Description

Academia Uruguay offers you the possibility to combine Spanish courses with volunteer work. You can work in different organizations and projects in Montevideo, discovering very particular problems and benefiting people in many sectors. Share your time, ideas and skills with Uruguayans and discover their culture in a unique way!

We consider volunteer work as an exchange whereby the volunteer in social organizations offers his work and the organization offers a space to share experiences. Receiving a volunteer implies integrating him into daily routines, allowing him to get to know one's way of life. Being a volunteer, for us, is not an act of charity. It is a way of getting to know and to respect other cultures.

We work with various organizations and you will have to pay neither for our help in organizing your volunteer work, nor for actually working there. If the volunteer organization depends on donations, Academia Uruguay will make this contribution, not you.

In all cases we ask you to take a minimum of three weeks of regular Spanish classes at Academia Uruguay.

Our program is for all students willing to share their energy and time for a period of at least 4 weeks on a concrete project. There is no age limit.

There is no better way to learn Spanish and live a full cultural immersion.

Highlights

When you contact us, you briefly explain what you are looking for, what kind of social work you would like to do and what your expectations are. With regard to Spanish classes, you can take our online test (plus an oral test when you come here) and will then be assigned a group of your skill level. You can also communicate your housing preferences, in case you require housing. Send us a mail through the reservation form on this webpage.

Usually the volunteer program starts with a one-day orientation during which you will get to know the place where you will work. You will then be assigned specific tasks based on what the organization needs, your availability, your skills, your Spanish level, your area of interest and obviously also on what you agreed upon in previous contacts with us.

What are the tasks usually assigned to volunteers? Obviously the answer to this questions depends on the institution where we organized your stay. For instance we cooperate with an officially recognized association of volunteers work on two different projects. Some of the tasks include: kitchen help, working in the bakery, teaching English, teaching computer skills, translation, helping in the textile production, working in a radio station, etc.

Remember that the better your Spanish level, the easier you will be able to communicate in your workplace and the easier you can choose between different tasks. That is true for all volunteer activities.

We are looking forward to seeing you volunteer in Uruguay! Your help will be appreciated.

Qualifications

None

Languages

• Spanish

Languages Used as a Medium of Teaching

• Spanish

Cost in US$:

FREE volunteer work if the student takes a minimum of 3 weeks of spanish courses. Group classes, max 5 students, 20 hrs, 190 per week.

Cost Includes:

• Excursions
• In-country staff support
• Language instruction
• Written materials abroad

Credit Available

yes

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Age Range

18+

This Program is open to

American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Apartment/Flat
• Group living
• Home-stays
• Independent living
• Other

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Typically The Application Process Time is

1 day

Academia Uruguay's Mission Statement

Academia Uruguay is the leading Spanish school in Uruguay, focused on academic excellence, professional service and a complete cultural immersion of its students. It is located in the historic part of Montevideo, on central Plaza Matriz (Constitucion), amidst all tourist attractions. The academy cooperates with its sister school in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and offers combined programs.

Year Founded

2007