We have put together a list of grants and fundraising opportunities available to future volunteers interested in coming to Argentina. Some of the scholarships are reserved for only students, but some are welcome to all who have the qualifications to apply. Grants like these and others are a great way to make your volunteering experience a lot easier economically!
1. Name: Omprakash Foundation Grants
Link: http://www.omprakash.org/volunteer-abroad-grants
Description: They offer Volunteer Grants to defray travel and living expenses for individuals who are interested in serving an Omprakash Partner (Voluntario Global is a partner) and making a long-term contribution to our global educational community. Their Volunteer Grant program is open to all, regardless of age or nationality. They review four cycles of grant applications each year.
2. Name: Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant
Link: http://www.phikappaphi.org/web/awards/study_abroad.html
Description: Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants are designed to help support undergraduates as they seek knowledge and experience in their academic fields by studying abroad. Fifty $1,000 grants are awarded each year.
3. Name: Samuel Huntington Public Service Award
Link: http://www.nationalgridus.com/huntington.asp
Description: Gives a graduating college senior a budget for one year of public service anywhere in the world.
4. Name: Go Overseas International Volunteer Award
Link: http://www.gooverseas.com/volunteer-abroad
Description: Gives one award of $1,000 each academic year to anyone successfully accepted into an international volunteer program.
5. Name: LIVFund Scholarship
Link: http://www.livfund.org/scholarship/what-is-the-livfund-scholarship/
Description: Provides two $500 scholarships per month to gap year students or others interested in learning, interning, and volunteering in Latin America.
6. Name: Travel for Good Voluntourism Grant
Link: http://www.volunteerjournals.com/volunteer-travel-grants/
Description: Provides $5,000 for inspiring, Travelocity signature trips.
7. Name: “Go Fund Me” and “Fund My Travel”
Link: gofundme.com / fundmytravel.com
Description: Has helped thousands of people raise millions of dollars online, for amazing personal causes such as school tuition, sports teams, medical bills, volunteering abroad, business trips, and travel expenses. Its as simple as creating your own profile on our page for free, choosing a color, selecting a photo, and typing a message about what you want to do! Then it is ready to share to the world, personal contacts, and facebook friends. Donations are secure and online, and will be deposited directly into the bank account of the person whose cause you are supporting!
8. Name: Start –up Scholar Fundraising
Link: http://startupscholar.org/
Description: Students in need of project funding for a transformative educational experience present their ideas and projects to the Start Up Scholar platform, which helps bring together a community of people to support the development and education of students by pooling funding for their project. Donors contribute funding to support students and the projects they believe in. Depending on the fundraising model of the project, donations are either sent immediately to the project or pledged and sent only if the funding goal is reached. Some projects have perks or rewards for donating at certain levels. Students and donors interact directly and donors receive updates as the student undertakes the project.
9. Name: Gilman Scholarship
Link: http://www.iie.org/Programs/Gilman-Scholarship-Program/Apply
Description: The Gilman Scholarship Program offers awards for undergraduate study abroad and was established by the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000. This scholarship provides awards for U.S. undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.
Living a Transitive Lifestyle
(If you haven't read Part One, it’s right here)
The First Month
I have come to settle in quite well in Buenos Aires. At first, I was completely enjoying my vacation, and still catching up from finals week from my previous semester. By this I mean, I would sleep until 2:30 pm every day, eat at the chinese buffet next to the VG House, then make my way to the office by 3:30. After work I would come home, wait for everyone else to get back from their projects, then find somewhere to eat for dinner and stay up until late. This was for the first few weeks, which allowed me to enjoy my freedom of not having school to go to everyday, but instead being in a new city, in another country, far far away from the rigors of college.
In the beginning I was a little intimidated by the city, and a lot of the people who were in the house when I got there had already kind of done everything, so it was up to me to figure it out by myself how to get around the city and get to where I wanted. Even though I am able to communicate with the people around me, read in Spanish and follow directions, a metropolis like Buenos Aires could turn into a scary place to get lost in very quickly, as some of the past volunteers have made very clear.
New Friends
I ended up meeting a group of students that all take part of a University exchange program here in the city, who were mainly from Quebec, England, and a few from the US. I enjoyed spending time with them because they were in Buenos Aires actually living sustained lives similar to that of what I live during the year in the US, going to school during the day, and working simple jobs like waiting at night. I actually went with a group of them to Iguazu Falls in the north of Argentina for a weekend, which was probably the coolest thing I have done since I have been here. They also introduced me to an all-you-can-eat sushi place close to where they used to live, which costs what would be about 20 USD, and is now my favorite place to eat. Clearly I have a thing for asian food
Oh Yeah, I Work Too
My work with Voluntario Global is what I do with the majority of my day. It started out with just me in the office,with another volunteer working from home, and has slowly grown to there now being 7 of us working throughout the work on different projects in the area of marketing and communications. Our main goal is really just to get the word out about Voluntario Global, what types of projects they offer and how people all over the world can get involved. For that reason, it is important that we have a diverse team working in the office, who are able to use their knowledge of different cultures to get the message across to others who may be interested in the work the organization does. My job specifically is everything that includes constructing a broad picture of what it is like to be a volunteer here, and the different aspects of Argentina that a person experiences in their day to day life here. This includes making videos of volunteer testimonials, doing interviews with people in order to share their jobs and experiences at the different projects, and then later sharing them throughout the different media outlets, including the organizations blog, website, as well as spreading information virally through social media like Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter. The work involves a lot of planning and teamwork, which is the experience that I was looking for when taking this internship, as well as interacting equally in both Spanish and English.
Hangin’ with the Locals
I always feel like when I leave the states that it is important for me to be around local people as much as possible, in order to really completely envelop myself in the experience of the places that I go. I really enjoy being around Argentinians because of their friendliness, as well as their ability to have a good time. I went to a friends 30th birthday party, which included a barbeque with the best beef and chicken I have ever tasted, and got to interact a lot with his closest friends who were all there to celebrate his life. I've noticed that they have a very distinct culture, with the way they speak Spanish, their hand gestures and mannerisms all very defined.
A Constant Goodbye
One of the strangest things that I have come to experience here is the concept of people coming and going, with almost a constant hello, goodbye, attitude, not only in the volunteer house, but with my exchange friends as well. I have been subconsciously experiencing this type of relationship with people since I graduated high school, where I meet someone, we hang out for a while, then I never see them again except for through the lights of my computer and their Facebook page. This time it’s different though, just because since all of the people I meet are from literally every corner of the world, it is predetermined the second that I shake their hand that after just a little while, they will be gone and that is that. Its not that I have separation anxiety from people I don't really know, it’s just tiring, as well as demotivating. When I make friends with someone, unless they really rub me the wrong way, I have always lived with the intention of being their friend forever.
With this system of coming and going, and my impending return back to my own country, lately it's becoming harder for me to get to know a lot of people on a personal level, especially those who know they're staying for a long time. Its a shame, because the new group of volunteers seem really awesome, but for me it’s kind of like what's the point? I’ll be gone before most of them even remember my name. It’s kind of sad, because it seems like everyone who comes here needs to either get busy staying, or get busy leaving. Its a type of mentality I should probably get used to after all, especially if i am going to continue living the transitory lifestyle that I have had since I moved away from home in the first place. Even still, there is something ironically sobering about sharing a beer with a friend, knowing that it will be the last one.
Coordinators
Its not all sad goodbyes though. What I have managed to do, along with a few of the other volunteers who have been here for a while, is become pretty good friends with the coordinators of VG outside of all of our individual projects. This allows it to be a lot more relaxed and efficient when it comes down to doing inter-organizational projects with one anothers different areas of work. What is great about Voluntario Global is that the coordinators are a closely knit group of people who all share the same values and goals, and use their combined efforts to bring volunteers to Buenos Aires, and collectively do great things for people in Argentina who need it. I enjoy being around people with such motivation and goals, it reflects well on me and the other volunteers to continue working hard on our own projects.
This for me, along with the experience of working in these diverse environments makes this internship completely worthwhile!
Lujan Zoo, located an hour and a half outside Buenos Aires, is not like most zoos. The zoo’s remarkability does not come from the animals inside its property, however. The zoo’s exhibits do not fare from the standard selection (lions, tigers, bears, etc.), and the property itself is run-down compared to many zoos in the United States (dirty footpaths; ducks, geese, and even llamas wandering around the property). What does separate Lujan Zoo from other zoos, however, is the fact that the zoo allows visitors the opportunity to get up close and personal with the animals.
Obviously, danger is one of the first concerns on peoples’ minds when they become aware of this unique policy. How is it possible that patrons can pet lions, bottle-feed tigers, and even allow bears to eat food directly from their mouths without getting mauled? Apparently, it is due to the zoo’s method of raising the animals, which revolves around constant interaction with people. The big felines receive the most attention; as soon as new cubs are born, trainers employ a variety of methods in order to reduce the animals’ violent instincts, including using vocal commands to teach the animals to recognize the difference between food and human body parts, as well as raising them in the presence of dogs in the hopes that they model the dogs’ peaceful and obedient behavior. In addition, trainers are always present when guests are interacting with the animals, and the animals are kept fed so that they remain satiated. The training seems to be working: since the zoo opened in 1994, there have been no attacks or other violent incidents involving the animals.
However, not everyone believes allowing humans to interact with the animals is in the best interest of either groups. The Born Free Foundation, an international animal rights group, has started an online petition asking authorities to launch an investigation into the zoo’s practices. The petition states, “No one wants to see animals forced to behave in ways which are abnormal and degrading to them, and no one wants to see Luján Zoo (or any zoo) putting its visitors at risk.” In addition, the Association for the Defence of the Rights of Animals (ADDA) and Association SOS Vida (both animal rights groups) have criticized the zoo for allowing close contact between humans and animals, saying its puts people at risk. Finally, the animals’ unintuitive behavior toward visitors has prompted many to accuse the zoo of sedating the animals.
These are all legitimate concerns, and I’ll admit that I harbored some of them myself when I visited the zoo with a group of friends. I couldn’t believe that it was possible such dangerous animals could act so calm around humans. However, after looking more into the Lujan Zoo’s practices, I believe it is at least plausible the animals’ behavior is due to training and not sedation (although I am of course not an expert). Admittedly, it would be ideal for the animals to be living in the wild. However, according to representatives of Lujan Zoo, many of the animals there are sick, undernourished former house pets people brought into the country illegally and discarded once they became bored with them. Although it would be ideal for the animals to be living in their natural habitat, they can no longer survive in the wild due to being born into captivity. The zoo is their last form of protection.
When I first heard about Lujan Zoo and its unique hands-on policy, any concerns I might have had about its ethical practices were momentarily cast aside in favor of a chance to interact with lions, tigers, and elephants. However, walking around the zoo, my concerns about whether or not the animals were being treated well kept popping back into my thoughts. Although I was satisfied by the zoo’s explanation, others might not be. It is up to you whether or not Lujan Zoo is a must-see attraction, or a cause for concern. http://voluntarioglobal.org
The International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) founded the International Cooperative Day in 1923 which aimed to increase “awareness of co-operatives and promote the movement's successes and ideals of international solidarity, economic efficiency, equality, and world peace”. Since the UN General Assembly, under resolution 47/90, proclaimed “the first Saturday of July 1995 to be International Day of Cooperatives” bringing light to the aims of co-operatives to a larger international stage. Many cooperatives have united in celebration and used this day to exhibit and promote their work structure and noble aims which has become a prominent topic in the contemporary debate on economic work structures.
In Argentina the co-operative movement has boomed. Though the majority of the new co-ops are focused in the capital Buenos Aires, it has also expanded in the regions of Córdoba, Santa Fe and Mendoza. Following the 2001 economic crisis, where unemployment reached 25 per cent, a massive number of 6,938 new co-operatives were created as it was regarded a more resilient enterprise model. The backlash to the crisis, caused by excessive and frenzied neoliberalism which was imported into Argentina, changed the mentality and legal framework towards co-operativism which had previously been considered simply the salvation of bankrupt companies and grew to be a form of enterprise. Cooperatives have not only been proven as a successful enterprise model but more importantly, it seems too much of a coincidence that these organization seem to focus in areas which benefit local communities and society as a whole.
The cooperative sector has been largely involved in areas of education, housing, responsible tourism, agriculture and even electricity with significantly divergent aims from what we could call free market profit driven private firms as the “profit” gained of cooperative is fairly distributed (which does not necessarily mean equally) and offers benefits to society which are clearly stated in the cooperatives mission set. To me there seems no doubt that cooperatives seems to be heading, or at least thinking, in the right direction. According to the ICA (International Co-operative Alliance) 6,024 new co-operatives were created throughout 2012 representing an increase of 239 per cent on 2011. Going forward, the obstacles are to expand the model and the values that it brings with it while consistently reflecting critically on how it can improve and whether other forms of social enterprise have anything to offer to the cooperative model.
I have had the privilege of working in conjunction with the co-operatives of Los Pibes and Su Lavandería during my volunteer program with Voluntario Global in Buenos Aires and have seen the intricacies of the work structure in practice. Su Lavanderia is a laundry cooperative whose clients are hostels in the city center. It provides the young staff an opportunity to work under the condition they remain in school until the completion of their education. With this in mind, the work schedule is flexible in order to accommodate their school timetables and offers a source of income to young motivated Argentines who would otherwise have a hard time finding a part time job. Their democratic decision making process in a participatory assembly held monthly and their distributive form of paying salaries, depending on hours worked and other sets of criteria, has proven to be a model of success. Just this year the cooperative managed to obtain an industrial ironing machine which was a massive accomplishment considering the time consuming and tiresome task they used to undertake of ironing massive quantities of linen for bed covers and sheets by hand.
The textile cooperative of Los Pibes, which was founded in 2004, produces school uniforms which are distributed to families of humble means. The cooperative is located inside the Los Pibes Community Center in the ruggedly beautiful neighbourhood of La Boca in Buenos Aires. The center provides the community of La Boca with a soup kitchen; a radio station; English classes with volunteers like myself as teachers; and a place for the whole community to meet and discuss social and political issues as well as personal matters with the friends and neighbours.
These cooperatives have not only managed to disprove a common misconception that these work structure do not work or are not efficient but moreover promote good work ethics, social values and democratic principles in the work place.
We all sat around the living room this afternoon and spoke about social enterprise in the sense of cooperatives and capitalism. One of the volunteers presented in English while there was a director translating in Spanish in order for everyone to understand and contribute. It is meant to help the people from different backgrounds to discuss on a personal level how different government systems affect our growth. It is all based on ideas, not facts, but it was stressed that everyone has to think for him or herself. It is our responsibility to critically analyze the world around us. There are positive and negative elements to every economical system. Capitalism is based on incentives that influence growth – which the presenter believed was different from development. In a competitive environment, it is obvious that someone may gain money but not necessarily a fair way; thus the person is not developing. Imagine a multinational company creates a branch in a developing country.
The fact is that people have more jobs and income, which is positive, but it is not the right way to think about development. The working conditions and rights of the workers are not necessarily “fair”, and in practice the people may not be improving their standards of living. Productivity and incentive of innovation allows for growth, however, productivity and efficiency are not the same as well. Efficiency is different, for we produce in a short-term perspective, with many elements ignored such as the environmental repercussions of our actions. In order to be efficient, we need to be aware of how our production impacts the future. Social enterprises are business that trade to tackle social problems, improve communities, people’s life changes, or the environment. They make their money from selling goods and services in the open market, but they reinvest their profits back to the business or the local community.
And so when they profit, society profits. They set out aims at the beginning of they year which they try to complete, and they work toward completing those goals despite their profits. The idea is of a never-ending progress (democracy and capitalism). People must identify the good and bad of a system and work to improve it. If school is something important, in a ranking system, that would be valued as something to improve. Should schools be something that the government funds and monitors, or should they be run based on a means of making money for private organizations? Also, are schools better based on the competition between institutions offering them?
These are some of the questions we discussed as a group, and were relevant to many of the volunteers working with child education while in Argentina. An argument is that people will become lazy with their education if it is free, for people may not take their studies seriously if they do not have thousands of dollars on the line. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, many organizations worked post-hurricane, many of the schools did not re-open. There is not centralized city government running schools in New Orleans anymore. This was based on one of the volunteers’ observations from Louisiana. The students go to charter schools and do not need to pay for their education and it is working better for the students without the government involved. I still find it amazing that we are all young adults, from various areas of the world, coming together to not just volunteer, but think critically about the areas we come from. We do not discuss this to fulfill a General Education class for our major, but because we want to understand where we live.
By: Zachary Laranang
Unlike in the European Union (where the majority of the population is multilingual), only 18% of Americans report speaking a language other than English. The emergence of English as the global language is undoubtedly at least one of the reasons for this abysmal fact. Why go through the trouble of learning another language when the rest of the world is bending over backwards to learn yours? Although I don’t think I am guilty of harboring this attitude, I must confess that I am among that 82%.
My monolinguism has been a problem from the moment I arrived in Buenos Aires (marking my first time outside the US). My first experience after stepping off the plane at Ezeiza International Airport was being misunderstood by a taxi driver, and having trouble getting to the Volunteer House. Another time, a simple trip to a camera store located a few blocks away from my accomodation somehow ended up with me 30 minutes outside the heart of the city. In addition to these unpleasant experiences, everyday activities like shopping, ordering food, or finding an address remain a struggle.
The frustrations of being in a country where one does not speak the native language are obvious. Simply getting by is difficult, and there exists a difficulty in communicating one’s thoughts and feelings to those who do not speak English, let alone display the full breadth of one’s personality. Floundering, rather than flourishing, is the usual state of affairs. Spoken word may be relegated to only 10% of communication, but it is an incredibly important 10%. Faced with these difficulties, the selfish American in me wants to give up.
The benefits of learning a foreign language are legion. As I’m sure every college student knows by now (due to the fact that it has been repeated ad nauseum by administrators, employers, and the media), knowing multiple languages distinguishes oneself in the job market, and is a necessity in today’s global economy. More importantly, the primary purpose of learning a language is to socialize with people from different cultures, says Lorena Belcastro, the director of the Buenos Aires Spanish School (BASP). Without at least a basic level of fluency, it becomes almost impossible to go about daily life, let alone connect with others. Learning another language provides insight into another way of thinking, allowing one to appreciate culture, connect and build relationships, and experience that important quality of humanness that makes visiting a foreign country a truly special and memorable experience.
However, the inevitable frustrations often discourage many from even attempting the endeavor. It is important to remember that frustrations are assured, but they are not impossible to overcome. They can even be empowering. Simply taking a successful trip to the supermarket can be an exciting learning experience that gives a foreigner the small victory they need to persevere and continue learning the language.
On my way home last week, I experienced a small victory of my own. Wary of Argentinian cab drivers after my first experience coming from the Airport, I was hesitant to hail another one. However, I relented, and a black and yellow car quickly stopped to pick me up. When I got in, the driver was very friendly, and attempted to make conversation. Luckily, I had my Spanish phrasebook with me, and I answered him back as best I could. I discovered that his name was Christian, and that he was a proud father of two, a fan of the Rolling Stones, and a lifelong native of Buenos Aires (among other things). I talked with him for the entire cab ride, asking about his life and telling him about my own. When we arrived at my hostel, I expressed my sincere gratitude, and we parted ways. This small yet successful interaction with another human being whose language I did not speak energized me and filled me with a mixture of joy and relief. Although I still have a long way to go until I reach fluency, the promise of similar human connections and fulfilling experiences drives me past my frustrations and obstacles and forward to a more enriching existence.
Par Jéremy Guérin et Christine Rivest
Alors que le taux de chômage dans l’Union Européenne atteint les 10.9%, ce ne sont pas moins de 26% des jeunes européens qui sont à la recherche d’un emploi. La France détient un taux de chômage très proches de la moyenne européenne, tandis que le taux de chômage dépasse les 25% pour l’ensemble de la population et s’envole à plus de 54% pour les jeunes vivant en Espagne et en Grèce. (“Unemployment Statistics.” Eurostat. European Commission 2013)
Dans ce contexte, la compétition pour décrocher un emploi se fait dure et il faut trouver un moyen de sortir du lot pour que son CV soit retenu parmi tant d’autres. Parler plusieurs langues est très souvent un atout pour se faire remarquer auprès des employeurs ainsi qu’acquérir de l’expérience bénévole ou associative. Alors pourquoi ne pas combiner les deux et faire du bénévolat à l’étranger? En effet, le bénévolat à l’international constitue une très bonne arme dans la bataille des CV. Une expérience dans le monde du travail en tant que bénévole permet de tester ses intérêts pour un domaine particulier, sans engagement.
‘’95% des volontaires à Voluntario Global avaient comme motivation d’apprendre l’espagnol tandis que 70% voulaient accomplir cette expérience afin de gagner de l’expérience de travail.’’ –Statistiques Voluntario Global
De plus, si trouver un emploi pour un jeune n’est pas aisé, trouver son premier emploi l’est encore moins. Les entreprises exigent de l’expérience et pour avoir de l’expérience il faut travailler. Les ONG peuvent alors constituer une bonne opportunité d’avoir cette première expérience professionnelle.
Généralement, le travail en ONG est bénévole, sans rémunération. Il y a donc beaucoup moins de candidat pour le même poste que dans une entreprise et la sélection se fait donc moins rigoureuse. Pour les mêmes raisons, une fois dans l’organisation, on se voit attribuer beaucoup de responsabilités.
“J’ai des amis en France qui font des stages dans de grandes entreprises et ils n’ont presque aucune responsabilité. Ils exécutent ce que veulent leurs patrons et puis c’est tout. À Voluntario Global, je me suis tout de suite vu assigner la politique de communication française, alors que je n’avais encore aucune expérience.” -Jéremy Guérin, France
Ses tâches apparaitront sur son CV et feront très certainement la différence lorsqu’il cherchera son prochain emploi.
“ Voluntario Global a été mon premier stage, et la première fois que je travaillais tous les jours pendant plusieurs mois. Mon temps à VG avec l’équipe de communication est la partie la plus importante de mon CV et dans chaque entretien on m’a posé des questions sur mon travail là-bas et sur mon espagnol.” - Andrew Furnes, Angleterre
Si le fait qu’il y ait moins de volontaire pour le poste aident à avoir plus de responsabilité dans l’organisation, il faut souligner que la structure des ONG joue aussi son rôle. En effet, le travail de groupe y est très important et la hiérarchie des rôles y est beaucoup moins marquée. Si les entreprises valorisent l’initiative, les ONG l’exigent.
“Durant mon bénévolat, j’ai vraiment senti que je faisais partie de l’équipe, que mon avis comptait et qu’on m’écoutait.” –Jéremy Guérin, France
Lorsque les employeurs regardent les CV, ils sont souvent à la recherche de signes de motivation, de volonté chez les candidats. Quoi de mieux qu’une expérience de bénévolat pour montrer votre motivation? L’employeur comprendra que vous avez donné gratuitement de votre temps pour une cause humanitaire. De plus, le fait de vous être aventuré loin du confort de la maison, dans un pays qui ne parle pas votre langue fait ressortir votre capacité d’adaptation et d’apprentissage, deux autres qualités très recherchées sur le marché du travail. Tous les éléments que l’employeur veut entendre à propos d’un candidat peuvent être énumérés grâce au bénévolat; la confiance en soi, l’intégrité, le désir d’apprendre, la volonté de se donner des objectifs, l’ouverture aux changements, la créativité et la capacité de travailler en équipe.
Une expérience à l’étranger est également l’occasion de rencontrer des gens du monde entier, et ainsi créer de précieux contacts qui pourront certainement être utiles un jour. Même s’il est difficile de s’en rendre compte, les liens tissés aujourd’hui peuvent s’avérer de beaux tremplins demain.
Faire un volontariat à l’étranger permet également de développer des qualités et des compétences qui pourront être utiles dans les prochains emplois. Une expérience hors de son pays, permet de comparer les aspects du travail sous plusieurs angles; voir les ressemblances et les différences, prendre du recul sur la situation actuelle et sur sa mentalité permettant de développer une meilleure capacité d’observation et d’analyse. Une plus grande ouverture d’esprit vous aidera à relever les prochains défis que vous réserve la vie active.
Le bénévolat est aussi une bonne occasion de mieux se connaître, de savoir réellement quels sont ses intérêts et parfois de savoir ce que l’on veut ou ce que l’on ne veut pas faire dans la vie. Il arrive parfois que des personnes commencent un volontariat en ayant une idée bien arrêtée de ce qu’ils veulent faire, et repartent avec une idée totalement différente.
‘’ L’expérience est excellente pour ma carrière parce que ça m’a inspiré à faire ce que j’aime. Être entouré de tant de gens travaillants et passionnés, faisant ce qu’ils font pour créer une différence m’a vraiment fait réaliser quel est le vrai pouvoir du travail communautaire. […] Le bénévolat m’a fait réaliser que j’aime enseigner et que je voudrai être une enseignante pour la vie.‘’ -Arpine Hovasapian, États-Unis
Pour conclure, il ne faut pas sous-estimer l’expérience d’être bénévole, d’autant plus si c’est une expérience à l’étranger. Ce que vous y apprendrez, vivrez et ressentirez, vous rendra service dans les futurs recherches d’emploi. http://voluntarioglobal.org/
Is it easy to integrate yourself to a new culture while volunteering abroad?
Written by Jesica FrancoAn interview with our volunteer Charlotte from Denmark
Our volunteer Charlotte Braas, speaks a little bit about her time as a volunteer in Buenos Aires. Originally from Denmark, she came to Argentina to volunteer for five weeks in the soup kitchen project, where she describes her challenges of integrating to a culture vastly different from her own. She speaks about her struggles with the Spanish language, as well as highlights the importance of having initiative in her project, despite the challenges she faced day to day.
Your project was in the soup kitchen, so what did you do before you were a volunteer?
“I have been working for the last year, before that I finished university I did three years where I studied physical education and Spanish. I finished that but decided that I wanted to do something else because I was supposed to be a high school teacher. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, so that’s why I decided to do some volunteer work.” So you studied Spanish in school? “Yes, I studied for three years in high school and one year in university.” Was it easier or harder, the initial process of integrating when you first came here? “It was quite hard because the things you learn at school are mostly grammar and the history, and I realized that I can read Spanish much better than I can understand it verbally, because we don’t talk as much at school, I only had one subject that was actually speaking Spanish, and it wasn’t even mandatory it was voluntary if we wanted to do it, so you don’t speak as much Spanish as you do reading and learning to write with correct grammar and things like that. So that made it more difficult because I thought my Spanish was good because I was good at reading it, but it’s a different experience hearing it, and hearing the locals talking and not just a teacher who knows they have to talk slowly and pronounce their words clearly.” What were your initial expectations, being that you have never been to South America, what were your preliminary view on this part of the world?
“I had the same views, sort of, as I do of Southern Europe in that it´s a much more open society, but I didn´t have too many expectations because I wanted to have an open mind because I thought, well you´re going to be there for four weeks, so I didn´t want to come with any prior opinions. I thought the first week was very difficult, not just at my project but trying to figure out where things were and trying to catch on to the pace of the city. Its such a different mentality here; I went to the introductory meeting with Jimena and she told me, well I have to take a bus, so I asked is there a bus schedule? And she said no, there is no such thing, the buses just kind of go and you need to be there. Which is very different for me because in Denmark, all the buses run on a schedule, they´re always on time, and if there is ever a demonstration in the street here they just close down like 5 blocks and the bus goes another way and you're like where do I go now? You just have to get used to a different kind of structure.”
Do you think your experience in the soup kitchen helped you integrate a little better as well as help your Spanish?
“Yes, I would definitely say so, especially because they were very open to me, extremely nice, and a lot of them invited me back to their homes to eat with them or invited me to do things with them after my hours at the community center. Some people tried to talk to me in English, and one day I actually sat down and tried to teach a few people who wanted to learn the Danish alphabet that has letters that don’t exist in English or Spanish, like “Ø”. I think even though I thought my Spanish would get a lot better, which it has but not as much as I hoped, but I think it’s because I had the idea that I was better than I really was. Like I can sit down and read a paper and understand all of it, but when someone is talking it´s so much different. If they speak slowly and address me, I can understand, but when two native speakers are having a conversation I pick up very little.” So since you have integrated between two cultures, what kind of tips do you think you would have for anyone else who is going to start such a completely new experience?
“I would say the big thing is to be open minded, to have the mentality that i'm here, I want to do something, I want to help, and just do it. Because its so easy to just sit around and wait for someone to tell you what to do, but if you try and take initiative for yourself, they'll appreciate it more and they'll make you a bigger part of it. I learned that throughout the first week, because the first few days just sat there, but I took initiative and they appreciated it and made them understand that I wanted to be there, not just because I wanted the experience but because I wanted to do something and wanted to be a part of their project.”
What are you going to do when you go back?
“I really don’t know yet, but I'll probably start a whole different education after this summer. I just think that you learn a lot about yourself when you go far away from home, and so far away from your own culture. You learn a lot about them, but you learn more about yourself.”
By : Jéremy Guérin and Christine Rivest
Translated by: Luke Liddy and Matt Friedland
While the unemployment rate for young persons (under 25) in the European Union reaches 23.5%, other areas in Europe are much worse off, as the unemployment rate in Greece and Spain soars to over 56%, according to the European Commission ("Unemployment Statistics." Eurostat. European Commission 2013). These tough circumstances incite ruthless competition in finding jobs, forcing young job hunters to look for other ways to improve their résumé or CV. The ability to speak several languages is often an advantage in the job application process. Additionally, acquiring volunteer/work experience through a non-profit organization can often help CVs stand out as being unique. Gaining a global perspective by donating time and effort abroad provides the chance to test various interests in a realistic situation.
“95% of volunteers at Voluntario Global decided on Argentina to learn Spanish, while 70% wanted to gain work experience” – Statistics given by Voluntario Global
To show that you are qualified to fill a job position, having previous experience and a depth of knowledge about a subject is a good place to start. Almost all employers prefer, or even require, that applicants have previous work experience. A great way to gain this experience for the first time is to work with an NGO. It provides a fantastic opportunity to develop your own style of working as well as allowing you to begin to acquire preliminary skills in your career field of choice.
Because working for an NGO isn’t a common choice for most people, the application process is less competitive. And by that same token, once you’re accepted, you are given a lot of responsibility. Most NGOs are short-staffed, so volunteers can take the initiative and start organizing their own projects. This facilitates many valuable on-the-job learning experiences.
“My friends have internships with large companies back home, but they are bored because the companies give them very few real responsibilities. They are only assigned simple, menial tasks that have no effect on current company projects. However, at Voluntario Global, I was immediately assigned tasks specifically related to my area of interest, communications and marketing, despite my sparse work experience.” -Jéremy Guérin, France
When interviewing for their next job, ex-volunteers can give specific details of projects and tell of the many applicable skills that they’ve learned.
“Voluntario Global was my first internship. It was first time that I had a consistent job and worked for several months straight. My time with the communications team continues to be an integral part of my CV, and every interviewer has asked questions about both my volunteer work and my Spanish skills.” - Andrew Furness, England
The lack of a strict employee hierarchy within many NGOs is one of the reasons that volunteers feel that they have been able to contribute so much to their respective organizations. Group work is highly emphasized and required for all projects. Through this style of working, everybody plays a role in the projects’ development and can learn many new skills throughout the process.
“As a volunteer, I felt like an integral part of the organization. People really listened to me and took my opinions seriously.” –Jéremy Guérin, France
Employers are always looking for ambitious, motivated individuals to join their companies. When they see previous volunteer experience, they understand that you have dedicated your time to a humanitarian cause in a very tangible way. Furthermore, by showing your willingness to immerse yourself in foreign cultures shows your ability to adapt, learn, and get outside your comfort zone. Volunteering exemplifies all the elements that an employer looks for in a candidate: confidence, integrity, willingness to learn and set goals, openness to change, creativity and the ability to work in a team.
Working abroad also provides an opportunity to meet new people from all over the world. Not only does this allow you to form new contacts, but it also exposes you to perspectives and experiences that you otherwise may not have even known existed. Intense cultural exchange fosters increasing comfort with foreign cultures, which is a valuable experience to draw upon when searching for a job and also in other aspects of your life. By gaining new perspectives, you learn new approaches to solving problems and become more open to new ideas. That openness may allow you to uncover new possible careers and experiences; you may discover new passions that you never knew that you had.
‘’ The experience was life changing because it inspired me to do what I love. Being surrounded by so many hardworking and passionate people genuinely trying to make a difference really made me realize the power of community work. Volunteering helped me realize that I like to teach and that it is what I want to do for the rest of my life.’’ -Arpine Hovasapian, United States
To conclude, we must not underestimate the intrinsic value of volunteering and the impact you can have by dedicating your time. Volunteering is an incredible commitment and serving others brings genuine satisfaction of all those involved. What you will learn, live, and feel will serve you well in both searching for a job and discovering your passions. http://voluntarioglobal.org/
Everything is a Surprise when there are no Expectations
Before I arrived here in Buenos Aires, everyone was always asking me what my expectations were and what I am most excited about with my trip. Honestly, I had no expectations, and I had very little understanding about what it was going to be like. Some of the other volunteers living in the VG House have told me that they did a lot of research before they came, reading books and surfing the web to gain insight on the experience that was to come, which is a completely valid venture, but just isn’t really my style. I have traveled before, with many preliminary expectations and impressions about the places I’ve been, some being met beyond my wildest dreams, and others falling short completely. So this time, before I embarked on my trip I decided I would keep my mind completely clear of expectations, and let the experience unfold as I step one foot in front of the other.
My first experience in Argentina was absolutely hilarious. While going through customs a woman got her duty-free bag stuck in the scanner’s conveyor belt, packed completely to the brim with goods she had just bought. The unknowing customs officer kept shoving bags into the scanner to keep the line moving, so all of the woman’s things were being completely destroyed by the immense suitcases piling up as she struggled to pull her bag free. As a result, the first glimpse of Argentine culture that I got to experience was one of absolute rage, a woman screaming the foulest words imaginable in the Spanish dictionary in her furious Argentine accent, while the customs officer insults her back and denies her entrance into the country. For me that was kind of an eye opener, that I wasn’t here on some tropical vacation in Hawaii where all the resort workers have bright and smiley faces greeting me hello. I was in the city, and no one, especially not the customs officers, was there to hold my hand on this journey.
In the last 3 years I have lived in 4 different cities, Buenos Aires being the one that caught me off guard the most. I didn’t expect such development, especially after living in Panama, where the bus system was graffiti painted school buses, where street names don’t exist, and where traffic signals have absolutely no significance. Buenos Aires reminds me a lot of Brooklyn, New York, with grey buildings very close together, flocks of pigeons eating on the sidewalks, and being able to feel the rumble of the subway beneath your feet. Another aspect that surprised me, along with most newcomers to Argentina I’m sure, is of course their Spanish dialect. I knew it was different, but I wasn’t sure how different. When someone is speaking rapidly it sounds like they are singing in Italian, replacing their y’s and ll’s with sh’s. Their tone is a lot lighter too, almost as if every sentence is a question, whereas in the Central American dialect their pronunciation is a lot more defined, with a heavier emphasis on certain vowels and words. 
The final aspect, which I had absolutely no idea beforehand, was the work that me, and the other volunteers do. I enjoy the luxury of being able to sleep most of the day, getting up and riding the subway for 5 minutes and being at the doorstep of my heated office where I work to try and enrich the communication and marketing of Voluntario Global through the internet and to the public. Other volunteers however, such as those who I had the pleasure of experiencing their job first hand, get up early in the morning and travel sometimes hours by train to small, impoverished towns, to teach at schools or take care of kindergarten children. I got to actually see the work that all the volunteers are actually doing, and how our combined efforts in many different projects, however small they may be, sum up to a large scale change and the betterment of the world of tomorrow. 
VOLUNTARIO GLOBAL
Voluntario Global helps local communities by being available to discuss anything that local organizations need, and offering ideas for further change and development.
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CONTACT
Location: General Pacheco. Buenos Aires. Argentina
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