.

 

  You are here >
 


Next weekend TEFL Course Dates
 


 

TEACH UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN IN BUENOS AIRES

You can teach a variety of subjects to children of all ages in a choice of schools, orphanages and social assistance centres. When available you can also teach in an Argentinean Community Centre Project. The Centre located in central Buenos Aires and is 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 subantarctic 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 £875 / US$1,315 for 2 weeks, ranging up to £2,495 / US$3,745 for 12 weeks. Full Price List and other Currencies
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

Your help on this project will be split across three groups: 

  • Children and teenagers in various homes, community centres, orphanages

  • Children or teenagers in schools
  • All ages of adults in various different institutions including community centres, hospitals, churches, etc. (optional)

 

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, COMMUNITY CENTRES & ORPHANAGES:
Teaching is available in a variety of institutions, where the residents may be children, teenagers, orphans, street children, or single mothers. Often these children 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 may be far behind in their classes and education. Volunteers are needed to provide 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 challenging but highly rewarding. To work in most of the homes it helps to have a basic understanding of Spanish but not a requirement to teach generally in Buenos Aires. (There are other options)

"Every day is very different which is why I really love this placement!" Olivia Goodman

Below is a description of HLQ Orphanage. This is a home for children who have been “infected” with HIV (very few) or have been “affected” by HIV. (Affected includes situations where parents or family members have died from or been infected with HIV). At any one time there are around 12 children living there. The orphanage 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 Worldwide volunteers have taught at this home for the past 6 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. (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 schools where the children come from a mix of class backgrounds. Despite this, they are not rich schools and some of the children are there because they have been awarded a scholarship. Generally the only contact the children have with native English speakers is with the Travellers’ volunteers that teach them, and this is most enriching for them!

Whilst working in the schools you will have the chance 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. You will nearly always be an assistant to the regular English teacher.

TEACHING ADULTS (optional):
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.

“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, giving you a rounded experience. Once classes have been scheduled your 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

 

   

Teaching, Sports, Work Experience and Cultural Courses in Argentina




OPTIONAL ADD-ONS

Optional Cultural Courses
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Volunteer Feedback

Back to Top

HIGHLIGHTS OF LP COMMUNITY PROJECT

LP Community Centre in La Boca, started 1996, providing small snacks to local communities out of a small shop space. However now and since 2004 the centre operates in an ex-naval motor factory. In essence the centre provides food for more than 1000 people in the local community, as well as manufacturing products such as clothes in the factory. There are over 200 families that participate in the distribution of food, which happens daily, with a large number of family members making up the centres key staff.

The Community Factory was initiated by a hand full of local neighbours who purchased sewing machines, ovens and kitchen supplies and started producing clothes and food for the community. Soon after, the Ministry of Social Development, donated money to help upgrade the kitchens facilities, to enable the production of crackers and pastas and to purchase more modern and industrial ovens and freezers. In additional the same Ministry purchased new sewing machines to help the community fulfill a contract to produce School uniforms for public schools in Buenos Aires. The community grew further and with the support of local government moved into the area of housing and still to this day, this amazing project is growing and is fundamental to the La Boca neighbourhood.

Recently representatives from the community have been invited to Venezuela and Bolivia to share their experiences and knowledge and to support similar initiatives in similar poor communities.

This community project was started due to the lack of food and basic provisions for poor locals. This community acts as a beacon of hope and shows that with community spirit, a united front and hard work, factories like this one can be built without investment from corporate companies, but rather the investment of people and their time.

During your placement you will attend the LP Community Centre twice a week, usually in the afternoon for 2 hours to help with English workshops. You work with children and adults and can also get involved with other classes such as yoga, arts & crafts, music, dancing etc so please do make us aware of any extra interests you have and we can try to arrange for you to work in these areas as well. (Subject to availability and suitability).

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, in Buenos Aires, Argentina
 

ACCOMMODATION  



HOSTEL:
You'll live a hostel situated in a beautifully renovated historic building in Downtown Buenos Aires, very conveniently located for exploring the city and doing shopping. It's big enough to be sociable and fun, yet small enough to feel at home; a real chance to immerse yourself in Argentine culture.

You'll share a dorm room and have access to kitchen facilities.

The hostel boasts of several amenities like internet and WiFi, a common area, DVD room, library, book exchange and a housekeeping service.

Food: You’ll be given an allowance for your meals (breakfast and dinner, lunch is excluded projects in Buenos Aires). 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!

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 £107 per week, with half-board.

LOCATION:
The romance of Argentina takes one's breath away. The natural wonders alone take some beating! From the northern deserts to the southern Andean Cordillera, from Iguazú Falls to the magnificent desolation of Patagonia, Argentina's geography is varied and stunning.

Cosmopolitan Buenos Aires: This fabulous city is renowned for its sophistication and has a surprisingly European feel about it. BA is reminiscent of Paris and its tree-lined avenues and frequent plazas have a beguiling, faded elegance. Downtown, the Plaza de Mayo is the traditional focus of activity. Nearby Avenida 9 de Julio is popularly known as the world's widest thoroughfare and, with its nine lanes of traffic, is truly a pedestrian's nightmare! Avenida Santa Fe is the most fashionable shopping area.

Argentina is geared up to thrill - from nights tangoing in the chic quarter of Buenos Aires to gaucho riding in the grasslands of the Pampas. Dynamic and bustling, a city which seems never to sleep, Buenos Aires is one of the most exciting cities in Latin America. Tango was born here, restaurants serve all manner of world cuisines, bars play the latest music, cafés spill on to the streets and nightclubs allow dancing throughout the night.

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 excellent Support & 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!




Back to Top

Suite 2A, Caravelle House, 17/19 Goring Road, Worthing,
West Sussex, BN12 4AP, England
Tel: +44 (0)1903 502595    Fax: +44 (0)1903 708179

Email: info@travellersworldwide.com

British Safety Council Logo

Travellers is a Founder Member of the Year Out Group
Web site designed by ITDesigners: www.itdesigners.com
Copyright © 1999-2007 TravelQuest Limited;
Last modified: July 30, 2010