Quick Facts
Program code
CL-VOL114
Category
Volunteer Work, Child Care, Education
Country
Chile
Location
Curacavi, Central Chile
Program start
flexible start and end dates between March and end of November
Minimum duration
6 weeks
Minimum age
20 years
Contact us
Happy to help you
(+1) 954 762 7607
(+56) 9 7516 9816
(+49) 7735 425 339
skype: chileinside
8 am - 4 pm EST
Program details
The volunteer work takes place in a small rural school, idyllically situated in Curacaví halfway from Santiago towards the Pacific coast. The school teaches according to the principles of Montessori and applies strategies such as permaculture and project-based learning (PBL) to achieve specific learning goals. There are no predetermined classrooms but rooms and areas - indoors and outdoors - that serve as study areas divided according to topics.
About 35 boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 12 attend the school. The school staff consists of about 10 motivated teachers and assistants.
The school building is a large house surrounded by a natural setting and gardens. It is a great environment where children can learn, discover, explore, play, grow and develop together.
The school year in Chile runs from the beginning of March to mid-December, followed by the long summer holidays, which last 2.5 months.
Tasks
A wide variety of tasks will come your way. All of them are about shaping and enriching the children's everyday school life. The intercultural exchange with the teachers, children and families is very important and the volunteers should be proactively involved in school life and life in the community.
The areas of responsibility include:
- Assisting the English teacher
- Tutoring for children in English
- Support in the daily teaching program
- Project assignments during school hours
- Participation in permaculture, which is an important part of the school's philosophy
- Supervising and participating in children's free play
- Supervising and participating during mealtimes
- Playing with the children, making music, dancing, painting and handicrafts
- Welcoming and saying goodbye to children at school
- Helping with homework help
- Outdoor activities (permaculture, games)
- Promoting the development of children with meaningful activities
The working schedule is approximately 37 hours per week from Monday to Friday. From time to time the school has events on Saturdays.
You are expected to show a great deal of responsibility and conscientiousness when volunteering at a school in Chile. Be aware of your important role as a role model for the children and always take your volunteer work seriously. It is also important that the volunteers seek intensive contact with the teachers, parents and children so that your experience abroad is valuable and positive for everyone involved.
Note: The tasks may vary. They depend on factors such as number of volunteers, weather, season, current needs of the project, as well as self-motivation. Not every volunteer may be fully involved in all these tasks.
Accommodation
An important aspect of our volunteer work at a school in Chile is the exchange with the local culture and community. During your volunteer work you will live in a local household, a so-called homestay, in the vicinity of the school.
The accommodation includes a single room and three meals per day (typical local food, vegetarian and/or vegan can be accommodated).
Location
Curacaví is a municipality nestled between hills and valleys in the Melipilla province of central Chile. It is about the same distance to the beautiful Pacific coast as to the metropolis of Santiago de Chile. Curacaví is approximately 90 minutes from Chile's capital.
The climate is Mediterranean with a prolonged dry season and high temperatures in summer from October to March. In winter, temperatures drop and there is occasional rain.
Curacaví means "solid stone" from the indigenous words "cura" and "cahuín".
Curacaví is known for its traditional sweets and rich chicha (ferment from apples or grapes), as well as a wide variety of vegetables, flowers and fruits, many of which are exported to the US and Europe.
About 25,000 people live in Curacaví. It is a small town - rural, lively, pintoresque! Curacavi was originally established as a small settlement on the banks of the crystal clear Puangue River when people began to travel between Santiago and Valparaíso. There the travelers rested before tackling the dreaded Zapata slope. Little by little, Curacaví developed into a small town.
Language skills
Spanish at communication level. For optimal preparation for your volunteer work in Chile, we advise you to take a Spanish course before the program starts. This gives you the opportunity to slowly get used to the language, culture and mentality.
You can book your Spanish course in Chile directly with us!
Requirements
- Spanish skills (book your Spanish course in Chile!)
- Good English skills
- Minimum age 20 years
- Driving license (very helpful but not mandatory)
- Application at least 4 weeks before the desired start of the program. Read more about our application process here.
- Completion of a foreign travel health insurance (get your travel insurance here!)
Pre-departure and in-country support
Before arrival, our experienced team will be at your disposal to assist you throughout the booking process and travel planning. With the booking confirmation you will receive our 24-hour emergency number, so that you can reach us 24/7 in case of emergency.
In addition to the assistance given by our office in Santiago de Chile you will be supported by an on-site volunteer coordinator.
Costs & Services
Our Volunteer Work at a school in Chile includes:
- Single room in Homestay
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Advice from our experienced staff
- On-going support via WhatsApp, phone or mail
- Elaboration of your application profile in Spanish
- Your placement in the volunteer project
- Pre-departure information
- Packing list
- Country handbook
- Intercultural guide
- On-site volunteer coordinator
- 24/7 emergency number
- Advice on travel insurance
- Certificate of participation
Application fee: US$ 150
Program fee: US$ 1,060 (minimum duration 6 weeks)
Extra week: US$ 130
Additionally, you can book:
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Volunteer Guide
Find valuable information about volunteering abroad in our program guides. Find out about all the benefits, possibilities and challenges, that a stay abroad offers you. Read more about the great opportunities that South America Inside has at your disposal.
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