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Home Building Project Details |
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You will be working in rural communities outside of Santiago with our partner, Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity works in
several different regions of the country, including Aracani, Temuco, Nueva Imperial, and Villaricca. All of the Habitat affiliates
are located in rural communities that are among the poorest in the country.
Our partner organization believes that helping families build houses will give them the support needed for them to rise above
poverty. They provide families in need with architectural designs, construction oversight, and volunteer labor to assist in building
their new home. Although volunteers make up the bulk of the construction help, the families and other community members also take
part in the building. As a volunteer on this project, you will be working side-by-side with community members as well as with the
family who will be living in the home.
The specific work you perform on this project will depend in part on your physical capabilities. You are given the opportunity to do
anything from painting to heavy construction, including helping clean the building site, general construction, pouring cement,
flooring, drywall installation, and more. Besides your physical labor, your presence in these communities will be respected and
welcomed. You will not only be building houses in these communities, you will also be building relationships that will change
people’s lives.
Orientation:
After arrival in Santiago, you will be picked up by a shuttle service provided by Volunteer Adventures. You will be transported to
your hostel or host family for the first night. You will be given instructions on how to arrive at the school the following
morning, where you will begin your Volunteer Adventure with an extensive orientation. During the orientation, you will learn about
living and working in Santiago, using public transportation, and working at your project site. After the orientation, you will meet
with a project coordinator to determine your skills and what kind of work you will be doing as a volunteer. You work site may be
located outside of Santiago, depending on the project's need.
Transportation:
All transfers by public transportation or by Volunteer Adventures staff include:
 Airport pickup in Santiago, and transportation to
host family.
Orientation in Santiago
Transportation to and from excursions
Local transport at project locations
Overnight bus journeys to the project sites (if in
a remote area) at the start and end of the program
Language Classes:
Volunteers enrolled in the Gold package will be taking Spanish language classes at Bridge-Linguatec, our
affiliate language school in Santiago. For more efficient placement upon your arrival, we ask that you take our to determine your
language proficiency prior to going abroad. If this is not possible, we will test you upon arrival at the school. You will be
placed according to your language level in a group of four or fewer students, learning conversational Spanish for four hours a
day.
Volunteer Schedule:
Volunteers enrolled in the Bronze package will volunteer at the work site 8 hours per day, 5 days per week.
Volunteers enrolled in the Gold package will alternate one week of Spanish courses with one week of full-time
work at the work site. Spanish classes are held 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., M-F..
Accommodations:
Volunteers enrolled in the Bronze package will stay in volunteer lodging (a modest hotel or cabin).
Volunteers enrolled in the Gold package will alternate between a Chilean host family during their language
learning in Santiago and volunteer lodging (a modest hotel or cabin) during the home building week. Our host families are
carefully screened and must meet Volunteer Adventures’ requirements before being accepted as a host family. All our families
are middle-class and live in comfortable homes in safe neighborhoods. The distance from the school varies from about 20-40
minutes by bus. You will be given a key to your host family’s home to come and go as you please. The family will provide
two meals a day, a private room, and upon request (and extra charge), a private bathroom.
Meals:
Meals are provided at the volunteer site and in volunteer lodging. For volunteers enrolled in the Gold package,
the host family in Santiago will provide 2 meals per day, 3 upon request and an extra charge.
Excursions:
Volunteers enrolled in the Gold package are invited to participate in excursions during the time they are studying Spanish in Santiago. Below are a few of the excursions we organize for our volunteers and students. Participants are expected to pay their own
transportation costs and entrance fees.
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Museo Casa de Pablo Neruda La Chascona – This excursion takes you to Pablo Neruda´s house,
Chile´s most famous poet and winner of the 1971 Nobel Prize for Literature.
Museo de Arte
Precolombino – The Museo de Arte Precolombino houses ceramics, textiles, paintings, and sculptures from
a wide range of Pre-Colombian cultures.
Parque Forestal and
Museo de Bellas Artes – This tour takes you to one of the most popular parks in Santiago and the most famous art
museum in the city.
 Viña Concha y Toro – Visit the
winery Concha y Toro, where you receive a guided tour and taste some renowned Chilean wines.
Centro Cultural
Palacio La Moneda – Visit this newly inaugurated cultural center, study archive, and museum. The center is
located underneath the also newly remodeled Plaza Constitución, next to La Moneda, the presdential palace. |
In-country support:
We work directly with our school in Santiago to ensure your safety and support during your time in Chile. You can expect help from
the teachers, staff, and other employees at Bridge-Linguatec. We also always have on-site support at the community center, where
both coordinators and professional volunteers can help you with anything you need. |
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