Volunteer and Internship Programs in Community Development in Chile

  Chile

• Rural Areas: 
Rural Areas

Term: Throughout the year 
Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: March - July

Description: Hardy, willing volunteers are wanted to join a team of Chilean high school and university student volunteers on community improvement projects. You have three options:

(1) One or two weeks in rural development during Chilean winter months (late June/early July).
(2) Short-term construction work to help poor families in Chile's Lake District. Help to build and renovate houses for the poorest of the poor during Chile's summer months of January and February.
(3) Three month internship in social community development.

All three options are organized through a social service agency affiliated with a public university in southern Chile. The agency runs a year-long training and certification program to raise social consciousness and commitment among the university students.

(1) Rural development projects. Painting schools, repairing rural clinics, building a headquarters for a rural neighborhood committee: this is the type of work you will be doing for one to two weeks as part of a team of Chilean university student volunteers during late June/early July. These months are Chile's winter, so expect rain!

Living conditions are basic most likely you will be sleeping with the rest of the group on the floor of the local school, and pitching in with the cooking. But the sense of achievement you will get at the end of the session, along with friendships forged through shared hard work, is your reward.

Total project time, including orientation prior to your departure on-site, can be as short as three weeks.

(2) Construction for the poorest of the poor. Team up with young Chilean volunteers during summer vacation months of January/February, helping to build and renovate family homes.

(3) Three month internship in social development - placements available starting late March! This work includes activities such as organizing campaigns to collect toys for poor children (raising social consciousness), tutoring community leaders in computer usage, and much more. You can combine this internship to finish or coincide with the short-term rural development projects. Please check our website for more information about this.

Highlights: As a Chile-based organization working directly with the institutions that receive our volunteers, we are able to charge a low consulting fee to cover our costs. We are deeply committed to providing thorough, transparent, personalized consulting prior to your placement decision, to ensure that our volunteers, and the institutions that receive them, both have a rewarding experience.

For both these programs, SAC offers a formal, written evaluation by your supervisor which can be used if you are seeking college credit for the placement.

Qualifications: Basic conversational Spanish is sufficient for the hands-on projects. However, if you would like to do a longer internship with the social service agency, intermediate Spanish is necessary for the volunteer to be effective and to have a rewarding stay. If you would like to participate, but want to brush up your Spanish, South America Connections can arrange a month-long intensive course in Santiago at an excellent language school, with a 10% discount.

The minimum age for volunteers is a mature high school graduate, or ideally a college-age student with special interest in community development or social change.

Minimum Education: High School

Cost in US$: USD 500

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Our volunteers typically are looking for a personalized experience rather than a group program. They are prepared to immerse themselves in Chilean culture for three months, to reach out to the Chileans they meet and find friendship and respect in return. Our volunteers typically work in social service, teaching or environmental placements. They believe that their conduct can make a difference, but are willing to learn as readily as they are to give.

Age Range: 18 - 30

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Chile Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 10+

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Phone Interview
• Resume

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad

South America Connections's Mission Statement: Helping volunteers from all over the world to find a rewarding placement in Chile where they can contribute in the areas of social service work, work with children, outdoors or with environmental concerns, tourism, hotels, among other fields.

Year Founded: 2001