Volunteer work in Bariloche, Patagonia

Be part of the solution while improving your Spanish!

Spanish in Bariloche has been organising volunteer opportunities in Patagonia for many years as a complement for its Spanish programs. For our students, this has been a great way to improve conversational Spanish and while at the same time helping others.  Many people moved by the pleasure of travelling, meeting new people, and seeing new places, joined our projects while making a positive impact in the community. Along these years of positive experience, we have found many non-profit and charity local organisations: educational, environmental, social and scientific projects.  Among these, we have selected a variety of interesting possible volunteer placements, meaningful for the community where they take place. We are sure that  volunteers can be part of a community and experience the place slowly, from within. We believe volunteers can be part of the solution.

General information:

Both students of Spanish in Bariloche and non-students can join this programs, but they all need to speak some Spanish. Volunteers must work at least for 2 weeks.
Most projects are non profit organisations, registered charity, foundations or scientific organizations. Volunteers can get a certificate of participation.
We have specific Volunteer Programs for families, allowing children to participate in different projects along with their parents, as a family-volunteer team.

Volunteering opportunities in Bariloche 

The following projects have minimal resources and locals work very hard to keep them running against all odds. So, they need 100% full-on commitment from volunteers.
These projects are low-cost and some of them include accommodation and meals. All the money for fees is for the project volunteers are joining. To find out more about costs, please, email us.

Environmental/Educational/Social projects:

1- Volunteer in Organic Educational Farm: 

Working as a volunteer in this specific Organic Educational Farm, in the area of the National Park "Nahuel Huapi" will allow you to enjoy the outstanding beauty of Bariloche´s mountain forest while helping to preserve the natural environment therein while learning and teaching children how to run an Organic Farm.  This experience can help you to improve your Spanish skills and offers the opportunity to meet locals, and children from needy areas who come periodically to learn about farming. 
This project includes three important highlights:
• Running an Organic Farm
• Educate children about enviromental care.
• Teach adults in how to run a sustainable project.

Volunteers will help the farmers in both the organic and educational project as well as helping with the maintenance of the farm, and even building an eco-house.

This position is also available for families and small groups.

The cost for one person is $140us per week,  including instruction, meals and accommodation in the farm. To find out about discounts, long-term programs, families and groups, please, email us.

Placement 1: Assistant Junior.
Tasks: Daily tasks Feeding animals, farm maintenance.
Minimum stay: two weeks.
Spanish level required: basic to intermediate (depending on tasks performed).
Hours per day: 6-7hours (flexible)

Placement 2: Assistant Senior
During school months, the farm is the host for a number of groups of local children from underprivileged neighbourhoods.  Children from 4-12 come to explore the farm, learn how to grow and produce organic food, and assistants are needed to help guide for a number of jobs.
Tasks: maintenance of the vegetables and feeding animals, helping the farmers for the guiding.

Minimum stay: four weeks.
Spanish level required:  Intermediate
Hours per day: 6-7 (flexible)
**Note** This placement requires a lot of initiative on the part of the volunteer as the farm is especially busy during the school months.

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2- Volunteer in a Community-Center with environmental/social work.

Located in the outskirts of Bariloche, this lovely spot is in a small Village at Lake Gutierrez forest, within National Park Nahuel Huapi.
The area has remained as a natural flora and fauna preservation spot. You can find regular houses as well as small farms.
This position is ideal for practicing Spanish as well as helping a non-profit Community Organization. Volunteers will gain an interesting insight into the organizational and administrative aspects of running a Community-Center as well as having a lot of contact with locals, who have started a couple of recycling and preservation projects, toghether with the local Park Ranger. Accommodation can be arrenged in the area with a host-family ($175us per week Half board) or hostel ($100us per week). Registration fee: $100us. Renewable every 3 months.

Placement 1: Carpenter.
Tasks: helping with carpentery.
Minimum stay: 4 weeks
Spanish level required: intermediate.
Hours per day: 3 to 5.

Placement 2: Painter.
Tasks: helping with painting different areas of the centre.
Minimum stay: 4 weeks
Spanish level required: intermediate.
Hours per day: 4 to 6.

Placement 3: Gardener.
Tasks: helping with the conservation of native flora. Planting, selecting species.
Minimum stay: 4 weeks
Spanish level required: intermediate.
Hours per day: 4 to 6.

Placement 4: Logistics.
Tasks: helping with the organization of different tasks and people.
Minimum stay: 12 weeks
Spanish level required: Fluent.
Hours per day: 4 to 6.

Placement 5: Administration helper.
Tasks: helping with administration.
Minimum stay: 12 weeks
Spanish level required: intermediate.
Hours per day: 3 to 5.

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Educational/Enviromental Projects:  

3- Volunteer as an English teacher for 1-3 years old children.

The kindergarden (Crèche) is part of a local Community Sustainable Project. It is run by a non-profit local organization. Teachers need to hold an undergraduate degree in any subject, plus a certificate in teaching English. They need to have experience with children as well. They will both teach English and assist regular teachers.
Children are 1-3 years old, so, basically, the instrcution will be through songs, games and actions.
Groups have a maximun of 8 children. Volunteers will gain an interesting insight into the organizational and administrative aspects of running a Crèche as well as  having a lot of contact with teachers, children and their parents.
Accommodation can be arrenged in the area with a host family ($175us per week Half board) or hostel ($100us per week). The spot is lovely, in a small Village at Lake Gutierrez forest, within National Park Nahuel Huapi. Spanish level required: Intermediate. Minimun stay: 3 months.
Registration fee: $100us. Renewable every 3 months.

If you need more information, please, email us

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4- Volunteer in a Native Plant Nursery/Educational project:

This native plants nursery cultivates plants from the four ecological zones around Bariloche: the Valdivian rainforest, montane forest, the montane andine zone, and the step dessert. Volunteering here, you will have the opportunity to learn the species and ecology of this region, the basic tasks required to run a nursery as well as helping this NGO with running a project for maintaining Bariloche as a proper enviroment for native species. This includes starting seeds and cuttings, collecting seeds, transplanting, weeding and watering. This NGO also runs enviromental education programs, working normally on creative projects to teach primary school students about enviromental care. Accommodation can be arrenged in the area with a host family ($175us per week Half board) or hostel ($100us per week). The spot is lovely, in the outskirts of Bariloche. Spanish level required: Intermediate. Minimun stay: 3 months.
Registration fee: $100us.

Placement 1: Nursery Assistant.
Tasks: Helping with starting seeds and cuttings, collecting seeds, transplanting, weeding and watering.
Spanish level required: Intermediate.
Hours per day: 3.
Minimum stay: 3 weeks.
Activities are run from Monday to Friday, volunteers schedule will be set according to nursery needs.

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Social Sustainable Projects:

5- Volunteer in Cultural Centre for Mentally Handicapped Individuals:

Placement 1: Maestranza.
Tasks: helping people who is in charge of the hygiene of the centre.
Minimum stay: 4 weeks up to 4 months
Spanish level required: intermediate.
Hours per day: 4 to 6.

Placement 2: Kitchen assistant.
Tasks: helping people who are in charge of cooking and serving the food. Helping people who are not able to eat by themselves.
Minimum stay: 4 weeks up to 2 months
Spanish level required: intermediate.
Hours per day: 4

Placement 3: Maintenance.
Tasks: painting, recovering wood part of the building, electricity, water, small constructions, carpentry.
Minimum stay: 4 weeks up to 2 months
Spanish level required: intermediate.
Hours per day: 4 to 8.

Placement 4: Workshop assistant.
Tasks: helping teachers to develop different activities with mentally handicapped adults.
Minimum stay: 2 months. 1st month: mandatory training course, while attending the workshops as observer. This person can also help in the kitchen.
Spanish level required: fluent.
Hours per day: 2 to 4.

Placement 5: Workshop teacher.
Tasks: organising different workshops and activities for the mentally handicapped. This person must apply with a specific project.
Minimum stay: 3 months
Spanish level required: fluent.
Hours per day: 2 to 5. (according to the project applied)
Important: In all cases, the institution offers a certificate, lunch and a snack.
Activities are run from Monday to Friday and there is no activity during January and 3 weeks in winter, for school break. If you want to work during February, email us to check if it's possible.

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6- Free Dental Clinic.

This project has been run by a local fuondation for over 8 years. The clinic is located in a very needy area of Bariloche with 500 inhabitants and its building belongs to the neighbourhood School. This school has a population of 200 children from 5 years old, attending Primary and Secondary School during the day and a School for Adults in the evening.
The project is focused on the Free Dental Clinic but also on the development of a school for dental assistants.

Children attending classes and their families receive a free Dental service in this clinic, and also learn how to work in a job.
This project allows the coordinators to involve the families of the community and encourages young students to continue their education and find a job as dental assistants. This program is not available during December, January, February and 3 weeks during winter, for school holidays.

Placement 1: Administration assistant.
Tasks: fill out patients forms, data entry. You need to know how to use Excel software.
Minimum stay: 4 weeks. Requires previous training.
Spanish level required: good.
Hours per week: 6.

Placement 2: Clinic assistant.
Tasks: reception of patients, set appointments, cleaning of the dental instruments.
Minimum stay: 1 month. Requires previous training.
Spanish level required: Fluent
Hours per week: 12.

Placement 3: Prevention Campaigns. Only during April and September.
Tasks: Organise and give motivation chats about dental hygiene, give toothbrushes and teach how to use them properly.
Minimum stay: 1 month. Requires previous training.
Spanish level required: Fluent.
Hours per week: 12.

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7- Volunteer in Comedor Comunitario.

Social work.

There is a group of local volunteers working on this project. They cook and serve food for the homeless and very needy people in the city of Bariloche. This position is only available for men, due to the nature of the work.

Placement 1: Cooking assistant and waiter. Available all year round
Tasks: helping people who are in charge of the cooking, cleaning and serving the food.
Minimum stay: 4 weeks
Spanish level required: intermediate.
Hours per week: 4 .

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8- Volunteer programs in Schools

This position is ideal for those interested in learning how to teach English. Each volunteer candidate will be interviewed by the school. Your task will be appointed according to your background, wishes and opportunities available. During the School period, you can volunteer as an English teacher helper in class, preparing class materials, at the reception and as students support. Volunteers will gain an interesting insight into the organizational and administrative aspects of running a Language School as well as  having a lot of contact with both the teachers and students.  It’s an exciting volunteer opportunity in which the tasks and needs change on a daily basis.  This program is not available during December, January, February and 3 weeks during winter, for school holidays.

Placement 1: English teacher assistant.
Tasks: helping English teachers for any level English students. Students are children, teenagers and adults. Minimum stay: 2 months
Spanish level required: Any.
Hours per week: 12 or more.

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9- Child Care (Crèche) at Schools for adults:

Most Schools in needy areas of Bariloche have programs to encourage young parents to continue their education. Usually, teenagers can't continue secondary School when they have babies because they need to work. Therefore, the government of Bariloche has organised free crèche within these schools so that young parents can attend evening classes. Volunteers can help them to continue their education by looking after their children. These kids are from 45 days up to 12 years old. This program is not available during December, January, February and 3 weeks during winter, for school holidays.

Placement 1: Crèche assistant.
Tasks: helping people who are in charge of crèche. Looking after children, games and food.
Minimum stay: 2 months
Spanish level required: Intermediate. Must be able to communicate with children.
Hours per week: 20. From 5:30pm until 9:30 pm.

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Government Organisations:

10- Volunteer in National Park Nahuel Huapi

Volunteer programs in National Park Nahuel Huapi take place during January & February. Applicants must previously fill out a form (speaking Spanish is required) read and accept the rules. All the instructions will be given in advance and since you will have to do some paperwork, we recommend you start doing this one month in advance (by email). For these programs, you must work 30 days, at least.
Volunteers will assist the tourists, help with the maintenance of the tracks and of the historical museum, patrol the tracks to detect problems, and related tasks. Volunteers will be sharing a house at the Park with other local (Argentine) volunteers who are training to be park rangers. Each volunteer will buy their own food. Approximately US$ 50 per week. Volunteers need a police clearance check to volunteer at National Parks in Argentina.

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Volunteer at Spanish in Bariloche Spanish School:

9- Assistant position, recycling helper.