Disadvantaged Children/Children At-Risk Project

Project at A Glance

Location: Córdoba, Argentina Start Point: Córdoba End Point: Ingeniero Ambrosio L.V. Taravella International Airport – Córdoba (also known as Pajas Blancas) Duration: 2-12 Weeks Hours: 20-30 Hours per week Room: Local volunteer house Date: First and Third Monday of each month

Project Summary

Poverty is prevalent throughout much of Argentina. Many parents are unable to sufficiently provide for their children. Such missing necessities for these poor children as they grow up often include: adequate nutrition, education, companionship, guidance and personal attention. In association with a number of Argentinean non-profit organizations, IFRE places volunteers in numerous “buddy roles” in an attempt to care for these disadvantaged children. We hope to keep them off the streets or out of even less desirable situations, which are counter-productive to their education and a brighter future.

To volunteer with disadvantaged children, you must be enthusiastic about teaching various hands-on skills while remaining mindful of their often distressing circumstances. Issues regarding sanitation and personal (and often dental) hygiene will often need to be gently addressed as volunteers help these children to lead a productive and healthy life. Those who volunteer with at-risk children in Argentina will find such reward in their experiences!

Skills/Qualifications Needed

Beginner to intermediate Spanish fluency is required. If you cannot speak more than basic Spanish, we suggest you enroll in our Spanish language course to make your stay more rewarding – both for you and for the children you are helping. No additional qualifications are required to join the Disadvantaged Children/Children At-Risk project in Argentina. However, interested individuals must have a passion and eagerness to help impoverished and disadvantaged children. Volunteers are expected to be sensitive, flexible, adaptive, patient and proactive.

Volunteers' Responsibilities

IFRE's Disadvantaged Children/Children At-Risk Project volunteers will assist children in various ways – teaching English and/or Spanish, organizing games, assisting center staff members with feeding and caring for these often impoverished children. Often simply being a positive companion for a child will be your role. Volunteers may also help develop creative programs such as art, music and dance or even host recreational activities such as various sports. Additional assistance may be required with the planning of day trips, organizing education about personal hygiene issues, cooking and meal preparation as well as helping with various administrative duties.

Room/Food/Supervision

IFRE manages your living accommodations in Argentina. Your hostel or guesthouse is located in a charming neighborhood in the city of Córdoba. Córdoba boasts numerous exciting opportunities for volunteers to see a city with a bright future which maintains echoes of its colonial and culture-rich past. Córdoba's vibrant culture has produced a number of influential writers, its own musical style known as “El Cuarteto” (in addition to classical, jazz, rock, pop and techno). There are also many monuments, lively festivals, pleasant theaters and a pulsing nightlife. Volunteers reside in accommodations located just minutes from the downtown area. This unique living situation is often conducive to fellow volunteers getting to know each other. A must-do for Argentinean volunteers are the local Tango lessons provided for participants in IFRE’s living accommodations. These accommodations also house our local operator's headquarters – ensuring vital and constant contact with our in-country coordinators. Our field staff visits volunteers regularly and always happy to help our volunteers in any way needed