You will be volunteering at two local homes for socially and economically disadvantaged boys in the southern part of Santiago.
Our partner organization cares for over 2,500 children, teens, and young men and women throughout Chile. The Teach English Project is focused on two of our partner's establishments in Santiago--their homes for boys. The young men that live, study and study in these homes have been removed from their families for a wide variety of reasons, including abusive living situations, neglect, and poverty. Generally, they have been taken from their homes by the justice or law enforcement systems. The staff at our partner organization strives to provide the safest and most nurturing environment for the children to develop. Their job is often difficult due to the many problems the youngsters bring with them to the home, and they greatly appreciate the help of volunteers.
As a volunteer with our Teach English Program, you will be teaching English and tutoring boys from the ages of 12 to 19. You will also have the opportunity to help these boys with other homework tasks. Most importantly, you will be providing them with an important opportunity to broaden their horizons and begin to learn the skills which are critical for a successful future. Volunteers will also be able to provide a much needed source of meaningful activity and balance in these young men's lives.
Volunteers in Santiago will see first-hand the positive effect that their efforts and the efforts of our partner have on the boys. Some of these young men are already in post-secondary education and most move on to be very productive members of society.
Teacher Training
All volunteers in our Teach English Programs receive
teacher training before going abroad. By completing
our online teacher preparation program, you will earn
your certification in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign
Language), which will give you the skills and confidence
needed to teach English overseas.
Orientation:
After arrival in Santiago, you will be picked up by
a shuttle service provided by Volunteer Adventures.
You will be transported to your hostel or host family
for the first night. You will be given instructions
on how to arrive at the school the following morning,
where you will begin your volunteer adventure with an
extensive orientation. During the orientation, you will
learn about living and working in Santiago, using public
transportation, and volunteering on your project site.
After the orientation, you will meet with a project
coordinator to determine your skills and what kind of
work you will be doing as a volunteer.
Transportation:
Volunteer Adventures will provide airport pick-up in
Santiago and transportation to the host family. Volunteers
pay for transportation to and from the project and other
activities.
 Language
Classes:
Volunteers enrolled in the Gold package
will be taking Spanish language classes at Bridge-Linguatec,
our affiliate language school in Santiago. For more
efficient placement upon your arrival, we ask that you
take our to determine your language
proficiency prior to going abroad. If this is not possible,
we will test you upon arrival at the school. You will
be placed according to your language level in a group
of four or fewer students, learning conversational Spanish
for four hours a day. After your class hours, you will
go directly to your organization for your volunteer
experience.
Accommodations:
Bronze: You will be staying at a hostel
with breakfast included. Commute time to the project
can be 30-60 minutes. Silver and
Gold: You will be staying with a Chilean host
family. Our host families are carefully screened and
must meet Volunteer Adventures' requirements before
being accepted as a host family. All of our families
are middle-class and live in comfortable homes in safe
neighborhoods. The distance from the school varies from
about 20-40 minutes by bus. You will be given a key
to your host family's home to come and go as you please.
The family will provide two meals a day, a private room,
and upon request (and extra charge), a private bathroom.
Meals:
Bronze: Hostel serves breakfast only.
Silver and Gold: Host
family provides 2 meals a day, 3 upon request and with
an extra charge.
Excursions:
Although you will be serving the community for most
of your time in Chile, there may be time for some sightseeing.
Below are a few of the trips that the school organizes
for volunteers and students. Participants are expected
to pay their own transportation costs and entrance fees.
In-country support:
We work directly with our school in Santiago to ensure your safety and support during your time in Chile. You can expect help from the teachers, staff, and other employees at Bridge-Linguatec. We also always have on-site support at the community center, where both coordinators and professional volunteers can help you with anything you need. |
Museo Casa de Pablo Neruda La Chascona –
