Chile Volunteer Quests
Facts
- 80% mountainous land
- 5th largest exporter of wine
- 44 on the UN Human Development Index
What makes a United Planet Short-term Quest unique?
United Planet’s Quest volunteer abroad programs are 100% cultural immersion experiences. United Planet Quest programs run year-round and are available to individuals and groups of all ages, skill levels and nationalities. We have no doubt it will be life-changing and provide lasting memories. Read on for more detailed information about volunteer opportunities in Chile.
All Quests include:
- Flexible start dates and lengths of stay (2-12 weeks)
- Personalized attention from Coordinators
- Local home stays or on-site lodging options
- Exciting excursions, cultural activities and/or language lessons
Country Information
Chile is one of Latin America’s oldest democracies, interrupted only for a brief period during the Pinochet dictatorship. The country is known for its striking, extreme landscapes: the Atacama Desert, known as the world’s driest desert, the Andes, a seriously lengthy coast, and the remote region of Patagonia. Chileans lovingly refer to their country as “The Land of Poets”: Nobel Prize-winning poets Pablo Neruda and Gabriela Mistral are a source of national pride. Many Chileans have European heritage; the indigenous Mapuche of the South and Aymara of the North are significant minorities. About one third of Chileans live in greater Santiago and enjoy a lifestyle and diet similar to the Mediterranean region.
Chile may possess one of the strongest economies of the Americas, but not all residents have benefited from recent growth. In the mid-1990s, the government began addressing uneven income distribution but is yet to fully eradicate extreme poverty. Providing all citizens with adequate housing and improving education are necessary for Chile to achieve full social equality for its citizens.
Chile Country Coordinator Paul
Volunteer Opportunities in Chile: 2 - 12 Weeks
United Planet currently offers many volunteering opportunities in different climates and locations in partnership with local organizations in Chile.
What's Included and Program Details
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Highlights
- Spend a week in Vina del Mar enjoying the beautiful Chilean coastline.
- Experience “The Land of the Poets” firsthand and help locals work towards social equality.
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Chile Summer Teaching Program for High School Students |
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House Building Quest for High School Students
Volunteers Needed: July 10 to 24 (accepting enrollment through early June)
Length: 2 weeks
Ages: 16 - 18
Language requirement: At least basic Spanish
The aim of this prject is to help build houses for Chile's poorest families. The housebuilding quest allows United Planet volunteers to work with Chilean volunteers in teams to build basic wood houses. This project is for high school students and it is a great opportunity to work with Chilean high school volunteers. This project is open July 10 to July 24. The construction will take place in either Santiago or Valparaiso, to be determined by the Chilean association.
Possible tasks for the volunteers include: carrying supplies, clearing construction areas, nailing and sawing boards, digging holes, putting in windows, and cutting metal roofing.
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English Teaching Quest
Minimum Stay: 1 week
Volunteers Needed: March - November, except vacations in July
Requirements: At least 18 years old, no Spanish is required
Volunteers work as English teaching assistants with local English teachers in government subsidized schools. A recently stated goal of the Chilean government is that Chile must become a fully bilingual country. English teaching assistants will work closely with Chilean English teachers, developing lesson plans, providing small group tutoring and correcting tests. They may also read aloud and sing songs in class with the younger students and talk about their own experiences.
There may also be the possibility to give CAP (Cultural Awareness Project) talks to students. You would prepare a presentation about yourself, your home community and culture. This is a very challenging project where you will be speaking in public to students and leading classroom discussions. Through your CAP presentations you will have the opportunity to learn more about Chile and its culture, in addition to teaching Chilean students about your own culture. |
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Day Care Quest
Volunteers work in small day care centers located near downtown Santiago with children ranging from three months to five years old. The mothers of these children reside at a nearby shelter for the homeless and work during the day. The children stay at the centers from 9 am until 5 pm. Volunteers may help participate in daily activities including: game playing, storytelling, drawing and riding tricycles; and use didactic learning materials. The last week of this Quest is spent in a Day Care Center in Vina Del Mar. This Quest is offered year-round except February.
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Healthcare Quest
Volunteer at a modern rehabilitation center in the capital city of Santiago and help improve patients’ lives! The facility provides care to young children and teenagers with physical disabilities. To be involved in this Quest you don’t need specific qualifications, but volunteers do need to be motivated and have a strong interest in health care. Volunteers will help as facilitators and organize recreational activities for the patients while having the opportunity to learn about specific patient areas as they move from one area to another. This project offers is a unique opportunity to learn about physical rehabilitation in a different country. The last week of this quest may be spent at a second rehabilitation center near the city of Vina Del Mar. |
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Women's Shelter Quest This Quest is open in January, February, the last two weeks of July and the first two weeks of December. Volunteers work with women's children in the shelter, taking care of them and helping with daily tasks around the shelter. |
Questions about applying?
Call one of our friendly regional Quest coordinators today. We will walk you step-by-step through the application process and answer any questions you may have.
Step 1: Choose your Quest. Contact us at any time for help! We'd love to talk to you. Email or call 1-800-292-2316.
Step 2: Enroll online. Please fill in the enrollment form. Then reserve your spot with a deposit (which will be credited toward your program fee).
Step 3: Meet your Quest coordinator and iron out the details. Once you've applied, your United Planet coordinator will contact you, and arrange a phone session to talk about your Quest of interest. THANKS!
- Scholarships and Grants page for current opportunities and resources.
- Fundraising page
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Special Discounts
