Program Reviews

My four month experience as a volunteer at an orphanage not too far from the center of the city was undoubtedly the most incredible and invaluable one of my life. I could not have been happier with my experience there and I was truly devastated when the time came to leave. At the risk of sounding very dramatic, my experience at Voluntario Global proved to be the best decision of my life and made me realize what it was I want to do with my life. I of course cannot account for everyone who works with the organization, but I cannot stress enough the impact my time at the orphanage had on me. My memories there will stay with me forever and I am absolutely determined to go back.

My duties at the home involved cleaning and helping to maintain an ordered and safe environment for the kids aged between 5 to 13 to live in. The idea was that the orphanage mimic as much as was possible a home for these kids and the educadores (adults) who worked there were some of the kindest, most patient and hard working people I am yet to meet. They made me feel more than welcome and extremely comfortable and confident with my surroundings and significantly helped to make my experience as fulfilling and positive as it was. Once the kids were back at school following the summer holidays (whereby they were doing recreational activities most afternoons), I was expected to help them with their homework and whatever other extra work they needed support with. I also helped to dress and clean the younger children, carrying out regular head lice checks, particularly during the very hot months. I always ate lunch with either the children or the staff, I was fed extremely well!

The most difficult challenge for me was detaching myself emotionally from the kids and what they had individually been through. I encountered no major problems at the orphanage itself as I was very impressed with the high standard of living and how the place was run.

The most rewarding aspect of the work was simply playing with the kids and giving them my time and full attention. I was passionate about what I was doing meaning I made the very most of every situation or opportunity I was faced with. Although if I had to mention a particular highlight it would be the relationships I formed with the children and staff.

I had a very nice time working for Voluntario Global. Since I was in the Communication Team, I mostly worked from the office. Every once in a while I went to visit the projects or to do an interview and I was always welcome.

I have good memories of the work experience and of the interaction with the other volunteers as well. It is a nice way to meet new people in a part of the world that is unknown to you!

I had a very enriching experiencing volunteering with Voluntario Global in Buenos Aires. My entire experience was fulfilling, educational, fun, impactful and incredibly inspiring. Voluntario Global is a relatively small organization run locally by a group of passionate and hard-working staff members and volunteers. From the first email I had sent to the day of my departure, the staff was extremely warm and helpful. I can tell that they wanted the program to be not only impactful for the children and community members they were working with, but also for the international volunteers. On a typical day, I would take the train to the after-school center I was volunteering at and I would assist with English lessons to a group of very sweet and eager-to learn students. I would then return to the city and maybe go out with some other volunteers who were staying in the volunteer house (which is a sort of private hostel). The staff members did a great job matching me with a community program that matched my interests and my experience. Another thing I really liked about the program was that it was very affordable and the donation went directly to maintaining the organization. They also helped me find affordable housing and to adjust to a new country and environment. Overall, the experience felt very warm and personal, maybe because we were able to work closely with the staff members, who helped us feel connected to the community and to each other.

After volunteering with Voluntario Global for 4 months I learnt that you should not pay to volunteer, unless the money is being spent on materials for the project. I was very disheartened to learn that around just 30% (roughly) of what I paid went on my project. So where does the rest go?

I am also disappointed that large companies like STA travel are involved, charging volunteers a ridiculous amount to go via them instead of direct through VG.

I myself am involved in another project in Bolivia and know that such costs are unnecessary. Of course some fund raising may be involved, we did that at first to pay the wages of the local women in Bolivia making blankets for the homeless people until they could find a sustainable way of making money themselves. But we as volunteers do not pay to work. As soon as we pay, we become customers rather than employees. Surely that's not fair. And if money is required, surely a donation of however much the volunteer feels necessary would be more appropriate. Or, even better, the volunteer buys necessary materials upon arrival.

Those children I taught that never brought the textbooks to class, not because they forgot them, but because their parents couldn't afford them. The kids that always borrowed my pens because they didn't have any. Not to mention the break-times with no snacks to eat.

I really enjoyed the school I worked in and received support whenever needed and always felt welcome. I just wish people could go and volunteer just for that school and not Voluntario Global as a whole.

I must mention the fact that I had discussed hours before I arrived and been told I would tell them when I could work when I arrive. Yet when I arrived I was told I had to work Monday to Friday 2-9:30 including the 3 hour return commute. I was upset that I had been lead to believe that I would choose between morning and evening shifts and in the end had to work all evenings. Luckily the teacher let me negotiate a day off, for me to allow time for my Year Abroad studies at University (this was part of a placement).

The fact that there were no longer morning shifts was not the teacher's fault, but rather the lack of communication between the team and the fact that they had not told me about the change beforehand. Unfortunately, one night I was mugged on the train which I could not blame Voluntario Global for in any way, but, inevitably, having to take that train every night for 3 more months hardly made me comfortable. Luckily the teacher I worked with was always very helpful and understanding and travelled with me as far of the journey as she could.

I was also surprised that volunteers were told that they did not need a reasonable level of Spanish as many turned up without even knowing basic Spanish and this just prevented more problems rather than helping us out. An important part of teaching the children is having the ability to communicate with them and understand them, so unless you only teach the one class of 15 year olds, the necessary teacher-student rapport is not going to be built up at all without knowing Spanish.

All in all, I could not recommend Voluntario Global after seeing how well run other free or actually low-cost organisations are. I would suggest Conviven perhaps who my friend volunteered for and loved. I really enjoyed my role of teaching and loved the children and teacher I worked with. I could not fault the small school I worked in but rather the running of VG. I am very grateful for the help the teacher gave me at all times and this review is absolutely no reflection of working with her & the kids, but rather, my overall experience. If there is a way for her to run the school independently, I would completely recommend volunteering for her; but until then, find a smaller organisation.

The Voluntario Global professional placement is different to any I have done before. Working in the communications and marketing department was great because it really was a case of getting out of the experience what you put in- with smaller charities there are less rules and so there are more possibilities for putting forward your own ideas and feeling like an important part of the team rather than just another intern.
When I got to Voluntarios Global I was immediately made to feel at home, everyone was really friendly and I met other volunteers from all over the world. On top of getting involved in the workplace you have plenty of time to go out and explore the city, and going through Voluntario Global means you have a ready made group of fellow enthusiastic tourists!
As for the work, it was really varied which I enjoyed. Sometimes doing tasks such as updating the social media links to keep the charity fresh and interesting, other times going out to interview people working at the charity’s various projects to write articles for their blog. I was also involved in helping to organize fundraising events and social events for the other volunteers. The good thing was I felt like all my ideas were listened to and that I had the freedom to act upon them and get really stuck in.
I’d recommend the program, and living in the Voluntario Global house is great from a social point of view but, as most of the volunteers speak English, a homestay is a good idea for those hoping to practice their Spanish!

I spent 3 months with Voluntario Global as an intern. The internship position was in the area of communications. Though some linked websites such as Global Nomadic claim that Voluntario Global offers other internships in NGO management and other professional sounding placements, they unfortunately do not. The only internship that was offered during the time frame that I was in Buenos Aires (January 2012 - April 2012) was in the Communications "department".

Basically your work will be very basic. You will be updating facebook and twitter and recruiting volunteers from other universities around the globe (so sending e-mails with quirky subject lines etc.). Alternative volunteer positions on the "field" that are offered through Voluntario Global will have you pealing onions in a soup kitchen (work that could very easily be done without you) or other such menial tasks, which will likely not exceed 2-3 afternoons per week (meaning 7-10 hours a week).

If you are looking for a mature and professional internship placement, I would strongly advice choosing another organization. If you are looking to do the bare minimum, you have found your place.

I did i long term placement with VG over 6 months both in their communications dept and working in an orphanage in one of the suburbs of Buenos Aires.

I arrived with almost no spanish language skills, but the support from all the VG team was amazing in helping me get settled, although I lived independantly across the city I was regularly involved in the social activites set up for the volunteers by the team, including weekly dinners to introduce new volunteers to the rest of the group.

Talking to other volunteers made me realise how diverse the different projects are, i loved my work at the orphanage but i'm sure there is a project for everyone. The donation you make to support the community project you are at is so low compared to other organisations i'd looked at and you can see the difference your involvment makes in the lives of the people you work with over the time you are there.

I'd love to go back, and as soon as I'm able to i'm sure i will