In my first week I really had to get used to a lot of things that came together with my work: to the circumstances where the people live in (way more basic than what I’m used to in the Netherlands), to speaking Spanish 24/7 (and to, because of that, not being able to express everything I want to say) and to the ‘abnormal’ behavior’ of the patients. But I got used to all of this so quickly, especially because the patients themselves are very happy and grateful to have the opportunity to be treated there. Also my ability to communicate in Spanish improved quickly, because I talked a lot to the patients and the employees.

Sometimes it was really annoying to notice that the work speed and work efficiency was remarkably lower compared to what I’m used to. Also, I had to wait for the psychologist very often, because the staff was preparing activities or working on the medical histories of the patients, in which I couldn’t participate most of the time. So I actually spent a lot of time waiting. After a few days with a lot of waiting, I started to think of activities I could do with the patients myself. I started to give English lessons to a patient that always wanted to learn English.

A few days later, I organized a tournament with games and I created a group dynamic-session. The psychologist didn’t give me assignments, but, he certainly welcomed all ideas! I think they don’t want to give the volunteers a lot of orders, because they think it’s very special that you are working there voluntarily. So to get the most out of this volunteer experience in Peru, it’s very important and I recommend you come up with your own ideas and let the employees know that you do want to participate in a very active way. Because of my pro-active attitude, I even had the opportunity to participate in test-diagnostics and individual interviews with the patients. For me, organizing some activities on my own prevented me for feeling dispensable and made my time at the clinic in Cusco very challenging.

It was very interesting to work with psychiatric patients and to talk with them about their lives. All the patients were very nice to me and accepted me and the fact that my Spanish wasn’t perfect did not seem to bother them at all. I learned so much about different psychiatric disorders and how those affect the life of the patient. Furthermore, I learned a lot about the organization of health care in Peru and how happy we have to be with our facilities in more ‘developed’ countries. I really liked that the psychologists gave me the trust to organize activities on my own.

Although this volunteer work Cusco sometimes made me feel a little insecure, it was a very valuable, interesting, fun , positive, and challenging life experience. I’m very glad I had the opportunity to do this. Thanks Volunteer Latin America!

Natasha Mathias, 23

The post My story Volunteering at a psychiatric hospital in Cusco Peru appeared first on Blog - Volunteer Work Latinamerica.

I can only recommend the work here when you want to help the people who really are happy about each and every second you give them. It is a great thing to do and easy to adapt yourself to when you are willing to contribute and are open towards new and unfamiliar experiences.

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Now, I have been working for four weeks at an Hogar for girls between 10 and 20. It was very challenging work and I enjoyed it a lot. I would have liked to stay longer. Just when you feel that the girls are starting to trust you it is time to say goodbye. There are about 20 girls living at the hogar for various reasons. Some do not know their parents because they left them behind when they were little and some have parents that cannot or do not want to take care of them. Also, some were abused and some lived on the street before coming to the hogar. There are also some of them who are mentally disabled. A few girls had just arrived and others had been there for several years.

The first day was a bit difficult to be honest. Everything is new!Most of the girls were very quiet and suspicious. To see how the girls live and what problems they have had to face in their pasts is really moving. A tip: In Argentina you give everyone a kiss every time you come and every time you leave. I really like this custom because it helps to develop closeness from the beginning.

I had planned a few things to do with the girls – however it is very hard to motivate them. But I think that sometimes it is only important that somebody actually cares about them. I really liked them a lot! Of course there are cohabitants, psychologists and social workers working there but to give each girl sufficient attention is almost impossible and I think this is where volunteers can actually make a difference. Together with other volunteers we painted the walls in the courtyard with the girls and we made a little path in the garden.

We also did some shopping and I also played a lot of cards with them – UNO – some of them started to like it so much that they always wanted to play it. It was great to see that some girls that at first could not play the game without help really learned it well. I also painted with them, played memory, studied English, watched television, watched them dance, made a picnic, made friendship bracelets, ate ice cream, talked about boys and just spent time with them. All in all I really enjoyed the work with the girls and I hope you will too!

The post My Volunteer Experience with teenage girls in Buenos Aires, Argentina appeared first on Blog - Volunteer Work Latinamerica.

Depending on your level of knowledge, specialization, and skill, you may check blood pressure, distribute food and medicine, weigh babies, accompany emergency response vehicles, and help with other first-aid procedures.

Examples of places where volunteers are needed are hospitals, senior care centers, the Red Cross and EBAIS (small clinics in individual communities). Assistance with public health community campaigns and other basic education can also be part of the job.

The projects provide a wonderful opportunity to doctors, nurses, medical and pre-medical students to become familiar with the challenges and health issues of Costa Rica, and they would benefit the most from this type of volunteer work.

To already get an idea of how a specific volunteer placement is like, read the following testimonial of Christel Bauló Estevez from Spain, who completed four weeks assisting at a senior care center:

“From the first moment the language institute and my host family gave me a very warm welcome, I have had one great experience after the other. I really couldn’t have made a better decision to change my hometown Barcelona to live and work a while in Costa Rica!

On the first day, the Spanish school provided us with all the necessary information regarding our stay in Costa Rica. The volunteer coordinator accompanied me to the health center where I was presented to the director and my new colleagues.

The schedule was set up such a way that in the mornings you would be learning Spanish or go volunteering. Since my native tongue is Spanish, I decided to do four weeks of volunteer work and enjoy the school’s activities in the afternoon. They offered us amongst other Latin dance and Caribbean cooking classes, which was a so much fun!

The school is very well looked-after and situated in beautiful natural surroundings. Here we ate our breakfast, had access to wi-fi and computers to communicate with our ‘European families’ and they helped us organize our weekend trips. I was also very happy to improve my English, while helping the other students improve their Spanish; and as it turned out my grammar and vocab were not that bad after all!

The project resulted to be an incredibly enriching experience for my professional career. My tasks at the retirement home were (as I’m an official nurse), to prepare and distribute medications, check on vital signals, sanitary education and provide treatments to the elderly…all with very limited resources. This is when I realized how fortunate we are in Europe. I started to really appreciate the jobs and installations we have in Europe, i.e. the quality of medical assistance, and also value the efforts of the nurses at the home to give the ageing residents a dignified assistance full of affection.

Over the weekend, my roommate Elke from Belgium and I visited the Volcano Poás and the paradisiac beaches of Puerto Viejo de Limón, Montezuma, Santa Teresa and Jaco. Here we enjoyed spectacular sunsets, looked at the surfers waiting for their waves and got to know people from all over the world while dancing salsa at a fiesta on the beach!

After these experiences I understand why the Tico greeting is “Pura Vida!!”

For more information about our health volunteer projects click here.

The post Health program in Costa Rica – a volunteer’s testimonial! appeared first on Blog - Volunteer Work Latinamerica.

We work together with a center for social rehabilitation in Peru. This specific institute for adults is set up for, and run by, blind people with the aim of bringing the community of the visually impaired in the Cusco region closer together. The location has a room for massage- and physiotherapy, a small bakery, a greenhouse as well as a computer room.

Besides putting these facilities to use, the organization is also organizing workshops in a variety of trades, such as accounting and marketing, and the English language in order to stimulate independence and more job opportunities. Due to lack of funds as well as staff, these amenities are hardly ever used if it wasn’t for the help of volunteers.

One of our volunteers, Victoria Benz from Austria, wanted to teach English in Cusco and shares her experience with us in this testimonial:

“My volunteer experience was to teach English in Peru to a small group of blind persons aged 19 – 60. Some of them are completely blind, while others still can see a bit, but very little. For this reason, the classes were very unlike any ordinary ones and required a whole different approach!

I have never met a group of persons with more motivation and dedication than them. The daily 2 hour class always passed by so quickly and my three weeks stay was over before I realized. I left with a big feeling of appreciation from the participants. They treated me with great kindness and were genuinely interested in my life. On my last day we went out to drink a ‘chicha’ together!“.

At the moment they do not have an English teacher but are very keen on continuing their learning and being proactive. The project is especially suitable for people that speak good English as well as have experience in massage therapy, pastry-making and IT-skills.

They happened to have received a software donation which will enable them to talk to and work with the computers but need someone to help them learn how to use it. In addition to this, the institution needs eye specialists and dentists to give medical treatment.

If you feel you can contribute please do not hesitate to contact us for more info referring to the program SE43 in Cusco.

The post Teaching English in Peru appeared first on Blog - Volunteer Work Latinamerica.

San Telmo is one of the most colorful neighborhoods in Buenos Aires. Historically, it was Buenos Aires’s first industrial area that eventually became inhabited by the well to do. However, in 1871 a yellow fever epidemic swept through Buenos Aires and the rich abandoned San Telmo and moved north to Recoleta, Palermo, and Belgrano.

Today artists, poets, young travelers and working class families inhabit San Telmo. Its historic cobblestone streets lead to antique shops, boutique bookstores and tasty family bakeries. It is perhaps best known for its local antiques fair that attracts tourists and locals alike every Sunday.

For me however, the best thing about San Telmo was becoming integrated in the local community by doing my internship at the local newspaper. My time working at the newspaper was one of the highlights of my time in Buenos Aires. I mainly worked with Catherine who is the paper’s editor and director. Working with Catherine really taught me a lot about hard work, organization and focus. Also, Cat speaks perfect English so I was able to clearly communicate with her which helped me do more for the paper. She was always helpful and encouraging; and full of advice on good things to see and do in Buenos Aires!

My workdays were always varied. During the first week, I interviewed people in cafes and bars to collect quotes for that month’s issue of the newspaper. I also took photos of the people that I interviewed and of local graffiti for another article. While doing this work, I was able to practice Spanish and also get to know the locals of San Telmo. Later on, I was asked by Cat to help conduct an internal survey of the newspaper. My job was to individually meet with members of the staff and interview them about their involvement in the San Telmo newspaper. I enjoyed this interview process as I got to know the individual members of the staff and really could make an impact on the direction of the paper.

Cat was also very helpful with contacting my University and filling out the correct forms to ensure that I got credit for my internship in Argentina. I recently heard that the San Telmo newspaper received a grant from the city to assist them in their operations. There is a bright future ahead for them and if you get the opportunity to have an internship here I highly recommend that you do it!

contact Volunteer Work Latin America to enquire about the vacancies!

The post Volunteer Report of the San Telmo Newspaper project in Buenos Aires appeared first on Blog - Volunteer Work Latinamerica.

This small theater prides itself on expressing independent art forms, with none of the commercial blockbuster attitudes that dominate the Hollywood scene. More than just a theater, it is really a cultural center featuring an eclectic program full of live music, theatre plays and art performances. In the afternoons there are also acting classes for children of the neighborhood.

What makes this project so unique is that the performers are encouraged to step out of the box, let their creative juices flow liberally while getting up and close to the audience. The space has room for maximum 80 equally free minded art devotees that all enjoy the personal interaction and cozy living room atmosphere, while having a glass of wine and some superbly prepared canapés by the in-house chef.

Ine van der Stock from Belgium volunteered at the theatre and in continuation will share her view of what it is like to be involved with this project and its crew:

I was assigned to be the personal assistant of the lighting guy. While he moved around with a huge ladder from left to right to adjust the spotlights over the stage, am I positioned at the switchboard waiting for his signals to switch the different sets of lamps on and off. Tough job, but entertaining nonetheless!

After that we prepare the theater hall, a lovely little area where the audience is seated on sofas, cushions or chairs at tables with flowers in candlelight. During the performances it is also allowed to drink and eat something which creates a very pleasant and unpretentious ambiance. Luckily we get to enjoy a warm meal in between preparation and stage time as well.

Before every show I get to welcome the guests, cut their tickets and ask them to switch off their cell phones. At the end of the evening I must repeat about 20 times where the toilet is and say goodbye to everyone again, with the Argentinean kisses of course. I also helped tidying up the theatre, cleaning the plates and glasses and with preparing the programs.

My colleagues are very friendly and social, and mostly men (including a few customary Don Juan’s). They were all very keen to teach me the ropes but also eager to hear about my experiences and travels. Interestingly they all had other occupations in their ‘real lives’ during the day; one has a record studio and others are studying or working as an actor, and no one seemed to need much sleep at all.

Now they know that I am qualified in marketing they also asked for some promotional tips. The idea of introducing a loyalty card was greatly received. I also gave suggestions on how to apply for a grant or sponsorships in Europe.

I was surprised by the amount and quality of the shows. It was very interesting to see how a theatre transforms in preparation for a show, including its artists. During the shows I didn’t need to work and could enjoy the performance just like the rest with an empanada and vino. I’ve seen quite a lot, from an experimental jazz musical to an eccentric clown’s act for adults!

Overall, I really enjoyed the 4 weeks I spent at this lovely theatre and even though I have had my cultural doses for the rest of the year, I wished we had more venues like this at home as well!

If you are interested in participating at this unconventional theatre, a background in theater productions is desirable, but an interest in the progressive arts is a must!

Please realize that you need to be flexible with your working hours because the performances are scheduled towards the end of the week and on the weekends.

For more info please contact Volunteer Work Latin America referring to the volunteer project in Buenos Aires: CT08.

The post Volunteer at an independent theater in Buenos Aires appeared first on Blog - Volunteer Work Latinamerica.

We spoke with Dutch coordinator Ed Veldhuisen about the inspiration behind this project, the challenges that it has faced and the impact that it has had on the lives of so many of the young people in this city.

What was the inspiration behind this project?

I came to Medellin to volunteer with children on the street and instantly realized the difference you can make to their lives.

The activities I organized quickly became very popular with the kids and I did not want to just abandon what was proving to be such a success!

How is the project run at present?

We are working with children from several institutes who participate voluntarily in the activities we organize.

We run an array of activities including regular football matches, ´Cooperation & Communication´ workshops, music lessons, performances and recordings, and even produce a regular newspaper written for and by the children of the shelters.

Which activities are most popular with the kids?

Our soccer practices have been a great triumph. We have two teams with an official league, which has given the kids a lot of focus. They work so hard for the Saturday games!

We also have an annual outing for all the children and volunteers. It is a tradition of the project that really establishes the sense of us all as one big family.

Why do you need volunteers?

All our activities are becoming increasingly popular with the children and this is great – our main aim is to encourage children living on the streets to participate in activities that will eventually inspire them to leave the street behind.

However with the increasing interest comes increasing responsibility! We need all the help that we can get in implementing the all the activities that the children need and deserve.

For example, we are hoping to start our own football competition, within which many of our boys will take leading roles as coordinators and referees. They will receive some money to thank them for their efforts which will be invested in their future studies. However this will not be possible without the valuable work of volunteers.

The kids also develop great bonds with the volunteers which is great for improving their social and interpersonal skills.

What are the key challenges facing the project?

The main aim of the project is to encourage children living on the streets to participate in activities that will eventually inspire them to leave the street behind. However this is not always an easy task. It takes a lot of regular encouragement and positive reinforcement to keep them on track. This is where volunteers come in. They really play a key role in inspiring these children to believe in working for a better future.

Where do you see the project going in the future? Is there an ultimate aim?

We have a lot of dreams to help better our children. We know that they have the potential to go far. We are working on improving the content and range of activities so as to get more children involved. What more could you wish than to give children from the streets the life that they deserve? And thanks to the work of our wonderful volunteers this dream is becoming a reality.

If you would like to become part of this fantastic project visit here

The post Soccer success for Colombian street kids thanks to volunteers: Interview with Ed Veldhuisen appeared first on Blog - Volunteer Work Latinamerica.