Volunteering Abroad Opportunities for Spanish Speakers
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Not everyone in the world can travel across the globe and those who can, should make it a point to give back to the places that they so earnestly explore and enjoy. This is precisely why the concept of “giving back” or Volunteering for a good cause motivates many to go out and volunteer abroad.
While a willingness to help, an eagerness to learn about a different culture, and an appreciation for communities that manage to live in scarce resources are the essential requirements to volunteer abroad but for a lot of people, the inability to speak in the local language or a connecting language such as English becomes a hindrance.
This is exactly why VolSol facilitates dedicated volunteering projects for Spanish speakers from all over the world.
Encompassing Spanish speaking regions like Peru, Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Spain, participants can work in a diverse range of projects in these Spanish speaking regions and make a positive difference.
Volunteer in Peru
A South American country, Peru is the third largest country in South America, after Brazil and Argentina. Home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu, also known as “Sacred Valley of the Incas” because of its Inca heritage, the country is blessed with a wide variety of landscapes as well. Almost half of the country is covered in Amazonian Forests. Moreover, the country also has a long coastline giving it a bit of everything. To come to Peru is an experience which is a mix of everything.
Sure it’s beautiful but it is also replete with problems such as poverty, hunger, and economic stagnancy. Volunteering Solutions hosts several volunteering opportunities for Spanish speakers in the country. Peru itself is largely Spanish speaking. It, thus, becomes important to know Spanish to volunteer effectively in Peru.
The various projects in the country include:
- Available for 2 Weeks during the Summer Months of June to August.
- Combines volunteer work in rural nursey schools and traveling around the heritage sites of Peru, including Machu Picchu
- Volunteer and travel for 2-weeks in Peru
- Available throughout the year, the project combines volunteer work and traveling with fellow volunteers at the project
iii) Volunteer Work in Day Care Center
- Volunteer at a Daycare center in Peru and take care of toddlers
- Opportunity to be a part of social welfare team to help make a positive difference in the lives of the children
iv) Volunteer for the Health care Program
- Medical Volunteering Program in Peru is an opportunity to understand the country’s healthcare system and make a difference in the lives of the locals
- Get to Work/Assist a professional doctor/nurse in a local hospital/clinic/dispensary
v) Volunteer for a Dental Elective Program
- Take up a Dental internship in Peru and work with the team of professional dentists in local hospitals/clinics
- Volunteer at medical camps and conduct awareness drive on oral hygiene
- Visit public schools and kindergartens centers and teach the importance of oral hygiene and conduct checkups
- Volunteer to Teach English to kids in Peru
- Opportunities available throughout the year, during school holidays, volunteers teach in a local center
vii) Teacher Assistant in Kindergarten
- Teach in a local Kindergarten institution in Cusco, and nearby areas
- Work with toddlers and their teachers
- Opportunities available throughout the year
viii) Volunteer with Disabled Children
- Work in local childcare centers meant for disabled/differently abled kids
- Responsibilities include teaching, playing and assisting the local center head
- Opportunities available throughout the year
ix) Language and Orientation Week
- Opt for the Language and Orientation Program in Peru and get the opportunity to brush up on your Spanish skills and understand Peruvian culture
- An ideal start to your volunteering journey
- Program include Language lessons, culture acclimatization assistance and guided visits to heritage sites
What volunteers said about their experience in Peru:
Mariana, a 19-year-old medical intern from Spain, worked at the medical internship program in Peru and shared her experience :
“Being a medical intern in Cusco was more than just medicine. Getting to know more about a culture and its healthcare system was very enriching. I also learned how to deal with the social side of people who have different customs and thoughts. This program made me realize what kind of a doctor and what kind of a person I want to become in future.”
Volunteer in Ecuador
Close to the equator on South America’s west coast, Ecuador is a beautiful and diverse Latin American country. The capital of the country – Quito – is the second tallest capital in the world, located on the slopes of the Pichincha volcano, and has the largest and best preserved historic centers of Latin American region.
The city is blessed with true heritage treasure that houses churches, museums and cultural centers which lets traveler discover the history of Ecuador and its richness in terms of cultural and natural diversity. One of the most biodiverse countries in the world owing to the Andean Highlands and Amazonian Rainforests, Ecuador has over one hundred different types of hummingbirds and thousands of orchid varieties, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
VolSol offers several different kinds of projects that are suitable for Spanish speakers who want to contribute and do something good for the locals and the country.
The projects offered in Ecuador include:
i) Soccer Coaching at Sports Club
- Volunteer for Soccer Coaching in Quito, Ecuador
- This project aims to empower the local youth of Quito through Soccer
- Responsibilities at the project include training, developing team assignments, and encouraging the students to take up soccer in future as well
- Opportunities are available throughout the year
ii) Amazon Animal Rescue Center Project
- A volunteering opportunity ideal for conservationists and animal lovers
- Volunteers placed at a center that works in partnership with the Ecuadorian Environmental Police (UPMA) and the Ministry of Environment in the fight against the trafficking, abuse, capture, and hunting of wild animals
- Opportunities are available throughout the year
- Volunteer for street children in Ecuador in a local shelter that aims to help and raise 250 children
- Participate in the center’s everyday tasks and do your bit for the continued functioning of the shelter care
- Some of the responsibilities include School visits to check attendance of the kids, helping with food preparation and preparing recreational activities
- Opportunities available throughout the year
iv) Child Care at Children’s Hospital
- Work for the welfare of the local community and underserved children in Ecuador
- Opportunity to volunteer for childcare program in a Children’s Hospital
- Project Opportunities available throughout the year
Volunteer in Costa Rica
A Central American country that is full of rainforests, with enviable coastlines of the Caribbean and Pacific, Costa Rica is known for its beaches, volcanoes, and biodiversity and is also a popular traveler’s destination. The country has a large number of national parks and protected areas, covering around 23.4% of the country’s land area, the largest in the world as a percentage of the country’s territory, and home to a rich variety of flora and fauna, in a country that has only 0.03% of the world’s landmass, but that is estimated to contain 5% of the world’s biodiversity.
One of the “greenest” and “happiest” countries in the world, the country has long abolished its army and has a decent Human Development Index as well.
VolSol facilitates several volunteering projects in the region to facilitate further development and sustenance of Costa Rica’s people and natural habitats.
Projects available in Costa Rica are as follows:
- Get one of a kind opportunity to get close to Mother Nature at Santa Barbara
- Help prepare local meals in ‘Barrio Jesús Soup Kitchen’ for kids
- Work for Beach Conservation and Restoration
- Enjoy a weekend excursion to Majestic Poás Volcano
- The project is available throughout the year
ii) Childcare Volunteering Program
Get one of a kind opportunity to get close to Mother Nature at Santa Barbara
-Help prepare local meals in ‘Barrio Jesús Soup Kitchen’ for kids
-Work for Beach Conservation and Restoration and enjoy a weekend excursion to Majestic Poás Volcano
iii) Medical Healthcare Volunteering
- Volunteer for Medical Projects in Costa Rica and understand the healthcare system of a developing country
- Work includes taking part in Health campaigns, working for EBAIS (EBAIS is short for Equipos Básicos de
- Atención Integral en Salud). In English, it means “Basic Teams of Global Health Care”.
- Ideal for medical/nursing professionals, medical/nursing students looking for practical exposure to Costa Rica’s healthcare system
iv) Turtle Conservation Program
- Volunteer work with turtles to help conserve their habitat and their receding population
- Work includes protecting turtle nests from poachers, helping manage sustainable egg-harvesting programs, and working in hatcheries to ensure Costa Rica’s turtle population does not further recede
- Volunteers in the Teaching English Program teach English to primary and middle school students in schools, community centers as well as childcare centers
- During the program, volunteers assist the local teachers, plan and conduct their own lessons and teach the kids
vi) Wildlife and Rescue Center
- Volunteer for conserving the wildlife in Costa Rica.
- Explore the rich biodiversity of Costa Rica and explore its eco-reserves.
- Make the most of the opportunity to live with wildlife and work for their welfare and development.
- Responsibilities include food preparation for the animals, getting to know about endangered wildlife species
What volunteers said about their experience in Costa Rica:
Leonie Cabot, from Germany, shared her experience of volunteering at the Childcare project. She volunteered for the whole of 8 weeks. She shares:
“I loved my project and it was definitely worth it! I’m really missing it now and I don’t think it could have been better. I think one of the best moments was in my first project where we played pantomime to teach the children the animals in English. Another of my best moments was when my host brother (six years old) came very close to me and whispered in my ear that he really enjoys spending time with me. In my second project, there was one little girl (only 9 months) and she is really curious and tries to discover new things all the time and helped her to learn how to crawl and that was really great to see. She also starts to say “hola” during my time there and waved and that are just incredible moments when you see children or babies learn such things.
The overall living experience was excellent. It was very comfortable and homely stay with all the facilities I could have asked for. The in-country staff was very friendly and supportive. They made the program easier and smooth. I would recommend VolSol to anyone I know is willing to volunteer abroad mostly because of the variety of programs. One suggestion is to share more information before one starts the trip.”
Volunteer in Spain
Spain, a country on Europe’s the Iberian Peninsula, includes 17 autonomous regions with diverse geography and cultures. Capital city Madrid is home to the Royal Palace and Prado museum, housing works by European masters. Segovia has a medieval castle (the Alcázar) and an intact Roman aqueduct. Catalonia’s capital, Barcelona, is defined by Antoni Gaudí’s whimsical modernist landmarks like the Sagrada Família church.
Projects available in Spain include:
i) Childcare and Social Welfare Progam
- Volunteer for Children in Valencia, Spain where volunteers are is placed to assist children from underserved communities and tutor them in after-school programs in a community center
- Responsibilities at the project include creating an activity based learning environment for children,
helping primary and high school students with their homework, and organizing different kinds of workshops, sports or cultural activities
ii) Marine Conservation Program
- Witness the wilderness in the port city of Denia in Eastern Spain
- Participate in marine conservation activities such as monitoring the whales, dolphins, and seabirds.
- Takeup coastal flora and fauna surveys and data collection and participate in working at the wetland to improve the ecosystems
- Opportunities available throughout the year
iii) Conservation Program
- Under the conservation program, volunteers work in the Valencia region for protection of biodiversity and ecosystem of the region
- Responsibilities at the project include improvement of water resources, safety against forest fires, reforestation, and conservation of natural habitats and inhabitant species
What volunteers said about their experience in Spain:
Natalie, from the US, participated in the Childcare and Social Welfare Volunteering Program in Spain with her mother and sister. A life-changing experience for Natalie, she finally realized why joining the volunteering project was much better than a vacation for her. She said –
“My Mother, sister & I loved our time in Spain. Teaching the kids, seeing our ideas get implemented & help the center, traveling around in Valencia on weekends finally made me realize why volunteering was much better than a vacation”
For an all-encompassing and enriching experience, head to the Spanish speaking countries and volunteer for a project of your choice. Drop us an email at [email protected] to get more details
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