Job Discussion Forums

Ackerley81 · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Posts: 49

Does anybody know of some quality volunteer programs in BsAs? I'm not looking for the kind that asks for monetary donations only...don't have that Smile

I'm looking to donate some time. Anyone?

Sarah

amy1982 · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 192 Location: Buenos Aires

www.helpargentina.org is one place. i hope to volunteer with them soon... have a lot of different things going on, and they work with kids!

the only thing that makes me cautious about this one is that they are always going places from their office, so you have to pay for cabs to get places...

(want to come with me?)

hehehe...

houston23texastech · Joined: 20 Nov 2004 Posts: 7 Location: Lubbock/houston ,tx

im up for it! volunteering makes me feeel good and you really get to know your community. let me know=)

Sparlita · Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 6 Location: Toronto, ON

Does anyone know of any volunteering that would be more with argentine children in BA?

amy1982 · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 192 Location: Buenos Aires

www.lifeargentina.org

(which is actually what i meant to post the first time)

waterdance · Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 54

Did anyone check out this opportunity? Amy? Anyone know of any other program. I might go to the office tomorrow and look into it.

amy1982 · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 192 Location: Buenos Aires

i haven't been able to go so far... i signed up for the bulletin and it seemed like all the activities took all day - doesn't fit into a teaching schedule. while i have a fair amount of downtime, it's a few hours here and there as opposed to big chunks of time.

snielz · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 165 Location: Buenos Aires

I have been volunteering with a non-profit called IIED. You might look in your area of expertise (say if you studied economics or physical therapy). I studied landscape architecture and urbanism and am helping with a development project. Coincidentally, I would like to turn the project in to a series of project in the barrio (a villa miserie in San Fernando). We have a group of adolescents that have been consistently coming for months now and I think they might have interest in starting up some kind of community classes (say learning English, how to play basketball, how to grow plants) run by volunteers and administered by IIED. If any of you guys have a desire to do something to this effect, post it (as we can�t pm any more). Over the next month I hope to try and come up with a plan and see if there will be support through other sources.

All that to say, look for something you have specific expertise in, or at least enthusiasm for, so you will have something to offer instead of just feeling good or filling up a resume. For instance, if you want to look in to the environment or migratory bird habitiats, check into http://www.vidasilvestre.org.ar/socios/index.asp
There are hundreds of housing co-ops and workers unions in Buenos Aires also were people want to learn computer skills, english, and other applicable skills. You can contact http://www.octubre.org.ar/sitioweb/presentacion.asp
for a start looking into these things. I know more about social and building organizations but I�m sure if you want to can find something to do in your field- medicine, history, economics... You just might have to really want to do it and not just be telling yourself you are.

Suerte and let me know if any of you guys may have interest in the next few months in helping start/continue a program in San Fernando (no promises that it will work out).

srp · Joined: 04 Dec 2004 Posts: 30 Location: Buenos Aires

I'd be interested in the thing in san fernando, what time frame are you looking at to get things going? Also, i should probably know this by now, but where exactly is san fernando?

snielz · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 165 Location: Buenos Aires

San Fernando is on the way to Tigre, about 40 minutes by train from the Belgrano Station. From there I take a bus to the barrio.

The barrio is really interesting- a group of villas miseries that IIED and the municipality are working, with the people, to improve access to schools, services, safety and opportunities for the people (employment and educational). I have spoken with one of the guys from the municipality and he wants to figure out a way to continue the momentum we have with this small design project. The kids are between 13 and 20.

The time frame I have in mind is after the start of the year. I think nothing new will get going until after the plaza project is finished (in December) but we need to start talking and planning with the people now. There are community meetings on Tues. that I go to and I will talk next week about these new possibilities to see if there is interest. I think there will be interest, and so if I had to guess, I would say perhaps coming to a few meetings in December to get to know the kids and get used to the conditions before starting some new classes or initiative after the first of the year would be the time frame. There is no time frame for stopping the work.

waterdance · Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 54

I like to volunteer, but my language skills concerns me. I can teach computer skills for example, but I can�t communicate in spanish.

srp · Joined: 04 Dec 2004 Posts: 30 Location: Buenos Aires

what time on tues? my tuesdays are a bit stacked but i'd like to try to make it to a meeting. how do you get there? is san fernando the name of the train stop, and what bus from there?

snielz · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 165 Location: Buenos Aires

Sorry for the delay,
The meetings have been at 6 on Tuesday. San Fernando is a municipality with a train station along the line that goes from Retiro to Tigre. Wait a bit on trying to come (a week or two) because I am just now talking to the kids about how to continue. There is interest there, especially in sports, english, and perhaps other school subjects. If you are serious, we can get together in a week or two, start going to the meetings, and what we can come up with along with the kids.

As far as not speaking Spanish, it is true that you need a basic level, but that level can be very basic. If you are volunteering, the people are likely to be a lot more forgiving. Also, it is a great way to improve your spanish, forcing yourself through those frustrating and awkward conversations. When I started my Spanish was poor (not that it is great now) but I just did what I could. I remember the first time I spoke in a meeting I got some snickers for my accent and the idiotic way I mixed tenses, subjects, and masc./fem. but it is better now and the kids respect it I think. In general, I think kids are much more forgiving than adults.

I will update when I know some more.