Volunteering opportunities in South America is a noble cause that brings fulfillment to the volunteer. It also leaves a lasting impact on the people in the community where the volunteering activities are carried out.
Using your time, skill, energy, and even money in some situations to help people grow would serve as a source of delight.
These are some of the fulfillment South American volunteers gain. And you can be a part of this by participating in these best volunteer opportunities in South America.
Table of contents
- Why Volunteer in South America
- Are There Paid Volunteering Opportunities in South America?
- How Can One Become a Volunteer in South America? A Step-by-step Guide.
- How to Find Volunteer Opportunities in South America?
- Best Websites for Low-cost Volunteering in South America.
- 10 Volunteering Opportunities in South America in 2023
- #1. Wildlife Caretaker:
- #2. Community Development Volunteer Program
- #3. Music Education Volunteer Program: This is Located in Quito in, Ecuador.
- #4. Special Needs Care Volunteer Program: This is Located in Cordoba in, Argentina.
- #5. Environmental Education
- #6. Childcare Volunteer Program
- #7. Construction and Renovation Volunteer Project
- #8. Elderly Care Volunteer Program
- #9. Sports Education Volunteer Program
- #10. Medical Campaign
- Conclusion
- Reference
- Recommendation
Why Volunteer in South America
South America is a part of the world that comprises countries such as Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Columbia, Brazil, etc.
And as a result of the diversity present here, volunteering in this part of the world would impact not only the community but also the volunteer.
Below are some reasons why you should consider volunteering in South America.
To start with, volunteering in South America would grant exposure to and learning new languages.
South American countries speak different languages,, such as Spanish, Portuguese, and even indigenous languages,, such as Quechua. And as a volunteer, you would learn one or more of these languages since you would be required to communicate in them during periodyour volunteering period.
And learning a new language(s) exposes us to new thinking and also to new ideas and concepts.
Also, as a volunteer in South America, you would have the opportunity to explore the places on that side of the world and learn about their customs, traditions, views on issues, history, etc.
Not only will you have the opportunity to get acquainted with the traditions, but you will also have the opportunity to visit historical places of significance in these countries.
You would also be exposed to interacting with the locals in the community learning from them and giving out your wealth of knowledge too.
Volunteering in South America also allows your skills and gives you hands-on experience as you do your volunteering duties.
Volunteering experiences help your CV stand out among others since it makes you valuable in skill set and experience.
Are There Paid Volunteering Opportunities in South America?
Typically, volunteer work Is done for free; hence, people usually work for free in most situations.
However, some volunteering opportunities pay the volunteers a stipend to cater for their feeding and housing costs during periodtheir volunteering period.
Here, some of these paid volunteering opportunities will be examined.
United Nations Volunteer: Everyone is familiar with the United Nations and their noble desire to improve the world.
They require volunteers to help with their skills and abilities in various projects. And in return, they pay some stipend to help the volunteers cater to their personal needs during volunteering.
GVI Trust Scholar: GVI Trust Scholar has a South America database of paid volunteer projects. To volunteer for their program, they usually have a fee attached.
However, the organization’s Trust Scholar Program gives eligible applicant volunteers abroad scholarship awards of up to £2000.
How Can One Become a Volunteer in South America? A Step-by-step Guide.
Been a volunteer in South America requires taking steps, from accessing your skills to choosing a project and getting to be a volunteer.
Here, we will provide a step-by-step guide on volunteering in South America.
To start with, it is important to note again that South America is a continent with diverse countries of different cultures, customs, and traditions.
So, the first step in becoming a volunteer in South America would be to determine the country one wants to volunteer in.
The countries in South America include; Peru, Columbia, Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina, etc. Hence, you must first have a government of interest and decide where to go.
Afterward, you analyze your skillset, abilities, or areas of interest to determine the kind of project you would be able to volunteer in.
After which, you then pick a project of interest that is available in your country of choice.
There are various volunteering projects available, and examples of some of the areas in society that requires volunteers include wildlife, including social justice, childcare, health care, environmental sustainability, disabled care, etc.
So, after picking a project, you are to move forward to get yourself familiarized with the project details, duration of time for the project, volunteers’ tasks and schedule, costs, and other essential requirements.
Afterward, you then fill out a volunteer application form, with your personal details about you, such as your name, phone number, email address, home address, skill sets, etc,.
Some volunteer projects also require that you pass a criminal background check.
After which,, the organization accepts your applicationou are contacted and sent an acceptance letter.
In some situations, before they choose you, some organizations require an interview.
After the acceptance, you attend orientations and move forward with traveling procedures to start your volunteer work.
Check this out: 15 Best Volunteering At Hospitals Abroad Programs In 2023
How to Find Volunteer Opportunities in South America?
There are different ways to find volunteer opportunities in South America, and two of these procedures shall be discussed.
The first way to find volunteering opportunities in South America is to book a volunteer vacation with a reputable abroad-based or international placement organization.
These organizations would refer you to reputable and top-notch volunteer placements and organizations where you can volunteer and contribute your quota to the environment.
Another way to find volunteer placements in South America is to check reputable websites which list volunteer placements in various countries in South America.
These websites list volunteer opportunities, details about them and how to apply for them.
Best Websites for Low-cost Volunteering in South America.
Certain websites list low-cost volunteering opportunities available in South America. Some of them shall be listed below.
#1. WorkAway
WorkAway is a reputable website where you can get low-cost volunteering opportunities in South America.
In volunteer placements put on this website, volunteers are to stay with a host, and the host provides them with housing and food during their volunteering in return for four to five hours of volunteering per day.
Also, the host and volunteer are required to write a profile, get to know the other person, and make the choice of the location and host to stay with.
Now, before you sign up for any volunteering opportunity on this website, your expectations and that of your host must be clearly stated and aligned to avoid unmet or misaligned expectations.
Read: 10 Best Child Volunteering Opportunities Abroad
#2. Volunteer South America:
Volunteer South America is a website that helps independent volunteers find grassroots Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to volunteer with.
They emphasize that volunteers should prepare sufficiently beforehand by learning about the country they want to volunteer in, learning the language being spoken there, identifying the skills they want to offer, etc.
The Volunteer South America website lists volunteering opportunities, with the full description of the project, such as the duration, expectations on the project, link to the volunteering website, etc.
The organizations listed on this website are usually small NGOs. Hence, you would be required to pay living costs.
#3. True Travellers
Actual Travellers gives a list of free or low-cost volunteering opportunities, with direct links to the organization’s websites and a description of the options there.
The list is categorized country by country, making it easy to navigate and select. Some countries listed there include; Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Peru, etc.
They focus on volunteers who can offer their services to impact the lives of the people they would be volunteering with.
#4. Helpx
Help list volunteering opportunities in which volunteers are given food and accommodation in return for their volunteering activities.
Volunteering opportunities are available on farms, hostels, ranches, etc. And volunteers are required to work for about four hours per day.
Also, for volunteering opportunities listed on Helpx, a fee is required to become a ‘premium helper,’ which enables a volunteer to contact all hosts at a rate of £20 for a two-year subscription.
Read: 17 Best Volunteering Opportunities In New York
#5. Go Abroad
This is the largest website on this list, as it covers various volunteering opportunities in South America, ranging from volunteering to internships to opportunities to learn a new language, etc.
Here, all the countries in South America are listed, and you only have to filter through, to pick a country and project of your choice.
For the volunteer opportunities listed on this site, the organizations provide a complete package of support to the volunteers.
10 Volunteering Opportunities in South America in 2023
Here, the ten best volunteering opportunities available in South America shall be listed and explained as follows:
#1. Wildlife Caretaker:
This is located in Iquitos, Peru. The wildlife caretaker organization is concerned with rescuing animals from illegal trafficking and hunting.
They aim to support these rescued animals, mainly young to grow and mature.
Here, volunteers will work with animals and support the rescue, and get engaged in the rehabilitation process and medical treatment of these animals.
They are also saddled with the responsibility of implementing enrichment programs and working with specialists to gain knowledge about the animals, support them, feed them, and monitor their health.
Volunteers must be 18+ and will work for about 2-24 weeks, from Monday to Friday, from 8 am -4 pm.
#2. Community Development Volunteer Program
This is located in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
They are concerned with carrying out programs that would help to move the community forward, and they require volunteers to help achieve this goal to the optimal level.
Volunteers here are required to help out with community development programs, garden programs, and art programs, assist the local people, and carry out some other extensive initiative programs.
Typically, volunteers can be placed in various sectors, including education, health, art, technology, etc. They should be 18+ and required to work for 3-24 weeks, from Monday to Friday, for at least 5 hours per day, from 08:30 am to 5 pm.
#3. Music Education Volunteer Program: This is Located in Quito in, Ecuador.
Here, volunteers are required to help teach music classes, lead a music session, help students explore new sounds, and even teach them how to play musical instruments.
The students involved in this environment are usually about 3-12 years old.
Typically, in this area of the country, the Guitar, Melodica, and Recorder are the only musical instruments used. However, volunteers can introduce new tools to the students as they wish.
Volunteers must be 18+; if not, they must be permitted or accompanied by a guardian. They must also work for 1-12 weeks, from Tuesday to Friday, for at least 5 hours between 08:30 am to 5 pm.
#4. Special Needs Care Volunteer Program: This is Located in Cordoba in, Argentina.
This organization is aims at providing young disabled people with valuable tools which would aid their active development, and stimulate their independence and integration in their immediate family and even in the community at large.
Volunteers facilitate classes for these disabled individuals, organize events to support therapeutic activities, etc.
As a volunteer here, they must be 18+, and if under 18 years old, they must get their parent or guardian consent.
Volunteers are to work for 1-12 weeks, from 8 am to 1 pm.
#5. Environmental Education
This is another volunteering opportunity located at Santa Elena in Ecuador.
The organization is concerned with educating locals about environmental issues and how to live sustainably. They also teach techniques for preserving and conserving the environment to foster social and economic development.
Volunteers are to carry out beach cleaning, community in cycling and recycling programs, gardening, tree planting, etc.
Volunteers should be able to speak Spanish and should be 18+, and if lesser than that age, there is need for parental consent, before such an individual can join.
Volunteering spans 1-12 weeks, from Tuesdays to Fridays, from 8 am to 5 pm.
#6. Childcare Volunteer Program
This is in Buenos Aries in, Argentina.
This organization is passionate about helping childrenborn into marginalized communities get a good support network and the right nurturing.
Volunteers are to encourage the children, help them develop skills, and have a better perspective on life. They are also to facilitate games, cook, etc.
Volunteers must be 18+, able to speak Spanish, and be excellent at handling children, etc.
The work lasts about 1-12 weeks, and they require each volunteer to work for about 5 hours a day, between 8 am and 7 pm.
#7. Construction and Renovation Volunteer Project
This is at Cusco in Peru. Here, volunteers are to involve in construction and renovation projects, build incomplete local projects, paint, and pay some amount to help pay for building materials needed.
Volunteers would also be suitable to work under the supervision of local supervisors, who provide direction and expertise.
Volunteers must be 18+ and are to volunteer for about 1-24 weeks.
#8. Elderly Care Volunteer Program
This is in Bogota, Columbia. This volunteer program is concerned with caring for elders who have been left to fend for themselves and who live with various diseases and illnesses.
Here, volunteers are to rescue elders from the streets, provide companionship, conversation, help with tasks, medication, etc.
Volunteers must be 18+ and be able to speak Spanish. They are to work for 1-24 weeks for about 5 hours a day.
#9. Sports Education Volunteer Program
This is in Rio De Janeiro in, Brazil. They aim to provide opportunities for healthy and fun recreational activities for children, teenagers, adults, and disabled people in a safe and supportive environment.
Volunteers are to work in a community center that offers a wide range of activities, such as; dance, martial arts, swimming, volleyball, soccer, etc.
Volunteers must be 18+ and are to pass a criminal background check. They are to volunteer for about 2-24 weeks.
#10. Medical Campaign
This is at Cusco in Peru. The organization is concerned about the healthcare sector; hence, they carry out activities to help in that area.
Here, volunteers are to visit local communities to provide primary health care services, treat and educate patients, do medical check-ups, etc.
Volunteers must be 18+ and are to work for 1-24 weeks.
Read: Volunteering In Mexico: Top 20 Opportunities
Conclusion
Volunteering in South America is a worthy cause that anyone should consider to give back to the world in a significant way.
There are various sectors in this continent which require the help of volunteers to foster growth, especially at the grassroots level.
Any volunteer’s work, no matter how small, would have a massive impact on the lives of the local people.
Reference
- goabroad.com– Find paid volunteer work
- volunteerhq.org– South America
- volunteerworld.com– Volunteer Abroad south-America
- goabroad.com- Why you should consider volunteering in south-America
