kitchen with full facilities: private and enclosed garden/patio, with
garden furniture: ping pong table, table football, board games, and
books: local DVD store with hostel account: access to telephones for
outgoing calls and emergency services, and a London telephone number for
incoming calls: staff 24/7: security cameras outside: soft drinks and
snacks for purchase.
Food: A traditional Argentinean breakfast will be provided every day at the
hostel and you'll be given an allowance for your evening meal. Lunch is
excluded on this project. This arrangement is to give you the flexibility to sample
the great Argentinean food. Right on the door step of the hostel there
are many cafes and restaurants with great priced menus just waiting for
you….the choice is yours!
Your accommodation is ideally situated only two blocks from the subway,
trains and just around the corner from a major buses route, thus making
it very easy to get to and from your placements and around the many
tourist attractions: the Obelisco, the Casa Rosada, the Congreso, La
Boca neighbourhood and San Telmo district.
HOST FAMILY:
If you would prefer a more cultural experience, we can arrange for you
to stay with a local Argentinean family. Host family accommodation gives
you the opportunity to become more integrated in the local community
and is ideal if you want to practice your Spanish (Basic/intermediate
Spanish is required to stay with a Host Family). You'll have a comfortable
private room and use of the kitchen. Breakfast and dinner is provided every day
and you will usually share a typical Argentinean meal
with your family.
Facilities in host families do vary, but you will have
the opportunity to express your preferences regarding the type of family
that you stay with (for example, a family with/without children, pets
etc).
If you stay in a host family you will be provided with the contact
details of other volunteers living in Buenos Aires at the same time as
you so that you won't miss out on any socialising!
Please note that if you'd prefer to live with a host family, there is an
additional supplement of £190 per month with
half-board.
WHAT IS REQUIRED OF YOU:
As with all our destinations, the
Argentine culture
and heritage, although European in flavour, is different to Anglo-Saxon cultures and this must be borne in
mind.
Self-reliance and independence are highly
appreciated in all our destinations and will help you to make the most of this
wonderful opportunity!
"I feel like I'm making
a difference." Karen
Dockery
A group of volunteers at the Travellers
Welcome Dinner
Once you have applied for a placement, we will send you a very
detailed Argentina Information Book, as well as an equally detailed Safety Guide
- both of these will help to make your stay in Argentina one that you will never
forget!
This is a truly awesome, elegant and beautiful
country.
TRAVEL:
You have the option to arrange your
own flights or we can assist you with your flight arrangements. If you would
like us to do this for you, we will liaise with you regarding available flights
and dates to suit you. All arrangements for your flight bookings/payments will
be fulfilled by Murray Rogers Travel Limited, ATOL No. 6856.
Where possible, we arrange for two or more people to travel on the
same flight and we will let you have the names and telephone numbers of other
volunteers on your flight, so that you can chat to each other or even meet up
before leaving for your placement.
You'll fly into Buenos
Aires where you'll be met by either Melina or Adriana Saccal,
our local organisers. From the airport you'll be taken to your accommodation.
Several days later, once you have settled in and recovered from the flight,
you will be introduced to your host teaching institutions.
VISAS:
Visa’s are not required for a stay of 90 days if you are a British Passport
holder. If you're from another country, we'll liase with you about
your visa requirements, if any, and make the Visa process very easy.
Where possible, all flights we arrange for you have changeable return tickets because many of our
volunteers choose to extend their stay once they are in their destination
country.
Changeable return tickets enable you to do so, within the limits of your visa
and the level of your air ticket,
of course. If you choose to book your own flights, you should endeavour to get
a changeable ticket.
To read about the excellentSupport
& Backup we provide before you leave and during
your programme,
please click here.
We can also arrange your flight
dates
to give you additional time at the end of your project for travelling around and sightseeing - this is a
fascinating and wondrous country!
.
+44 01903 502595
