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Infant Care Volunteer Program
Santiago, Chile
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Comments from our Volunteers |
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Volunteer Activities |
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Feed the children |
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Change and bathe the children |
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Play with the children |
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Assist staff in the maintenance of the shelter |
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| Volunteer Program at a Glance |
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Start Dates:
Any Monday of the year.
Program Length:
Minimum: 2 weeks |
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Program Cost:
2 Weeks:
US $1,595
3 Weeks:
US $2,095
4 Weeks:
US $2,595
Each Additional Week:
US $495
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Cost includes:
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Airport pick-up |
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Accommodations |
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Intensive group Spanish lessons |
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One to two meals per day, depending on lodging option |
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Volunteer donation to program |
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Schedule:
You will volunteer in the mornings and/or afternoons, 3-5 days a week. Volunteers enrolled in the complete package will attend Spanish classes in the mornings Mon–Fri. The exact hours and details of your day will be decided during the volunteer orientation. Schedules vary depending on project needs, and volunteers should remain flexible.
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Requirements:
There are no formal requirements. |
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What Volunteers Can Do: |
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As a volunteer with our Chile Infant Care Program, you will be working at an orphanage and shelter for babies and toddlers in the heart of Santiago. Often orphaned or abandoned by their families, these young children are placed in the protective custody of our partner organization in Chile. The children live in the shelter until they are adopted or placed with family members that can take better care of them.
Volunteers in Santiago will be involved in the daily tasks of caring for babies and toddlers. You will feed, bathe, and change them, and you will also play with them and give them the one-on-one attention they deserve. As a volunteer with our Chile Infant Care Program, you will be filling an important role in the lives of these needy children, as well as assisting the hardworking staff at the shelter. |
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Why Volunteer in Chile? |
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The capital of Chile, Santiago is nestled in a valley at the foot of the picturesque Andes. The city of almost 6 million residents boasts a mild, Mediterranean climate and a variety of modern conveniences. Santiago is centrally located, making it the perfect base from which to explore the rest of the country. About halfway between the mountains and the coast, the city allows visitors to get to the Pacific Ocean and the snowcapped Andes in less than two hours in either direction. Santiago serves as the home base for the majority of our volunteer projects in Chile.
Chile has modernized in the past 20 years, now boasting one of the most stable economies in South America. Accompanying this change, however, is a striking disparity between wealthy and poor residents. Our partner organization in Chile has decided to lend a hand to the city's impoverished population. |
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Chile Infant Care Program Goals: |
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Our partner organization runs an orphanage and protective shelter in Santiago, Chile. The children at the shelter range from newborn babies to two-year-olds and all have been orphaned, neglected, or removed from their families by court order. Our partner organization in Chile has created a safe haven for these innocent children, but the shelter staff is often in need of an extra set of hands to help. |
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Airport Pickup and Orientation: |
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After arrival in Santiago, volunteers will be picked up by a shuttle service provided by BridgeVolunteers. You will be transported to your host family or hostel 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. |
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Spanish Language Classes: |
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Volunteers enrolled in the complete package will be taking Spanish language classes at BridgeChile, our affiliate language school in Santiago. For more efficient placement upon your arrival, we ask that you take our Online Spanish Placement Test 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.
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Transportation: |
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BridgeVolunteers will arrange your airport pickup in Santiago and transportation to your host family. Volunteers pay for transportation to and from the project and other activities. |
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Accommodations: |
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Volunteers can choose to stay in either a hostel or with a Chilean host family. Hostel accommodations are typically shared rooms and bathrooms and include breakfast. Host family accommodations include a private room and two meals per day (breakfast and dinner). Commute time to the project varies, but may be up to 20-60 minutes, depending on your placement. If you opt to stay with a host family, you will be glad to know that our host families are carefully screened and must meet BridgeVolunteers' requirements before being accepted as a host family. You will be given a key to your host family's home to come and go as you please. |
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Meals: |
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If you choose to stay in a hostel, you will be served breakfast only. If you would like to prepare your own meals, you will have access to a kitchen in the hostel. Host families provide two meals a day: breakfast and dinner. |
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In-Country Support: |
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Volunteer coordinators will provide support during your time in Santiago. You can also expect help from your fellow volunteers and the staff of both BridgeVolunteers and our partner organization. |
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Chile Excursions: |
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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. Volunteers are expected to pay their own transportation costs and entrance fees.
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Museo Casa de Pablo Neruda La Chascona |
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This excursion takes you to Pablo Neruda´s house, Chile´s most famous poet and winner of the 1971 Nobel Prize for Literature. |
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Museo de Arte Precolombino |
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The Museo de Arte Precolombino houses ceramics, textiles, paintings, and sculptures from a wide range of Pre-Colombian cultures. |
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Parque Forestal and Museo de Bellas Artes |
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This tour takes you to one of the most popular parks in Santiago and the most famous art museum in the city. |
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Viña Concha y Toro |
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Visit the winery Concha y Toro, where you receive a guided tour and taste some renowned Chilean wines. |
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Centro Cultural Palacio La Moneda |
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Visit this newly inaugurated cultural center, study archive, and museum. The center is located underneath the also newly remodeled Plaza Constitución, next to La Moneda, the presdential palace. |
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Insurance for Volunteers: |
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BridgeVolunteers provides emergency travel insurance for participants. For more information, please read our Insurance page. |
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