We feel that the volunteers need more than just an on arrival meeting when they arrive in Buenos Aires, and for this reason in 2010 we will be developing set arrival dates for the volunteers and we will arrange a two day on arrival training program so that the volunteers may be better prepared for their projects and so that they may know who SAS really are. We will also let the volunteer know of dates during the year in which events are taking place in local projects so we can have informal meetings and in this way the volunteers can get to know other volunteers in Argentina and learn about our other local projects.
The arrival weekend dates are as follows:
- 13-14 March 2010 - 8-9 May 2010 - 31 July – 1 August 2010 - 30–31 October 2010
The volunteers need to cover their accommodation and food costs during the on arrival training, the training starts at 9am.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL PROJECTS:
- Volunteers should write a MOTIVATION LETTER in Spanish. - Volunteers should fill in the pre-evaluation in Spanish before their arrival, this will be sent out with the Information Sheet after completion of the placement. - Volunteers should sign an agreement that they have read and understood the Information Sheet and have read and understood their rights and responsibilities. (this will be sent out with the Info-Sheet as well).
Hosting association:
WHO ARE WE? EcoClubes is a democratic civil society association, made for children and young people, which undertake actions with other institutions to improve the quality of life of their towns.
WHERE ARE WE? EcoClubes is present in 30 countries in America, Europe and Africa:Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Germany, Guatamala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, and Venezuela. There are approximately 15,000 young volunteers integrated into this movement.
HOW DO WE WORK? We define the local problems, we capacitate and inform ourselves through the help of specialists, community references etc., we search for alliances with other institutions, local governments, companies etc., we promote an exchange of practices within the community with innovative strategies, we diffuse our propositions and the results and finally, we measure the impact caused by our actions.
Description of Volunteers work and needs of the association:
The volunteer must be ready to work in an independent manner with children and young people with social problems (socially disadvantaged, disabled, ill) living in low income areas. We would like to host someone who has a capacity to approach young people, to exchange, share, communicate and pass time with them. The work will take place be in centres such as Integrame, the missionary centres, the San Miguel Arcangel Community Hall, Barrio Toba, and some actions in collaboration with Red Cross, Clorinda.
Integrame is an association from Clorinda which works with children and adults with special needs. The volunteer will have the opportunity to work with them from two to five times during the week.
There are 3 "Centros Misonales" (Missionary Centres) in Clorinda: Centro Misional San Cayetano, Centro Sagrada Familia y Centro San Jose are working with about 125 children between 2 and 14 years of age. The volunteers will work with them two to four times a week during 2 hours in order to organise activities with a restricted group of children (5 to 15). The activities to develop can be ecological, artistic, school support and recreational. The volunteer will be in charge of the photo and film coverage of different events of the centres so it would be greatly appreciated if s/he can bring a digital camera. Otherwise it is possible to use the association's camera. As regards the filming, the association holds a camera for it which will be at the disposal of the volunteer.
The NGO San Miguel Arcangel gives us the opportunity to use a place in another part of the city (Barrio 29 de Septiembre) in their Community Hall, where children from 2 to 14 yrs go to play, eat and meet. The volunteers will have the possibility to work there at least once a week during 1h30 to organize the same kind of activities as above and everything that seems relevant to the volunteers. During the summer holidays (from January to March), the volunteers will have the opportunity to organise a "summer camp" once to five times a week and follow every week a different theme to raise awareness amongst the children while teaching them through workshops.
In addition to working with children and young people the volunteer will work on environmental and cultural themes. It would be great if the volunteer has the capacity to share her/his knowledge of how to play an instrument, to teach languages or arts. Any artistic qualities will be greatly appreciated; we have guitars which can be used to teach young people and to use it in our cultural and artistic project called Expresarte (www.proyectoexpresarte.blogspot.com) which consists in teaching for free, music, guitar (with an aboriginal language choir and guitar lessons), theatre and folk dance, so the volunteer could help if interested.
The volunteer will work on workshops in schools on the themes of Dengue Fever and Waste and the Environment. The volunteer will also help out with planting trees in communal spaces. They will participate in puppet shows which are used as a pedagogical tool to teach young people on the above themes. In addition to this, once to several times a month, EcoClub Clorinda organises "Cine En El Barrio", where films are shown to the community.
Accomodation:
Sharing with a family. Shared room with one (max 2) other international volunteer(s) with private bathroom.
Place:
Clorinda, Formosa. Northeast of Argentina, close to the border with Paraguay, one hour from the Paraguayan capital city Asunción. Please note that in the Summer the weather is VERY hot and humid.
Language:
Basics in Spanish, willing to learn!
Suggested Vaccinations:
Yellow Fever.
Fees:
Travel (internal and external) costs and costs related to the on arrival training (room and food) of the volunteer are at the volunteers charge.
The volunteer will make a one off payment of 160€ to Subir al Sur on arrival. This money covers administration costs of Subir al Sur during the volunteers stay.
In addition the volunteer will pay 180€ per month for the duration of the project to the local hosting organization, Eco Clubes Clorinda. This money will cover the volunteers housing (and food), wash and iron the linen during the month + the use of a WIFI connection.
NOTE to partners:
The on arrival trainings as noted above are obligatory. The costs for the stay in Buenos Aires will need to be covered by the volunteer. Please be clear with the volunteers about what they have to pay, when and why. After this they will travel to their project in the North of Argentina (approx. 18 hours by bus).
« The organisation of the camp community was fantastic! The group was great and we bonded quickly, language was always going to be a tricky one, but everyone attempted English and Indonesian so it made the whole experience fun and educational. »
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