I flew Andes Air during the July vacation period when I had family in town. We flew from Buenos Aires to Salta during the high-season and paid around 800 pesos round trip which was a significant savings from other airlines. (FYI: Taking the 22 hour bus was about 650 pesos round trip.)
Andes serves the Northwest Region, Iguazú and Puerto Madryn. I was initially pretty nervous to fly an airline that I had never heard of before, but after talking to a travel agent friend they assured me that it is a legit company.
Although their website is pretty terrible and they sometimes don´t answer their phone (oh Argentina!) I am satisfied with the service. The plane was much bigger than expected -- 3 seats on each side of plane!
Even better is that they did not charge a different price for foreigners, it was all the same fare! If you travel in low season they had some excellent promotions as well.
I’ve had an AHA moment today. My teacher is very cute. His name is Martin and he’s 're-argentino'. That means REALLY Argentino in Argentino. He spent a year in Ireland teaching Spanish last year and he missed Buenos Aires a lot.. We talk a lot about Argentina and about the culture, about the crazy chaos of it all, the subversive attitude of the Argentines towards politics, finance, all that jazz. The Bulgarian likes to talk a lot about the Argentine girls, I don’t blame him. They mainly have very very long hair and are very pretty.
Martin says Bien, Entonces.. a lot. Or Muy Bien, entonces... I ask him why doesn’t he say Bueno, entonces (like the name of the course of course) and he explains that “Bueno,” often is something you say when you’ve had a enough of talking, or have had enough of talking about a particular subject. He explains that when somebody starts going, bueno bueno bueno on the phone, basically they are telling you that the conversation is over and they’ve had enough.
Now I get it! That's why Jimena always says "Bueno, entonces..." Because she often has enough of David!
Gateway Argentina is continuously searching for the best programs available in Buenos Aires for our participants. While there are many volunteer placement agencies in Buenos Aires we have searched extensively to find the agency with the best programs and opportunities for you. We understand the needs of our volunteer participants. We understand that volunteering is a commitment both personally and financially. We want to give you an enriching international experience while providing a program that is well established and deeply rooted in important Argentine social causes. We have chosen a partnership with HelpArgentina because of their powerful commitment to enriching the social sector of Argentina.
About HelpArgentina: HelpArgentina is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen Argentine civil society through the mobilization of donors and volunteers and the promotion of the best practices. HelpArgentina´s vision is of a competitive, trustworthy and globally financed Argentine social sector. It offers the international community a secure channel to support a network of organizations selected according to social impact, accountability and best practices. HelpArgentina is able to accomplish this mission of promoting social development in Argentina with the generosity and hard work of capable volunteers. Volunteers are placed among one of the 52 organizations represented by HelpArgentina.
How it Works: Upon receiving confirmation of your interest in volunteering in Buenos Aires you will be sent a volunteer questionnaire. Once the questionnaire is returned to Gateway Argentina we will forward it to our representative at HelpArgentina. By providing us with this questionnaire HelpArgentina is able to outline possible placements for you prior to your arrival and orientation with the social sector experts at HelpArgentina. Once you arrive you will receive a placement orientation with HelpArgentina's volunteer coordinators. Upon completion of your orientation, you will be accompanied to your placement where you will meet fellow volunteers and staff. HelpArgentina volunteer coordinators will be available throughout the duration to assist you with any problems or concerns that way arise.
Projects Abroad offers volunteer Medicine & Healthcare work-experience placements in Argentina, in Medicine, Physiotherapy, Nursing & Midwifery, Occupational Therapy and Electives. Placements are for anyone volunteering abroad on a gap year or career break, or a training or qualified doctor, physiotherapist, nurse or midwife.
Volunteering on a Medicine & Healthcare project in Argentina can be done as part of a gap year, a career-break, or during a short break in your studies. As a Medicine & Healthcare volunteer you will gain a great deal of valuable work-experience alongside some of the most skilled doctors in the country. While the shell of some hospital buildings may look slightly neglected, the facilities within and the healthcare provided are generally of a decent standard, on a par with many hospitals in the west.
Our Medicine & Healthcare volunteers work in rotation at different hospitals in and around Villa Allende, enabling them to have a broad and varied experience of different medicine and healthcare departments. You will have the opportunity to experience medical procedures in both the over-burdened multi-disciplinary government hospitals, and the smaller Dispensarios that operate on certain days each in more rural communities. Within the hospitals you will be given the chance to shadow doctors and nurses, help to take patient histories, observe surgery, attend medical lectures with medical students, and perhaps even perform basic medicine and healthcare procedures. In the community you could find yourself giving a child a general health check, assisting in the provision of vaccinations, and giving advice on nutrition or pregnancy prevention for example.
An intermediate level of Spanish is required for this placement to ensure that you can interact fully with both the local staff and the patients. Volunteers should also be of smart appearance.
Volunteer Dentistry in Argentina
Volunteers who wish to work in the field of dentistry can gain superb work experience in Villa Allende Hospital, located in the beautiful Sierras Chicas not far from where our office is based. As one of the largest government run hospitals in this area, you will be learning from staff who are very experienced at providing all aspects of dental healthcare to people who travel here from the surrounding regions. If you wish to have a broader Medicine & Healthcare experience, both hospitals have many other areas, besides dentistry, for you to work in.
Volunteer Occupational Therapy in Argentina
As a training or qualified Occupational Therapy volunteer in Argentina, you'll be placed in one of a number of institutions for people who are mentally and physically disabled. While residents receive the necessary physiotherapy care, staff are limited in number and don't have enough time to spend one-to-one with these individuals. By coming into the home and using your skills to assess and treat the wide variety of physical and psychiatric conditions you come across, you can help these people to find purposeful activities they can participate in, and help to promote independent function in aspects of their life for what may be the first time since they moved there.
One of the joys of adjusting from life in the US to life here in Buenos Aires is learning how to convert our screwy imperial units of measure (pounds, degrees Fahrenheit, feet and miles) into those handy metric units (grams, kilograms, degrees Celsius, meters and kilometers). Since at first this task can be just a bit perplexing, here are a few quick hints to making these adjustments yourself:
Weight (1 pound = 450 grams) You will most frequently need to be familiar with the conversion between pounds and grams while visiting your local fiambrería (deli meat seller), carnicería (butcher) or verdulería (vegetable seller). Ordering meats and vegetables are the easiest, as you can just request “dos pechugas” (two chicken breasts), or “tres zanahorias” (three carrots), and be on your merry way. Ordering deli meat is a little trickier, however, as the density of the meats varies by type. As a rule of thumb, I typically buy 100 grams of dense salted meats, such as salami, but opt for 200 grams when ordering the more common sandwich companions, including cheese, ham or turkey. These portions are just right, as they are enough to sustain me through several lunches, but won’t last too long and go feo.
Weight (1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds) When I moved into my first apartment here in Buenos Aires, I was also pleasantly surprised to see a scale in the bathroom. Only problem? It weighed me in kilograms. If you are watching your weight while you’re here, this simple conversion is handy to keep in the back of your mind.
Temperature (°C = (°F -32) x 5/9) The conversion between degrees Celsius and Fahrenheit is not only the measure that you will most frequently encounter, but also the one that can be the most perplexing. As you can see, the formula for making this conversion is a doozy!
Thanks to a dear Argentine friend that I met while still in the US, I now know a simpler way to get a ballpark figure for the conversion: just take the temperature in Celsius, double it, and add 30. This figure will always be slightly off from the exact temperature reading, but it works in a pinch.
Weather, Seasons and Average Temperatures If you don’t already know, the seasons south of the equator are the opposite of those to the north. That means, that when it is summer in the northern hemisphere, it is winter in the south, and vice versa.
This is Maradona as the two-time Palme Dor winner Emir Kusturica sees him: the revolutionary, the footballer, the man, the God, the family man, the drug-addict, the legend. Acclaimed filmmaker Emir Kusturica traces the remarkable story of soccer legend Diego Maradona in this documentary featuring music by composer Manu Chao and Sex Pistols. Maradona has a reputation as the people's champion, an athlete who rose from humble beginnings to achieve worldwide fame, and who has overcome incredible adversity to become a living legend. As the director and his subject grow increasingly intimate, Maradona reveals details about his life that have never come to light in the public eye. A tour of the places that mean the most to Maradona offer a unique look at the way the soccer star was shaped by his surroundings, and conversations with the people closest to him offer a unique glimpse into his colorful personality. A conversation with Cuban leader Fidel Castro highlights how even the most powerful personalities become awestruck while speaking with Maradona. This is Kusturica's most expressive in form and the most radical in content since at least Black Cat, White Cat where Kusturica values Maradona not only as a virtuoso player but as man with a political view.
During the first week of March 2008, 11 Springbreakers from the University of Virginia, USA, descended on Buenos Aires and HelpArgentina to work with a member organization, Sagrada Familia (Sacred Family), to build "two new additions" to the small homes of two distinct families' in the greater Buenos Aires region.
Arriving in Argentina on a Friday, these eager college students participated in an orientation with HelpArgentina before heading the following Monday to begin work in a small, rural, and very low income neighborhood in Tigre, a community that attracts many tourists for its proximity to a delta of the river Parana.
The project was slow at the start, but as the week progressed, the students and a routine developed they got to know the community and the families whose homes they were renovating. I visited the group on their last day. To say the least it was a very inspiring day.
Arriving after about an hour and a half of commute, I reached the volunteers who were working laboriously on the two different projects. One of the projects was to build the basic structure of a separate "one room" home on the property of a big family of at least 8. By the end of the day, the skeleton of the home was completed, the floor boards were laid, and the roof and walls were constructed. (The final product was to be completed by Horacio Fish, the on-site leader and carpenter from Sagrada Familia).
The other project was an addition to the home of a single mom and her two young children. The group finished the general structure and laid the the floor boards as well as the sun went down that Friday afternoon. This addition would be a new kitchen for the family, a well-needed expansion to her humble home.
U2 fans across South America have been eagerly waiting to find out if and when the Irish rock band would return to the continent for its 360° tour.
While there has been no official confirmation from the band about any South American tour plans, the Brazilian newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo reported last week that U2 will play Brazil in November, 2010.
According to the report, U2 will do three shows three show in Sao Paolo and one in Rio. If that’s true, it means U2 would almost certainly play Buenos Aires very close to that date.
In other U2 news, in case you haven’t caught U2 ’s spectacular 3D concert movie, you can see it in Buenos Aires at any of the Showcase movie complexes in Belgrano, Marínez, Haedo, as well as in the interior cities of Córdoba and Rosario.
Argentina may not be the first country that springs to mind when you think of South American wildlife havens, but it actually boasts larger natural contrasts than any of its neighbours; the frozen landscapes of Patagonia to the south and tropical northern heat create a perfect recipe for a diverse natural world. El Puma Ecological Park in Argentina's laid back provincial capital brings you face to face with the results as it nurses sick and injured animals back to health before releasing them back in to the wild. The project also runs a breeding programme to increase animal numbers so there's a lot to keep you busy, before you head off to discover the rest of the continent's hottest destination.
*Project details: El Puma Ecological Park is an animal breeding and rehabilitation center near Posadas that aims to promote the welfare of wild animals that are native to Argentina. Their objectives are to help sick or injured animals that have been captured by forest rangers by nursing them back to health and to raise the numbers of native species by breeding them while in captivity. The animals are rehabilitated at the center and then once ready released back to their natural habitat, if possible. Animals include monkeys, birds, wild swine, jaguars, toucans, and other native animals. El Puma works with the Ministry of Ecology of that province and depends on them for funding.
*Why the project needs volunteers: Due to the lack of financial resources, the expertise and funding provided by private groups and international conservation agencies is essential to supplement what the Ministry of Ecology provides. This centre needs assistance in taking care of the animals, and volunteers will make up a substantial proportion of the labour force. It is also important to help highlight the importance of protecting Argentina's wildlife, which has long been victim to trafficking.
Highlights: * Helping to look after some of Argentina's indigenous wildlife * Soaking up the culture and lifestyle of this laid back small city * Sampling Mate - one of Argentina's most popular drinks
El Puma is located in the small town of Candelaria, located on the Rio Parana. Candelaria is known for its mystical Jesuit ruins, eucalyptus and pine plantations, and is the location of a lovely park that has a waterfall, canyon, and campsites.
You will be staying in a homestays located in nearby Posadas, a lively city of 250,000 and travel to your placement each day. Posadas boasts interesting markets, friendly cafes, cinemas and museums, and there will be plenty to do on the weekends.
Qualifications: What kind of skills you need to go on this type of project: The biggest requirement for this project is a strong love of all animals, as well as the readiness to be involved with the more basic duties that will be required. Volunteers should be committed and willing to help out wherever needed as the work is hard and can involve long hours. A love of the outdoors is also essential. As the staff at the project do not speak any English and so volunteers should ideally have a basic conversational level of Spanish or take lessons before arriving into the country and be willing to work on this while at the project. It is suggested that you take the add-on lessons offered when arriving into Posadas, ask your desk officer for more details.
Your role as a volunteer: Current duties may include feeding the animals, cleaning and repairing all animal enclosures, building new enclosures, giving guided tours of the centre to any English speaking visitors, observation and data collection of the animals for research. You may also travel around the province with the staff who look for injured animals. It is strongly recommended that volunteers speak at least basic Spanish for this project.
Argentina is one of South America's leading media markets. The country has well over 150 daily newspapers, many hundreds of commercial radio stations, dozens of TV stations and one of the world's highest take-up rates for cable TV.
Large media conglomerates have emerged. Public broadcasting plays a minor role. Television is the dominant medium. The main national free-to-air networks - Telefe, America, Canal 9 and Canal 13 - are privately-owned.
Argentine readers are among Latin America's most voracious newspaper consumers. Clarin and La Nacion are the best-selling national dailies.
Media freedom is guaranteed by the constitution. However, Reporters Without Borders maintained in 2008 that "direct attacks on the media and obstacles to press freedom... remained high". It said former President Nestor Kirchner had shown "great hostility" to the media - and particularly the conservative La Nacion daily - while in office.
By December 2008, Argentina had 16 million internet users, comprising nearly 40% of the population (Internetworldstats.com) and giving the country the second-highest number of surfers on the continent, after Brazil.
The press
· Clarín - popular daily
· La Nación - respected conservative daily
· Crónica - tabloid daily
· El Cronista - business
· La Prensa - Argentina's oldest newspaper
· Pagina 12 - left-wing daily
· Buenos Aires Herald - English-language daily
Television
· Telefe (Canal 11) - leading national network, operated by Grupo Telefe
· Canal 13 (El Trece) - leading national network, operated by Grupo Clarin
· Canal 9 - popular national network
· America (Canal 2) - popular network
· Todo Noticias - cable/satellite news channel owned by Grupo Clarin
Join us on a humanitarian assistance journey to an indigenous village in the province of Misiones with a side visit to the famous Iguazu Falls National Park. These volunteer expeditions are a great way to help those in need in a more impoverished part of Argentina, and at the same time see some of the country's most amazing natural attractions.
The volunteer expeditions take place practically every month. The volunteer expeditions are made available to program participants already in Argentina who are registered in a GIC Argentina program. Upon arrival please let us know that you would be interested in going on the volunteer expedition. Typically three weeks before departure, you will receive the complete details of the trip.
The volunteer expedition to the Iguazu falls is organized toghether with our partner volunteer organization.
Sample Volunteer Expedition Itinerary
The description below is a sample itinerary from previous trips. Dates and activities are subject to change.
Tuesday: Departure from the Buenos Aires bus terminal. We take an overnight bus.
Wednesday: Arrival in Monte Carlo. Lodging check-in. Departure to the indigenous village. We do sanitary control and HIV prevention workshop. We prepare snack for all and then return for dinner and get ready for the next day.
Thursday: We return to the village. Workshops on HIV prevention, responsible family planning and correct use of water. We return to our lodgings for dinner.
Friday: Breakfast and visit to the village. Distribution of clothes, soap, toothpaste tubes and toothbrushes. Dinner at our lodgings.
Saturday: Departure for Puerto Iguazu. Visit the famous waterfalls of Iguazu.
Sunday: Visit to Ciudad del Este in Paraguay and/or Foz de Iguacu on the Brazil side.
Every year, more and more expats are settling down in Buenos Aires, Argentina, whether for a few months or an indefinite period of time. Most come to hone their Spanish skills, some to perfect their tango moves, others to study at a university or simply embark on a new adventure. Whatever their reason, many of them have one thing in common: they want to give back to their adopted community. But where to start?
Join us for the More than Mate II: Volunteering in Argentina meet-up on November 11th to find out!
With over 2,000 nonprofits in Buenos Aires alone, we know it can be hard to navigate the nonprofit landscape in Argentina and find free opportunities. So we’re teaming up with Voluntarios Sin Fronteras and South American Explorer’s Club to host an event dedicated to you, the international volunteer. There will be group discussions centered around the topics of your choosing, a chance to chat with volunteer coordinators from nonprofits in the city, and a trivia game about Argentina’s social sector.
From almost everywhere, South America is a relatively costly destination, but discount fares can reduce the bite considerably. Contacting a travel agency that specializes in Latin American destinations often turns up the cheapest fares.
Sea
Arriving in Argentina by sea is uncommon indeed, although Chilean company Navimag (www.navimag.com) operates the famous ferry from Puerto Montt, Chile (near Bariloche), down the length of Chilean Patagonia to Puerto Natales, Chile, near Parque Nacional Torres del Paine (due west of Río Gallegos).
Water
River
There are several river crossings between Uruguay and Buenos Aires that involve ferry or hydrofoil, and often require combinations with buses.
Buenos Aires to MontevideoHigh-speed ferries carry passengers from downtown Buenos Aires to the Uruguayan capital in only 2¾ hours.
Buenos Aires to Colonia Daily ferries (50 minutes to three hours) head to Colonia, with bus connections to Montevideo (additional three hours).
Tigre to Carmelo Regular passenger launches speed from the Buenos Aires suburb of Tigre to Carmelo (services also go to Montevideo from Tigre).
Land
Border crossings
There are numerous border crossings from neighboring Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay; the following lists are only the principal crossings. Generally, border formalities are straightforward as long as all your documents are in order. For info on necessary visas and documents.
Current weather conditions, hours of service and other useful information for Argentina’s border crossings are provided online by the Gendarmería Nacional de Argentina (www.gendarmeria.gov. ar/pasos/pasos1.htm).
Bolivia
La Quiaca to Villazón Many buses go from Jujuy and Salta to La Quiaca, where you must walk or take a taxi across the Bolivian border.
Aguas Blancas to Bermejo From Orán, reached by bus from Salta or Jujuy, take a bus to Aguas Blancas and then Bermejo, where you can catch a bus to Tarija.
Pocitos to Yacuiba Buses from Jujuy or Salta go to Tartagal and then on to the Bolivian border at Pocitos/Yacuiba, where there are buses to Santa Cruz.
Brazil
The most common crossing is from Puerto Iguazú to Foz do Iguaçu. Check both cities for more information on the peculiarities of this border crossing, especially if you’re crossing the border into Brazil only to see the other side of IguazúFalls. There are also border crossings from Paso de los Libres (Argentina) to Uruguaiana (Brazil) to São Borja (Brazil).
Chile
There are numerous crossings between Argentina and Chile. Except in far southern Patagonia, every land crossing involves crossing the Andes. Due to weather, some high-altitude passes close in winter; even the busy Mendoza–Santiago route over RN 7 can close for several days (sometimes longer) during a severe storm. Always check road conditions, especially if you have a flight scheduled on the other side of the mountains. The following are the most commonly used crossings.
Salta to San Pedro de Atacama (via Purmamarca) Twelve-hour bus ride through the altiplano with stunningly beautiful scenery.
Mendoza to SantiagoThe most popular crossing between the two countries, passing 6962m Aconcagua en route.
Bariloche to Puerto Montt The famous, scenic 12-hour bus-boat combination runs over the Andes to Chile. Takes two days in winter.
Los Antiguos to ChileChicoThose entering from Chile can access the rugged RN 40 from here and head down to El Chaltén and El Calafate. Best in summer, when there’s actually public transport available.
El Calafate to Puerto Natales & Parque Nacional Torres del Paine Probably the most beaten route down here, heading from the Glaciar Perito Moreno (near El Calafate) to Parque Nacional Torres del Paine (near Puerto Natales). Several buses per day in summer; one to two daily in the off-season.
Ushuaia to Punta ArenasDaily buses in summer, fewer in winter, on this 12- to 18-hour trip (depending on weather conditions), which includes a ferry crossing at either Porvenir or Punta Delgada/Primera Angostura.
Uruguay & Paraguay
There are two direct border crossings between Argentina and Paraguay: Clorinda to Asunción, and Posadas to Encarnación. From Puerto Iguazú, Argentina, you can also cross through Brazil into Ciudad del Este, Paraguay.
Border crossings from Argentine cities to Uruguayan cities include Gualeguaychú to Fray Bentos; Colón to Paysandú; and Concordia to Salto. All involve crossing bridges. Buses from Buenos Aires to Montevideo and other waterfront cities, however, are slower and less convenient than the ferries (or ferry–bus combinations) across the Río de la Plata. The crossings at Gualeguaychú and Paysandú may be closed due to conflict surrounding the construction of a pulp mill on the Uruguayan side of the river.
Bus
Travelers can bus to Argentina from most bordering countries. Buses are usually comfortable, modern and fairly clean. Crossing over does not involve too many hassles; just make sure that you have any proper visas beforehand
Entering the destination
Entering the country
Entering Argentina is straightforward; immigration officials at airports are generally quick to the point and waste few words, while those at border crossings may take a little more time scrutinizing your passport before stamping it. Anyone entering the country is required to have a valid passport. Once you’re in the country, police can still demand identification at any moment. It’s a good idea to carry at least a photocopy of your passport around town at all times.
When entering by air, you officially must have a return ticket, though this is rarely asked for once you’re in Argentina. However, it is commonly asked for by the airline in the country of origin. Most airlines prohibit from boarding any passengers without proof of onward travel, regardless of whether the person was sold a one-way ticket or not. They do this because the airline would be responsible for flying you back home should you be denied entrance (which is highly unlikely) once you’re in Argentina. For those planning to travel indefinitely, the only way out of this predicament is to buy a cheap, fully refundable onward flight (say, Mendoza to Santiago, Chile) and either use it or get the refund once you’re in Argentina. The refund, however, can take months to process.
Air
Argentina has direct flights between countries including North America, the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Italy, Spain and South Africa, and from all South American countries except the Guianas. Alternatively, you can fly to a neighboring country, such as Chile or Brazil, and continue overland to Argentina.
One of the Education and Culture projects promoted by MAPU Association is the organization of an FM community radio in the city of Esquel, where MAPU is based in Patagonia. Currently we are looking for the financial resources to establish the radio. The radio is expected to start functioning around February 2010. Volunteering Placement Description: As a volunteer in the Community Radio Operator placement, you will be responsible for controlling the broadcast equipment, ...
carrying out broadcasting activities, mixing sounds, and other tasks related to the community radio functioning. Also, according to your experience, you will be able to help with setting up the studio, organizing the production equipment, controlling the acoustic balance of the studio, etc. Objectives: The aim of this volunteering placement is that you help achieve professional performance of the local community radio, and that you contribute your knowledge and experience in the field.
Asociación MAPU
MAPU Association is a non-profit, volunteer based organization, whose aim is to promote, organize, coordinate and sponsor projects related to social development, education and culture, human rights, environment care, and native peoples’ rights in Argentinean and Chilean Patagonia....
Passport valid for 6 months required by all except nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay who, for journeys that do not go beyond Argentina and these five countries, may use their national ID cards.
Visa
Required by all except the following:
(a) nationals of EU countries, Australia, Canada, Japan and US for stays of up to 90 days;
(b) nationals of Andorra, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Liechtenstein, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela and Serbia for stays of up to 90 days;
(c) nationals of Hong Kong (British Nationals Overseas), Jamaica and Malaysia for stays of up to 30 days;
(d) transit passengers holding confirmed onward or return tickets for travel provided continuing their journey within 6 hours and not leaving the airport.
Note: Visa exemptions mentioned above are for tourist and business purposes only. However, business travellers are advised to contact the Argentinian Consulate before departure.
Required documents for visa
Tourist visa: (a) Passport. (b) Application form. (c) 1 passport photo. (d) Fee; payable by cheque or postal order. (e) Return ticket. (f) Letter from employer.
The Center for Legal and Social Studies (Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales, CELS) is leading organization in the field of human rights. Since its creation in 1979, during the military dictatorship, CELS has fought against systematic violations of human rights in Argentina, investigating, documenting, denouncing, and litigating in favor of the recognition of fundamental rights and transparency. With the return of democracy in 1983, CELS began to work towards the consolidation of the role of the State in protecting human rights, influencing the design and implementation of public policy. With thirty years of experience in Argentina, CELS is making itself into a leading reference in the issue of human rights on a regional and international level. This year, for its 30th anniversary, CELS is taking a great step forward. It will seek to make itself into an even stronger and more influential organization in the region in the fields of human rights, democracy, and good-governance in the global South.
To fight for the relevance of human rights
To denounce human rights violations; to influence the process of forming public policies to include a respect for fundamental rights; to foster legal and institutional reforms in order to improve the quality of democratic institutions; and to promote the greatest exercise of these rights, especially for the most under-protected sectors of society.
Programa Memoria y Lucha contra la Impunidad del Terrorismo de Estado
Programa Violencia Institucional y Seguridad Ciudadana
Programa Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales
The goal of this project is to provide community development assistance to a Daycare Center in Villa Allende. Volunteers will assist the staff and act as role models for these children. Each volunteer will be involved in helping the children with their homework, leading recreational activities, and assisting the staff in meal preparation and cleaning. The daycare has capacity of up to 300 children who are all disabled, disadvantaged, or orphaned. Unfortunately, the project has a lack of financial support from the government and is in need of volunteers.
Where will I be volunteering?
You will be volunteering in Villa Allende, located in the beautiful backdrop of the Sierras Chicas Mountains. The peaceful, natural landscape allows rest and tranquility within the Village. People from all parts of Argentina, escape to Villa Allende to improve their quality of life. Villa Allende is very close to Córdoba, the second largest city in the country. The rich Spanish colonial heritage is still alive, with many old churches and traditional buildings still intact. Córdoba has a vibrant cultural scene, and you will enjoy the famous kindness and hospitality of the "Cordobeses". It is a major cosmopolitan city with all the conveniences that volunteers expect.
What am I going to be doing?
You will assist the staff at the Daycare Center and become directly involved with the lives of many children both academically and emotionally. You will contribute your creativity and talents, and become a role model, a mentor, and a friend.
What is required to volunteer on this project?
Language Requirement: Intermediate Spanish However, you can still join this project if your Spanish does not meet the requirements by taking our Spanish language course.
I’ve tried a whole slew of resources to maintain and improve my intermediate-level Spanish - magazines, private tutors, group classes, self-learning CDs, Spanish podcasts - but this is the first method I’ve tried that actually keeps me engaged and motivated. The characters Jimena and David are so charming, you are practically transported right to Buenos Aires with them. The visual component makes it about five times easier to learn and remember new words and grammar (versus most rich media language applications which are audio only). I’d strongly recommend this app to anyone looking to boost his/her beginning to intermediate level Spanish.
BUENOS AIRES (Dow Jones)--The Argentine government will try to settle its roughly $6.5 billion debt with members of the Paris Club by offering to issue a new bond, the Economy Ministry said in a statement Thursday.
Economy Minister Amado Boudou will pitch the idea to club members at a G20 meeting in Scotland later this week.
Before leaving for the trip, Boudou shared the idea with officials from the French Embassy in Buenos Aires. He said the plan entails issuing a new bond whose value would be equivalent to the debt owed to club members.
While in Scotland, Boudou will try to convince other Paris Club members that they ought to accept the proposal instead of a typical repayment plan, the statement said.
The bond would reportedly have the same payment structure as the loans owed to the Paris Club.
Argentine officials had previously given few details of how they planned to reschedule the debts owed to the Paris Club, which have been in default since Argentina's financial meltdown in 2001-02.
Around 14 months ago, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez announced a plan to settle the debt by making a lump sum payment.
But that bold plan fell apart within weeks as the global financial crisis clobbered world markets and crimped credit.
News of the new proposal comes a day after Argentina's House of Representatives passed a bill reopening a debt swap for the holders of about $20 billion in defaulted bonds.
The Senate has yet to debate the bill authorizing the offer, which requires congressional approval because a 2005 law expressly blocked a new swap.
The country is preparing a proposal to end the conflict with the holdouts who refused to accept terms of the 2005 swap. That swap involved a 65% discount, and any new offer will be on terms "more advantageous to Argentina," Boudou has said repeatedly.
In general, a foreign applicant (the "employee") assigned to work in another country must evidence a degree of proprietary knowledge, specialized skills, or managerial/ executive-level skills that are not readily available in the destination country's domestic labour market.
The following is a general summary of the types of employment visa categories that are common to corporate, international transfers into Argentina.
"Regularization" of immigration status from Visitor status to Work Status
A foreign national employee from a bordering country can convert his or her immigration status from a Visitor status to Work status while remaining in Argentina; however, this process may take upwards of six months to conclude.
During the "regularization" period, nationals from a bordering country can apply for a special certificate, called a "Certificate of Precarious Residence" which will allow these nationals to reside, work, study, and re-enter Argentina while the long-term work and residence permits are awaiting approval. These are specialized applications that will require the review of this firm's Argentine immigration advisor.
For those nationals coming from non-bordering countries, these nationals CANNOT regularize status in Argentina from a Visitor to a Work status. While the application to obtain work status can be made directly with the DNM, non-bordering foreign nationals are not allowed to work in Argentina. Non-border nationals can physically remain in Argentina as a visitor while the work permit application is pending approval; however, once the work permit application is approved, the employee and family members must return to their country of legal residence to apply for the work and residence visa.
Types of Work Visas
The major types of Argentine employment visa categories are as follows:
A) Article 29 (e) Visa – Valid for providing short-term, temporary work duties (or technical duties) while in Argentina. This visa is valid for an initial period of 15 days and can be issued by either an Argentine consular post or by Migrations in Argentina. This visa can be renewed for an additional 15 days with the migration authorities in Argentina. This visa requires prior approval of the migrations authorities and is generally required for visa nationals of non-bordering countries if in Argentina for short visits while the migrations authorities process a long-term work permit application.
B) Article 23 (A) Visa ("Labour Contract - Temporary Residence" Visa) – This visa is designed for those employees who are contracted by corporations settled in Argentina for at least a 6 – 12 month period AND will be assigned to the Argentine payroll as a "localized" employee. If the employee is to be paid from the Argentine payroll. A formal Labour Contract must be executed between the employee and the Argentine sponsor. This visa requires prior approval from the migrations authorities prior to applying for this visa at an Argentine consular post.
C) Article 23 (E) Visa ("Secondment -Temporary Residence" Visa) under Provision 18/94 – This visa is designed for those employees who are transferred to Argentina by a subsidiary corporation or from the same corporation group, for at least a 6 – 12 month period. This is the typical type of transfer for most assignments to Argentina. This visa does not require a Labour Contract but prior approval from the migrations authorities prior to applying for this visa at an Argentine consular post.
Volunteer in Patagonia with the most underprivileged group in need of public assistance, particularly in the area of healthcare. Volunteering in Patagonia will expose you to the unfortunate extremes of wealth in Argentina. Your assitance in a hospital or in a medical clinic, will be an eye opening but rewarding experience. These public health and medical volunteering positions in Patagonia are very hands-on, and your assitance is truly needed and appreciated.
Volunteer Project Requirements
Minimum commitment of 1 month
Advanced level of Spanish
Have international insurance coverage
Submit your resume and a letter of intent in Spanish
Start Dates and Schedule
The start and end date of your volunteer project is flexible and can be arranged upon your needs. The volunteer project schedule depends upon each placement but it is generaly 3 or 4 days per week or 10-15 hours/week. *Volunteer placements from December to March may be limited due to the Argentina summer vacation break, particularly education related volunteer projects. If you wish to volunteer in Argentina during these months, please apply as early as possible for our volunteer programs.
The town of Río Ceballos in the province of Córdoba has cut water supply today as it is facing one of the worst droughts in the history of Argentina's central region.
The interruption of the service is part of a policy to palliate water shortages in mountain areas of the province. Cuts in water supply in the towns of Unquillo and Mendiolaza is scheduled for tomorrow.
Authorities of municipal and provincial government will meet on Monday to coordinate actions in the view of the worsening situation. The Under-Secretariat of Water Resources of the province is expected to fine large users who fail to reduce consumption after the government ordered that water should only be used for drinking and cleansing, and forbade the use of water for plants.
"We aim at prevent the inappropriate use of water," said Jorge Saravia, head of the Public Services Regulating Agency ERESEP after a meeting with officials of the Under-Secretariat of Water Resoutces and Aguas Cordobesas yesterday.
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Argentina, officially the ArgentineRepublic, is the second largest country in South America, constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires. It is the eighth largest country in the world by land area and the largest among Spanish-speaking nations, though Mexico, Colombia and Spain are more populous.
Argentina's continental area is between the Andes mountain range in the west and the Atlantic Ocean in the east. It borders Paraguay and Bolivia to the north, Brazil and Uruguay to the northeast, and Chile to the west and south. Argentina claims the British overseas territories of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. It also claims a part of Antarctica, overlapping claims made by Chile and the United Kingdom, though all claims were suspended by the Antarctic Treaty of 1961.
Argentina has the second-highest Human Development Index and GDP per capita in purchasing power parity in Latin America. Argentina is one of the G-20 major economies, with the world's 30th largest nominal GDP, and the 23rd largest when purchasing power is taken into account. The country is classified as upper-middle income or a secondary emerging market by the World Bank.
Volunteer Argentina is an online resource for people who are interested in volunteering with non-profit organizations or an NGO (ONG) in Argentina. These pages are chock full of resources, links, videos, photos, news, and everything else you might need to make a good decision about where to volunteer in Argentina, and how to make the most of your volunteer experience.
We will also post information on the various methods to Learn Spanish in Argentina, including online resources like dictionaries, translation services, and study aides. You will also find information on Rosetta Stone as well as General Linguistics "Bueno, entonces..." Spanish learning programs, among others. We will try to provide good product reviews and comparisons.
We will try to post every day or two, so check back often for more information. Leave comments or contact us if there is anything in particular you want us to cover. Gracias!
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