You will be volunteering at two local homes for socially and economically disadvantaged boys in the southern part of Santiago.

Our partner organization cares for over 2,500 children, teens, and young men and women throughout Chile. The Teach English Project is focused on two of our partner's establishments in Santiago--their homes for boys. The young men that live, study and study in these homes have been removed from their families for a wide variety of reasons, including abusive living situations, neglect, and poverty. Generally, they have been taken from their homes by the justice or law enforcement systems. The staff at our partner organization strives to provide the safest and most nurturing environment for the children to develop. Their job is often difficult due to the many problems the youngsters bring with them to the home, and they greatly appreciate the help of volunteers.

As a volunteer with our Teach English Program, you will be teaching English and tutoring boys from the ages of 12 to 19. You will also have the opportunity to help these boys with other homework tasks. Most importantly, you will be providing them with an important opportunity to broaden their horizons and begin to learn the skills which are critical for a successful future. Volunteers will also be able to provide a much needed source of meaningful activity and balance in these young men's lives.

Volunteers in Santiago will see first-hand the positive effect that their efforts and the efforts of our partner have on the boys. Some of these young men are already in post-secondary education and most move on to be very productive members of society.

Teacher Training
All volunteers in our Teach English Programs receive teacher training before going abroad. By completing our online teacher preparation program, you will earn your certification in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), which will give you the skills and confidence needed to teach English overseas. Read More.

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 volunteering on 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.

Transportation:
Volunteer Adventures will provide airport pick-up in Santiago and transportation to the host family. Volunteers pay for transportation to and from the project and other activities.

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 Online Spanish Placement Test 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. After your class hours, you will go directly to your organization for your volunteer experience.


Accommodations:
Bronze: You will be staying at a hostel with breakfast included. Commute time to the project can be 30-60 minutes. Silver and Gold: You will be staying with a Chilean host family. Our host families are carefully screened and must meet Volunteer Adventures' requirements before being accepted as a host family. All of 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:
Bronze: Hostel serves breakfast only.
Silver and Gold: Host family provides 2 meals a day, 3 upon request and with an extra charge.

Excursions:
Although you will be serving the community for most of your time in Chile, there may be time for some sightseeing. Below are a few of the trips that the school organizes for volunteers and students. Participants are expected to pay their own transportation costs and entrance fees.

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.