Sample Volunteer Abroad Projects — Chile
VIP Chile has relationships with NGO's and private institutions devoted to the improvement of human living conditions for those in need. All of our projects demand the solving of daily unexpected challenges. A positive, flexible, loving and devoted attitude is always appreciated by those involved in service projects - especially by the host communities. See our featured "Teacher Assistant Program" below.
Education & Teaching Programs - Social Welfare Service Programs - Public Health Programs in Chile's Medical System - Environmental Programs in National Parks - Working with Ethnic Groups - Custom designed projects
EDUCATION AND TEACHING
Featured Program: Volunteer Teacher Assistant
Have you ever thought about teaching English as a social contribution? Join this unique program to contribute and leave your mark on the world. Chilean people and schools are open to welcome volunteer native speakers of English to teach in one of the many regions of this diversified, attractive and leading country in South America. Available programs range from 4, 6 and 8 months. 
During this time you will be immersed in local culture and language by living with a local host family and by your daily work in public schools as English Language teaching assistants. Volunteers are assigned to public schools in regions throughout Chile, live with host families in their community, and receive a monthly stipend. The volunteer will work in the classroom for 25 hours per week, and spend an additional 10 hours a week planning classes and leading extracurricular activities for the school community.
Volunteers to this program must be native speakers of English or use English in their everyday language and must be between 21 and 50 years of age. Contact your local VIP representative or complete the on-line Inquiry Form for more information.
SOCIAL AND WELFARE SERVICES
Chile is still dealing with a social gap between people with resources and those without. The emphasis of some institutions is to support these groups, especially children and the elderly.
Sample Project
Hogar de Cristo is an institution founded during the 1940s by Father Alberto Hurtado. The institution started with his own efforts to help homeless elder people and children living in Santiago city. Thanks to him and the support of countless others, Hogar de Cristo has become a center for helping children at risk and the homeless in several locations in Chile.
The volunteers will be involved in activities with children (teaching & playing), and also the cleaning of shelters and helping with nightly food-delivery in the streets for homeless people. Volunteers might also be asked to join fund raising campaigns and other extra activities to support the institution.
Volunteers are expected to work from 8am to 5pm with a lunch break.
The Sites:
Rancagua
One option is to volunteer at a center in the city of Rancagua, about 1 hour south of Santiago also known as "Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins". Rancagua is a city of 214.000 inhabitants. It is close to interesting locations such as Capital city, a beach area and Chapa Verde skiing center for volunteers coming in wintertime. It is located by the Cachapoal River that creates a nice valley good for agricultural activities. Rancagua is also an important commercial center with an important mining activity: El Teniente Copper mine.
Valdivia
Another option is to volunteer in the beautiful city of Valdivia, also known as The Lake District. With more than 125.000 people, it is close to the ocean (about 20 minutes driving) and to other important historical locations. It is the site of the Austral University. Across the city runs the Calle Calle river that gives the city the nickname of the "Venice of Chile" with water taxis to visit the Bird Sanctuary, the old Spanish fortresses from the 16th & 17th century and Indigenous town of Punucapa.
PUBLIC HEALTH PROJECTS
Volunteers need intermediate level of Spanish to work in most public health projects and will receive a 36-hour Spanish course upon arrival in Santiago.
Sample Project
Pucon hospital is a small hospital, but is the most important and nearest medical center for many communities from rural areas. The hospital welcomes volunteers from medical school and also other volunteers willing to help with other tasks.
Volunteers from medical school will work together with nurses and doctors in charge of volunteering programs. Volunteers not from medical school will work in tasks such as cleaning, preparing equipment, and administrative work.
Volunteers will be asked to work early in the morning starting at 7am until 5pm. On specific days they may have to do part of night shifts. For non-medical school students, the schedule starts at 8am and finishes at 5pm except when doctors go on medical rounds.
The town of Pucón is the capital of the region also called Araucania, due to the biggest reserve of the Araucaria Tree in the country (monkey's puzzle tree). Pucón shares the duality of being one of the most important centers for outdoor sports and expensive residential areas, but at the same time it has the needs of the local people who live in the area year around especially in the harsh winters.
ENVIRONMENT
Sample Project
CONAF is Chile's National Corporation of Forests and volunteers will work directly under the supervision of Conaf administration and other park rangers. Why is it important to volunteer with them? They receive limited governmental resources and help is needed to protect areas and increase the environmental awareness of tourists visiting the different areas of the parks.
The task of rangers and volunteers is to protect the natural reserves, keep trails and signs in good shape, control the flow of people to keep activities safe, deal with trash and litter, and very important, organize material and activities to promote environmental education. Volunteers become part of the park staff. They live with their host families, but also spend time at the park premises during the peak of season (January & February).
Volunteers are expected to work from 8am till 6pm everyday from Monday to Friday. Though, there will be instances when volunteers will spend time at the different posts and their hours on duty will be different.
Volunteers will live with host family in the small town of Pucon about 800 kilometers south of the city of Santiago. It is a very nice place for outdoor sports. It is located by a lake and at the foot of the Villarrica
Volcano. It is an area that gets very busy in the months of November to April.
WORKING WITH INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS
Sample Project
AFUNALHUE Mapuche Indigenous Community Program
Volunteering at Afunalhue means getting involved with the local Mapuche culture (native inhabitants of Chilean territories), still alive today and gaining important presence in the national scenario.
Institutions Involved:
- Afunalhue is an experimental farm about 30 kilometers from the city of Villarrica. It is a project whose main purpose is to promote agricultural development among local people without the need of highly sophisticated technology. It is run by Universidad Catolica from Villarrica.
- Universidad Catolica is one of the oldest and most prestigious State Universities. The main building is in the Capital city of Santiago, but it has different buildings through the country.
The volunteers will spend time working at the school farm according to the necessities of the institution (plantations, green houses, dairy product project). Work plan will vary according to farm director.
Volunteers might also be asked to help at university site with English classes when needed.
Working hours: Volunteers are expected to work same hours as the rest of staff and students in practice, from 8:30am to 6pm with a lunch break.
Afunalhue is located near the city of Villarrica. Villarrica is about 1 hour driving from Temuco, the region's Capital city and very close to Pucón, a very small town famous for its outdoor sports, lake and volcano.
CUSTOM VOLUNTEER PROJECTS
VIP Chile is interested in developing custom projects related to your special interest and abilities. Please talk to your local VIP representative if you are interested in pursuing a special volunteer project.
