Volunteer work in Bariloche, Patagonia

A great way to improve your conversational Spanish and help at the same time.

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.
All the projects are non profit organisations, registered charity, foundations or scientific organizations. Volunteers can get a certificate of participation.

**NOTE**  In fairness to our current/perspective students who also want to do volunteer work, we can only make work reservations for those who are planning on taking classes.  For non-students we will be more than happy to help arrange work once you get to Bariloche.  However, we cannot reserve work ahead of time nor can we arrange accomodations for you.

The following projects have minimal resources and locals work very hard to keep them running against all odds. Directors will be very happy to see you, but they need 100% full-on commitment from you.
Cost for 2 weeks of volunteering: $50us for students, $70us for non students. For 4 weeks: $100us for students, $120us for non students. All this money is for the project you are joining. Whether you can donate this amount in cash or in specific supplies for the project.

Environmental and research projects:

1- Volunteer in Cerro Otto. Environmental and research project: 

You can work as a volunteer in this specific area of the National Park Nahuel Huapi. You will have different tasks helping environmental projects. This experience can help you to improve your skills in Spanish, while enjoying the beauty of nature. For these programs, you must stay at least for two weeks. Volunteers will help assisting scientists, data entry, help with the maintenance of the tracks, patrol the tracks to detect problems, and related tasks.

OTTO MEILING TRAIL
Environmental and history research project.
The trail is located 1000 meters on sea level, it is about Otto's life since 1931 to present time. Wonderful landscapes, views, flora and fauna are waiting for you. An alpean shelter made on wood remains from the beginning of ski and trekking in Argentina history.
The trail is maintained by the Club Andino Bariloche, and now the focus is on its building. The project is 70% done. From March to July tasks will be related to taking data period about relief, standard drawings and technical assessment. It will be time to read and look for historic info about Otto Meiling and his lifestyle.
To reach up there, there is a lift to the top of the mountain; then we must walk through the woods about 20 minutes to Otto's shelter. The use of the chairlift is free for volunteers.
Because of the weather conditions in winter, it is necessary to wear boots, rain coat, jacket, cap and sweater.

Placement 1: Construction Assistant.
Tasks: Helping with the maintenance and patrol of the track, tending the vegetable garden, maintain the local museum
Minimum stay: two weeks.
Spanish level required: basic.
Hours per day: 3.
Important: In all cases, the institution offers a certificate.
Activities are run from Monday to Friday and there is no activity during 3 weeks in January and July.

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2- Volunteer in Native plants nursery, in Bariloche.

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, as well as the basic tasks required to run a nursery. 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.

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:

3- 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: 2 weeks up to 4 months
Spanish level required: basic.
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: 2 weeks up to 2 months
Spanish level required: very good.
Hours per day: 4

Placement 3: Maintenance.
Tasks: painting, recovering wood part of the building, electricity, water, small constructions, carpentry.
Minimum stay: 2 weeks up to 2 months
Spanish level required: basic.
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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4- 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: 3 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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5- 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.

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: 2 weeks
Spanish level required: basic.
Hours per week: 4 .

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6- Volunteer programs in Schools

Important notice: Although schools in Argentina are on break, during February we need volunteers for painting, and maintenance tasks. Also for electricity and plumbing.

Schools accepting volunteers are located in the needy parts of Bariloche. Your work and help will be appreciated. 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 work as volunteer helping with: English homework, Parents activities (painting the school, organising computers, cleaning, taking children out, etc) We can also arrange work with a school for disabled people although 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 basic level English students. Students are at secondary school, there are both teenagers and adults. You can choose to help during the lessons or after classes as tutors as well. Minimum stay: 2 months
Spanish level required: Fluent.
Hours per week: 6 .

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7- 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: Very good. Must be able to communicate with children.
Hours per week: 20. From 5:30pm until 9:30 pm.

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Government Organisations:

8- 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$ 20 per week. Volunteers need a police clearance check to volunteer at National Parks in Argentina.

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