Where can I find resources about working in Central or South America in social services?

Question

I'd like to spend about 6 months in Central or South America doing social work with Spanish speaking populations. Other than the peace corps, where can I find resources describing what's available and how to apply?

Yo hablo el castellano con facilidad.

Answer 1

Unless you are a fluent Spanish speaker, with skills that are either transferable to the local population and will help them get employment, or, with skills that are desperately needed in the area, you are probably not going to be able to find a job in Central or South America -- it's much more appropriate for social service organizations to hire local people to do work than to pay someone to come in from another country.

That said, you do have some options, if you are willing to pay your airfare, local transporation costs, costs for your security and staff to supervise you, food, etc.

Here is a web site that can help you learn more about the skills and experience desired by long-term placement organizations, and how you can gain that experience locally. It also lists the various organizations that don't charge for volunteer placement (but require a great deal of experience -- the average age of a UN Volunteer is 38).
http://www.coyotecommunications.com/volunteer/international.html

There is a listing of the more-than-30 member organizations of the International Volunteers Program Association (IVPA) that is a good place to find reputable volunteer-for-a-fee programs.
http://www.volunteerinternational.org/

The cheapest overseas volunteer-sending organization in the USA that will send unskilled volunteers for short-term assignments (six months or less) that I've found is SCI - Service Civil International (http://www.sci-ivs.org/). I know *nothing* about them other than what's on their web site, so please don't consider the listing of this organization in my answer as an endorsement.

Answer 2

Do you want to do actual social work or simply volunteer in the community? There are a number of social work schools in Central and South America. I might contact one of these schools as they might be able to arrange opportunities for you.

DA

Answer 3

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