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Volunteer Adventures help save the world,
two weeks at a time.
By Kazia Jankowski |
Published: July 2006 - STICKY BRAZILIAN HUMIDITY hangs in the midafternoon air of Hannah Allen-Yeager's classroom. In the middle of Rio's drug-torn slums, the 24-year-old American is teaching English to students ages 12 to 14. The lesson is grammar. The unit, food.
"How do you say 'chocolate pizza' in English?" a student asks, referring to the flaky chocolate-smeared, banana-topped pastry common in Brazil. Allen-Yeager explains that in America there's no such thing. "Que Chato," how boring, declares the student, and the class roars in agreement.
Allen-Yeager doesn't disagree. She's happy, having introduced her students to the English phonetics of banana and chocolate. And that means she is one step closer to meeting the long-term goal: making sure these kids speak English well enough to get out of the slums and into college.
It's a monumental task-one that will need maintenance long after Allen-Yeager leaves Brazil. For that, there's Solar, the Brazilian nonprofit school where Allen-Yeager teaches, staffed in part by a Denver-based company that sent her and other volunteers.
Volunteer Adventures is a cultural-immersion/humanitarian program that, since its inception in 2005, has paired 500 volunteers worldwide with about 25 organizations in need. Its purpose is twofold: provide crucial aid to the foreign organizations that would not otherwise have international volunteers, and give participants the opportunity to learn about a culture and a new language in a nontraditional setting. It's like the Peace Corps, with a much shorter time commitment.
Before these volunteers jet across the globe for their two-week or multimonth stint, they have to decide on a program. Fund-raise with public-health educators in Buenos Aires? Sweat in the trenches in Zimbabwe's national parks? Work at a rural daycare center in India?
With such variety, the choice can be tough. And it's not cheap-the fee ranges from $1000 to $2000 for two weeks, buying you guidance through the visa process, home-stay arrangements, a job, health insurance, and language classes. Money aside, you'll get the sense of accomplishment and purpose that only the traveler-turned-volunteer can feel. For more info, call 303-785-8887 or visit www.volunteeradventures.com.
Kazia Jankowski
5280 Magazine |
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Airport Pickup and Orientation: |
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After arrival in Buenos Aires, you will be picked up by a shuttle service and transported to your accommodations for the first night. The following morning, you will begin your volunteer program with an extensive orientation. During this time, you will learn about living and working in Buenos Aires, using public transportation, and volunteering at your program site. You will meet your program coordinator to discuss the details of your work and your responsibilities as a volunteer. Your program coordinator will accompany you on the first day and also on subsequent days if possible. |
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Spanish Language Classes: |
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To complement your work in the community, you will be taking Spanish language classes at BridgeArgentina, our affiliate language school in Buenos Aires. For more efficient placement upon your arrival, we ask that you take our Online Spanish Placement to determine your language proficiency. 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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TEFL Teacher Training: |
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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. Read More. |
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Transportation: |
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BridgeVolunteers will arrange your airport pickup in Buenos Aires and transportation to your host family. Volunteers pay for transportation to and from the program and other activities. |
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Accommodations: |
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Volunteers can choose to stay in either a hostel or with an Argentinean 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 program varies, but may be up to 30-60 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 Buenos Aires. You can also expect help from your fellow volunteers and the staff of both BridgeVolunteers and our partner organization. |
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Argentina Excursions: |
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Although you will be serving the community for most of your time in Argentina, there may be time for some sightseeing. Below are a few of the trips that BridgeArgentina organizes for students and volunteers, schedule permitting. Volunteers are expected to pay their own transportation costs and entrance fees.
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The Recoleta |
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One of our most popular excursions, this trip takes you to the beautiful Recoleta neighborhood known as a "slice of Paris" in Buenos Aires |
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The Rosedal |
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The Rosedal is Buenos Aires' most famous and most visited park, filled with bridges, piers, ponds, sculptures, and abundant vegetation. |
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San Telmo |
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A walking tour of this artsy neighborhood offers a chance to visit antique shops and the San Telmo Market, where you can find antiques, crafts, and artwork made by local artisans. |
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La Boca |
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Colorful houses characterize the lively waterfront neighborhood of La Boca. The area is also home to the country's most popular soccer team, the Boca Juniors. |
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The Plaza de Mayo |
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This plaza is the epicenter of Argentina's political history. This tour of the plaza also includes famous buildings nearby, such as the Casa Rosada, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Cabildo. |
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Puerto Madero |
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This port city has converted its old brick warehouses into first-rate restaurants, movie theaters, and office complexes. It is now Buenos Aires' newest, most exclusive, and fastest-growing district |
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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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