The Issue
In Chile, wealth is unfortunately very unevenly distributed and many children and young people grow up in very difficult circumstances. Public and private institutions such as children's homes, day care centers or social kindergartens try to counteract this and do incredibly valuable work. There, children in need are taken care of, get medical and psychological assistance and, in many cases, experience affection and recognition for the first time. Especially sad is the number of children who have to grow up without parents because the families have rejected them, their parents have died, disappeared, or are in jail or simply do not fulfill their parental duties of care. If the homes did not exist, these children would stay unattended or end up in the streets.
However, public institutions in Chile often suffer from a lack of adequate funding. Children's homes, day care centers, or other similar establishments, often lack staff and financial resources and are dependent on the help of volunteers. To protect the already disadvantaged children from further cutbacks having to do with their living conditions, nurses and the so-called "tías" give their best every day to take the children away from the worries of everyday life. Unfortunately, they too are subject to personal limits at some point and are grateful for every helping hand. Especially distressing is the large number of children who grow up without parents because they have been thrown out of their families. Others have parents that are deceased, absent, in prison, or have simply failed in their parental duty of care.
The Placement
On a brighter note, there are charities that serve as a welcoming shelter and advice center for these children and families in Santiago and surrounding areas. Take on responsibility and show educational support as a beacon of hope by helping in one of various social projects that give new perspectives on children and families from disadvantaged social groups in Chile. If you decide to do your volunteer work with children in Chile with us, you can choose between different projects and institutions.
- Children's home
- Kindergartens for marginalized social groups (immigrant children, children from poor families)
- Children with disabilities
The Location
Santiago de Chile is located almost exactly in the middle of Chile, halfway between the north and south and also about half way between the Argentine border and the ocean. The capital of Chile is an amazing city and one of the few metropolises in the world where you can actually ask yourself the question: "Going to the sea today and skiing tomorrow, or would you prefer the other way around?" since beautiful beaches are at the same distance like world-class ski slopes (and trekking routes during summer) in the Andes Mountains. Santiago de Chile divides Chile into the fertile south and the dry, mineral-rich north.
And the city itself has something for everyone: there are beautiful plazas to relax, old colonial buildings and a lively urban culture with museums, street artists, theaters and more; small craft markets and green meadows, countless restaurants and pubs in fancy nightlife districts and a lively student life.
What we expect
Please do not put prejudices of the foreign culture and other people into your luggage. You do not need that during your stay abroad! On the contrary, tolerance is a very important feature if you want to be successful and have fun while volunteering abroad. Respect the foreign culture, the other habits and the different mentality with great respect. While the other way of working may not always make much sense in your eyes, the goal of volunteering abroad is not to criticize or smile at people for acting and doing, but to work with them for a good cause.
On a trip abroad, especially in developing countries, you leave your comfort zone. It is very important that you are ready to adapt to a different life situation. In Latin America, you certainly will not find the usual standards of home again. But that's the exciting thing about volunteering abroad! Immerse yourself in a foreign land, experience culture, traditions and people up close, learn from them, just let go and adapt to the other life circumstances. A unique experience that will mature and grow you as a person!
In a voluntary work, the team idea is always over self-interest. Working in a team is fun and brings good mood and variety! So, for your volunteer work abroad, you should bring along a great deal of team spirit, because you always work together with other people, be it volunteers from other countries or local staff. However, when so many foreign and diverse cultures meet, teamwork can become a whole new challenge. Even more important, that you have the ability to communicate in a group, work constructively and fairly and do not want to punch through your will at all costs.
- Be helpful and responsible
For most projects, volunteers who "do a good job" are most appreciated. By participating in a voluntary service abroad, you are consciously choosing to work in another country. You are not on a vacation trip. What really matters is your helpfulness! A really very important and unavoidable trait is the sense of responsibility. The volunteer project is counting on your support and your cooperation has been tightly scheduled. A high level of responsibility is the alpha and omega. During your volunteer work in Latin America, you are assigned to certain areas of activity that you must do on your own. Please take your role as a volunteer very seriously and carry out your tasks in the project conscientiously and carefully.
Be prepared for the fact that volunteering in Latin America is much different from what you know or are used to at home. The Latin Americans have a completely different order, time and work understanding. Even their logic of approaching certain things may not always make much sense in your eyes. The different language and culture can quickly lead to misunderstandings or communication problems. An important principle for you: always be flexible and spontaneous! You will soon realize that there is a solution for all situations and that you can quickly develop a plan B from a problem.
- Be proactive and take initiative
During your voluntary work abroad, do not expect someone to explain to you in a big way what needs to be done, where and when. Often there is only a brief introduction and then your proactivity and initiative are asked. Get actively involved, offer your help and see where you can best apply your skills and strengths.
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