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:
Los Quebrachitos:
The name Quebrachito alludes to an historical significance, in relation to the origins of Villa Ana, which is linked to the presence of a foreign factory whose activity was to exploit the Quebracho Colorado, a type of tree. Los Quebrachitos represent new roots, young people with common concerns who wish to improve the social reality of the village. Quebrachito was born with the objective of undertaking community work in the village, which gives an incentive to the young people to compromise with the social-political reality and at the same time deepen their knowledge and achieve a wider view of the world. The methodology of our work is fundamentally based in the exchange of ideas and knowledge through community service, which is planned and organised taking into account the resources available. We always try to achieve the participation and compromise of each one of the young people who take part in the project, respecting and valorising different contributions. The group, even if it is an organisation, functions as a family, a group of friends who share common objectives and who feel a great responsibility for what they do and for the community.
Description of Volunteers work and needs of the association:
The volunteer will develop a project at a primary school of the village. The idea is to introduce the volunteer into a true teaching experience. The volunteer will incorporate the school's staff, leading a foreign language course (the volunteers own language) and organising specific games and educational activities for the children of the school. In addition, the volunteer will support the group Quebrachitos in all of its activities. To allow a gradual integration in the reality of the village and the project, the first two weeks after the arrival of the volunteer at Villa Ana will be programmed with meetings with the school's authorities and all Quebrachito's members, in order to discuss all of the ideas and suggestions for the planning of the project, taking into account activities, schedules, availability of resources, etc. The volunteer will work 5/6 hours per day from Monday to Friday and at times will need to participate in group activities on weekends.
NOTE:
The volunteer needs to be prepared to live in a small village of 4000 inhabitants, and to be organised and independent.
Accommodation:
Shared with a local family.
Location:
Villa Ana, North of the province Santa Fe (12 hours by bus from the capital Buenos Aires).
Language:
A sufficient knowledge of Spanish.
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 160€ per month for the duration of the project to the local hosting organization, Los Quebrachitos. This money will cover the volunteers housing and food during the month.
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 the province of Santa Fé (approx. 13 hours by bus).
The youth group for community action “Quebrachito” are developing several actions which commemorate this important year. Argentina is going towards its bicentenary on 25 May celebrating 200 years as a nation and Villa Ana is going to celebrate its centenary on 9 July as a village. For this reason together with Subir al Sur and the community of Villa Ana we will develop from 26 June until 11 July a project which has the objective of working on activities related and forming part of the festivities on the route to the birthday of the village. The history and the development of a small village such as Villa Ana goes back exactly 100 years and was in the hands of a British company which exploited the North-East of Argentina for a tree called 'Quebracho' from which they extracted a substance called tannin. The community of Villa Ana is characterized by its history and by the painful memories of usurpation and robbery. The youth group Quebrachito, Subir al Sur and the people of the village are preparing and organizing to celebrate the birthday of their dear village through different activities, which are as follows...
- Construction of a bus stop on the road 32 which gives access to the village of Villa Ana, its decoration will be related to the Centenary of the Village.
- Cleaning, painting and other activities in the local museum.
- Reforestation with different species of trees characteristic of the zone in the area of the former factory.
- Participation in different activities to be realized in the village organized by the Commission for the Centenary.
- Dynamic activities with children in one of the most marginalized neighbourhoods of the area.
During the project the volunteers will also participate in different workshops and talks based around the theme of “Exploitation in Latin America and the Forestal Company in Villa Ana”. A recommended reading list will be sent out with the Information Sheet to those accepted on the project.
On arrival training:
26/27 June 2010. The volunteers must be ready to start the on arrival workshop at 10am on the 26th. More information will be sent out in the Information Sheet to those accepted on the project. The volunteers need to cover their accommodation and food costs during the on arrival training.
Location:
Villa Ana, a village of 3000 inhabitants in the North of the Province of Santa Fé.
Accommodation:
Shared in basic conditions.
NB:
Suggested vaccinations: Yellow Fever. ALL VOLUNTEERS MUST HAVE MEDICAL INSURANCE COVER, PLEASE CHECK VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTERING ARGENTINA.
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