Gap Year Programs in Argentina

I came to Argentina with mente Argentina for the first time and it was a really good experience ! It’s perfect if you want to make friends and contacts really quickly, the atmosphere is warm, people are really nice and the activities are amazing ! I did the barman program during 1 month and it was really resourceful but I ended up staying in Argentina longer using Mente Argentinas apartment. Even if I was technically not with Mente anymore, I kept really good friendships from mente Argentina as I was in the shared apartment option. The apartment has everything you need to make your stay comfortable, it was also close to marketplaces, bars etc. This option is also really good if you want to make friends fast ! I recommend entirely !

During my GAP year after highschool I spent two months with Mente. From the start they were very supportive, helping with any questions I had and finding the perfect voluntary work. I was able to work with kids, as I had hoped and it turned out to not only be very fun but also an opportunity to learn a lot about the country, the culture and general life questions. Mente also provided me with an apartment in one of the best neighborhoods of the city were I was able to meet others from different countries. Mente also did a great job on organizing events, were we got to explore the city, get amazing food and meet others in the program which really helped me to find friends. Without Mente my time in Argentina wouldn’t have been nearly as special as it was and I would always recommend them.

Mente has a fantastic team that is dedicated to making a positive experience for you in Argentina. The internships sometimes aren't the best (if I were to redo, I would focus more on learning/skill-building), but the smoothness of entry to the country, social network, and individual support are well worth it. I made life-long friends at on my Mente trip!!!

Costa Rica's Turtle Conservation Project was one thing I will never forget! Such an eye opening and amazing experience. The IHQV program is an amazing way to explore the world in a feasible way. Not only is it affordable but I would have never experienced anything like it! IHQV Brings so much more, more ham any guided tour, more than a resort, and more than anything you could experience on your own. They have demonstrated such strong dedication to make sure every part of the trip is a great learning exprenice while keeping it fun. One of my most memeroble moments would be seeing the indangered leather back turtle lay her eggs. Because the leather back is in such danger it is critical that her eggs are gathered and re-nested in the hatchery where they can be taken care of and monitered to keep them safe from predators. I was lucky enough to be able to personally collect her eggs and dig a new nest to place each egg carfully. It was truley an amazing experience. I wish I could go back to see them hatch! Not only was this such an amazing experience, but every single person I met on this trip through the program m, I will dearly miss. IHQV brings everyone with similar ambitions together and from all over the world. I loved to meet people from the UK, Australia and Italy. Never could I go anywhere and meet such amazing people in one single place. I would recommend this program a million times. Leaving was hard, I'll miss my friends I have made and most importantly all the work that was done everyday to help such a wonderful project!

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ] responded to this reviewMay 21, 2018

Hi Drew, thank you for sharing your incredible experience on the Turtle Conservation project in Costa Rica! It's amazing that you were able to help in the protection of the leatherback turtles eggs as this is such an important task in the conservation of the turtles. We would love to have you join us again in the future! ^Rachel - IVHQ Costa Rica Program Manager

Hi my name is Danielle. I am from New York. I came to Buenos Aires for a medical internship. We did a lot of things with Mente, all of the activities they offered us. We went to the Bomba Del Tiempo, the Argentine experience, we went to polo, we went to happy hour, salsa & tango milonga, we also went to Tigre with the Mente Program. Separately we also went to Mendoza & Colonia in Uruguay too. It’s been a great trip. I’ve learned a lot about the Argentine culture & people. They are fabulous. Even our portero invited us to have a “parilla” and cooked for us. It was amazing...It was a really great experience here. And Mente Argentina did a really great job hooking us up with all the different opportunities.

My time volunteering in Portugal was the most amazing experience. It gave me the comfort and growth to travel and experience new adventures on my own. The staff, locals and coordinators ensured my stay was the best possible experience.

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ] responded to this reviewApril 09, 2018

Hi Andy - It's awesome to hear about your time on the program, and I'm so glad you enjoyed your experience in Ghana. Our local team is awesome and I'm thrilled to hear you felt supported by them in every capacity during your time on the program. I wish you all the best! ^Caroline - IVHQ Portugal Program Manager

Hi, I’m Raven with Mente and I took the Photography Program which was awesome. Mente helped me arrange all of my classes and offered me Spanish classes to better my stay here because the argentine Spanish is a little bit different and difficult, and I am so much better now. They arrange my apartment with these amazing people and I met people from all around the world. I love my program and all the things to do in the city.

Hi, I am Nick and I did the Mente Argentina Cooking Program and I had a great time. I learned everything about traditional argentine food, dulce de leche, alfajores, really fun and laid back. I love my experience; I’m going to miss Buenos Aires. Mente staff was awesome and if you need help they are always there. I couldn’t be happier. My apartment was great too!

Hi, my name is Annie and I was here in Buenos Aires for a few months with Mente Argentina. I did an internship with a start up that offered marketing courses online. I took Spanish classes online, so aside from the internship and Spanish, I had the opportunity to do some dance classes and Mente also signed me up for some cooking classes. Other than the internship which was every day, I still managed to go to Iguazu Falls with Mente Argentina and I got to meet a lot of students from all over the world. Besides the internship and travelling, I did a bunch of tours of Recoleta, San Telmo and went to some events like Bomba del Tiempo and they were all for free through Mente. I had a home stay with an Argentine family so thanks Mente Argentina!

Hello, my name is Leanne and I am from New York. I just finished a four week program with Mente Argentina. What I love about Buenos Aires is that it is at the center of Argentina. I love Buenos Aires and language school was at the center of the city. I was able to accomplish my goal, which was to do Spanish courses and during the weekend I was able to travel. Everything was very exciting. I loved my accommodation, I had a wonderful view of the city which was by Plaza Italia, and everything was walking distance in Palermo. I enjoyed Mente Activities, the city has a lot to offer which is great.

Hello everyone, my name is Josie and I just spent the last 2 months doing the Mente’s Tango Program combined with the Spanish Program and it’s been amazing. I definitely recommend it to anyone who wishes to either learn a new language or to come here to learn about the culture of Tango, especially the Tango Program, I fell in love with it! The instructors were amazing and I loved going to Milongas at night to dance even more as there are plenty of opportunities to dance and meet new people. Mente really takes care of you. So for anyone that is considering going, you should really do it because it’s one in a life experience.

Hi, my name is Johanna and I come from Bordeaux, France, and I came here with Mente Argentina to learn Spanish because I didn’t know any before, and now after 5 months I can speak Spanish with anyone. I also went to Tango classes and it was amazing, it was so cool to learn Tango in Buenos Aires. I met a lot of people and now I have friends from all around the world, I think I can even make a tour of the world because I have friends from everywhere now, so yes! Come to Buenos Aires with Mente Argentina!

My name is Melanie and I come from Germany. I did a Semester Program with Mente. What I really about Mente is that they organized everything for you, such as picking you up from the airport. If you have problems they are always there to help you so you don’t have to worry about anything. I also like the Mente Events so you have a big group of friends that you see each week. I loved traveling in Argentina, it is so easy and you will like your time here!

Hello, I’m Julia and I were with Mente Argentina for a month. I did volunteering with children from a shelter; I had such a nice time meeting these kids. I also was doing Spanish classes in the mornings and I love it, they were so much fun, I improved a lot. People here are so friendly, and everyone in Mente was very helpful. I stayed at a student residence and I met people from all around the world. I recommend the program to everyone, it’s been really easy and I’m glad I applied. Here was easy to meet a lot of people and the culture is super welcoming.

Hi, my name is Daniella; I’m from Maryland in the USA. I came here for the five week volunteered program with street children; it was definitely an experience that I would never forget. I never seen that much poverty in the United States, that face on, and it will break down any conception you have when you see these children and teenagers living on the streets. You’ll get to see them as your friends and not just another face at the stairwell, so that went super well for me, I grew a lot personally. I stayed in Palermo and I definitely felt relaxed to come home at night, I love the sound of the city on how people were always walking around. I love my apartment, I had my own place which was great not to share such as in a college dorm. Buenos Aires is something you have to experience on your own, you can’t be afraid you have to try things for yourself. I made tons of friends and I knew no words of Spanish, you just have to go out, not just Mente, which is fantastic, but it’s something that you have to figure out. If anything, you have to be grateful that you are growing as a person because of it. If you just rely the tour sides you are not going to have the true best experience that you can have. I love the nightlife but you get to see the real people, and it was hands down the best experience I had.

My name is Inga, and I am here through Mente. I have to say I didn’t expect anything and then I came here and Buenos Aires and everything you can do here, it was amazing. Everything was organized for me when I arrived. I met so many people, you are never here alone as I talked to everybody and made lots of friends. I got to travel in Argentina and Brazil and nothing ever happened, it is completely safe, I really enjoyed the time here. I am very happy I came here with Mente, I never met an organization likes this before. I didn’t have to do anything. They organized my phone, a subway card, how to move around, they introduced me to my first friends, and Spanish classes were extremely helpful. I am about to leave and I am very sad, but I know I will be coming back. Thank you Mente.

Hola, I am Mika from Syndey, Australia. I was with Mente Argentina for a month, and I did a volunteer program. I worked at the villas and looked after the children while the mothers got classes on cooking, nutrition, and had appointments with doctors. I really enjoyed the volunteer program, it was great to spend time with the children, and as the days past we got to grow a stronger bond. Mente Argentina was great. When I arrived in Buenos Aires, they gave me an orientation, and spoke to me about what I needed to know about the city, how to get around, and everything was great. They organized for the to stay at a student residence, in a perfect location next to buses and really nice restaurants, supermarkets. I loved the residence, all the students were great, and I make lots of friends there and we still stay in touch. I really enjoyed the Argentine culture this experience was great. Thank you Mente Argentina.

Hi, my name is Jimmy and I did an internship with Mente Argentina. They do a lot of activities and my internship was great, I learned a ton and my Spanish improved a lot. The experience was great.

Hi, my name is Lizzie and I did the internship program with Mente in Buenos Aires. I really can’t speak highly enough about the whole program. It was great to come here and have already a set group of friends for you from all around the world and to have our apartment in such a nice area of Palermo. All the apartments are close but far enough that you can see different parts of the city every time you meet up with other Mente people. The activities they offer are so variant and happening all the time, you can choose which ones you want to do and it’s already included in the price so you don’t have to worry about a thing and you can always do what interest you the most, and if not, Buenos Aires has always something to do. Overall, it was a great experience in meeting all these new people.

Hi, my name is Gwin and I am from Germany. I did an internship that was basically social work, I helped kids in school and their homework and that was really awesome. I improved my Spanish a lot. I came here thinking I knew a lot of Spanish but once I arrived I realized I didn’t know much. Then, I traveled a lot and I met so many people here, I really recommend it doing as much as you can afford. Be open minded and try to improve your Spanish, otherwise it wouldn’t be worth to come down here if you are unable to speak to anyone and you can’t socialize.