Service Opportunity Posting Sites
Volunteer South America:
The origins of volunteersouthamerica.net date from early 2005 when I was looking for grass-roots, zero-cost volunteer work in Argentina. Finding volunteer work that didn't involve paying a middle-man/third party a large amount of cash was much more difficult than I expected; the result was many hours searching on Google, internet travel forums & obscure Spanish-language websites for a suitable volunteer work program.
In the end, for various reasons, I didn't volunteer in 2005; but I had found a handful of interesting volunteer programs and realized that lots of other people were in the same boat as me - looking for genuine grass-roots volunteer work in South America. I didn't want my 40+ man-hours of research to go to waste so I posted what I'd found on volunteerargentina.net, which later became volunteersouthamerica.net.
http://www.volunteersouthamerica.net/
Catholic Network of Volunteer Service (CNVS):
Catholic Network of Volunteer Service (CNVS), established in 1963, is a non-profit membership organization of 200 domestic and international volunteer and lay mission programs. Currently, more than 10,000 volunteers and lay missioners serve in these programs throughout the U.S. and in 108 other countries. Catholic Network of Volunteer Service (CNVS) is a national membership organization of Christian volunteer and mission programs that fosters and promotes full-time national and international service opportunities for people of all backgrounds, ages and skills. CNVS supports and enhances the work of its membership by providing training and resources, networking opportunities, and national advocacy.
Summer, Semester and Longterm Programs
Peace Corps:
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps to promote world peace and friendship. The Peace Corps' mission has three simple goals:
1. Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
2. Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
3. Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
AmeriCorps:
AmeriCorps is an opportunity to make a big difference in your life and in the lives of those around you. It’s a chance to apply your skills and ideals toward helping others and meeting critical needs in the community. Each year, AmeriCorps offers 75,000 opportunities for adults of all ages and backgrounds to serve through a network of partnerships with local and national nonprofit groups. Whether your service makes a community safer, gives a child a second chance, or helps protect the environment, you’ll be getting things done through AmeriCorps! AmeriCorps members address critical needs in communities all across America.
Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC):
JVC is looking for talented and dedicated people who have a desire to answer the call to apostolic service and community as Jesuit Volunteers. The Jesuit Volunteer Corps is a national and international program. Jesuit Volunteers make a commitment to serve where the need is greatest, to work with people who are marginalized by society and to live in apostolic community with other JVs. In all, about 250 JVs each year work in the United States and in seven countries around the world.
Worldteach:
This organization offers teaching opportunities throughout the world, there are a few that are in Spanish Speaking Countries. Some of them are fully funded others are partially funded. Also a neat thing is that they are all on different schedules.
Passionist Volunteers International:
Passionist Volunteers International dedicate themselves in service to the rural poor of Jamaica, West Indies, as well as those in Talanga, Honduras, including AIDS sufferers. Volunteers commit to one or two years of international service to aid in the troubled journey of others.
http://www.passionistvolunteers.org/PassionistVolunteersInternational/index.html
Quetzaltrekkers:
*Both Nicaragua and Guatemala also have affiliated schools in the community that are also looking for volunteers
Nicaragua:
Our project offers several positions to volunteer with. You will be guiding all of the different hikes we offer. They are between one and three days and take you to the volcanoes around León. The proceeds of these hikes form the main source of funding for our programs. For volunteers there is a minimum of three months commitment required. You pay a $40 deposit, which you get back after working with us for three months. We look for volunteers that enjoy hiking, being in nature and working as a team member, speak basic Spanish, have trekking and first aid experience and take on projects on their own initiative. Strong experience is not necessary to work with us. We welcome the skills you bring and help train you in the ones you lack.
Guatemala:
Quetzaltrekker guides and office staff are all working as volunteers. We have a minimum three month commitment to the project, but most people stay with us for far longer and often return to their homelands and continue to fund raise for us. Where possible, we employ local Guatemalan labor to complete our team. Each hike is guided by a qualified tour leader, a second guide, and often one or more extra guides that add knowledge to our treks. This provides added factors of safety and expertise with respect to our routes (in the case of Todos Santos for example). Our tour leaders are all bilingual and have lived in Guatemala for some time, working in tourist services, mountain guiding, social/development projects, medical projects, etc. The tour leaders are happy to explain the different cultures that you encounter and the significance of the buildings / sites / places that you visit. They will accompany you throughout the tour, ensuring a smooth, stress-free, safe and enjoyable time.
http://www.quetzaltrekkers.com
Nicaragua: Fabretto Children’s Organization
Fabretto offers hope and opportunity for low income Nicaraguan children, enabling them to get the education they need to become responsible, productive adults. We serve over 6,000 boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 25, providing a continuum of care and assistance through their entire schooling experience.
http://www.fabretto.org/volunteerNica.htm
Peru: Hogar de Esperanza (an Orphanage)
Hogar de Esperanza (Home of Hope) is an orphanage which offers a loving home and a future to orphaned, abandoned and abused children in Peru. We are a non-denominational Christian ministry which first opened our doors to homeless children in the spring of 2002. We have short and long term volunteer programs for Christian individuals who are over the age of 18 and have a sincere desire to help children and serve others.