A volunteer or a tourist is allowed to stay for 90 days in Argentina. All volunteers and tourists who want to stay in Argentina for more than three months do the same trip as I did last weekend. They visit another country for more than 24 hours and then you are allowed to stay another 90 days in Argentina. So all the people make a trip to a small city called Colonia del Sacramento which is on the coast of Uruguay and very close to Buenos Aires. You can go from Buenos Aires with a one-hour ferry to Colonia. Another reason for the trip was that my friend wanted to see Uruguay and to be able to make a comparison with Argentina. At the beginning we had some problems because we wanted to buy the ferry tickets in the ferry shops in the Avenida Cordoba but as a foreigner you are not allowed to buy a ticket in a shop with cash. You have to buy the tickets with your credit card or online. It was surprising and we got the impression that Argentina does not want you to travel. Nevertheless we bought the tickets in the shop and we decided to go to Colonia with the Colonia Express ferry and to stay there for one night. Afterwards we wanted to go with the bus to Montevideo for another three days. We were definitely surprised as we saw the building of Colonia Express because it was in comparison to the other places in Buenos Aires very clean and well organized. We had no problem with any custom stuff and the ferry left in time what surprised us even more. After one hour we reached Colonia. This city is so small, there are not many shops or things to do. We rented a small golf cab for six hours to get around more easily. The traffic in Colonia is really relaxed that´s why we dared to rent a car. In the whole city there is not one single streetlight and they are really not necessary. You can see lots of tourists from Argentina who drive around in golf carts. There is just one thing we really “visited” there and that was the lighthouse.
The day after we went with the bus to Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. The bus rides are always nice because you can admire the landscape and you get a first impression of the country. We were really excited about going to Montevideo because we heard so many different things about this city. After all that we saw there, Montevideo was a big surprise: the streets were clean, the traffic was organized and quiet and the buildings were not that run-down as in Buenos Aires. We were amazed. The differences between Uruguay and Argentina are clear if you have a look at the people. The people in Montevideo or rather in whole Uruguay are very relaxed, never in a rush and the Mate tea is even more important for them than for the people in Argentina. I thought that this was not possible but they carry their thermos and cups, for the tea, around all day. It does not matter where they are, in the city or on the beach, the tea is everywhere. Some tourist, who I met in Buenos Aires, told me that Montevideo is named to be the safest city in South America and I agree. In 4 days we saw only two homeless people and we felt pretty safe whatever we did.
One of the disadvantages of a quiet city is that there were just a few shops opened on Saturday, Sunday and even on Monday morning. The most shops opened on Monday at 1 or 2 o´clock. Therefore it was not easy to buy some water or something to eat. Furthermore, in some parts of the city it was impossible to get a cab. These facts make a stay for the weekend really hard and you have to plan out every day very well. Even the museums are closed on the weekends. Montevideo should do more for its tourists and should expand its touristic structures. As a result of these few possibilities my friend and I decided to go shopping because the Shopping Center is opened every day. Afterwards we took a long walk on the beach which is very beautiful. There were some people who took a swim in the water, ran on the promenade or rode their skateboards. Of course, my friend and I had to try the national dish “Chivito” which was for us almost like a Hamburger from US-America but more healthy. We really liked it. The worst was the weather in Uruguay. My friend and I wanted to spend one day in Punta del Este but unfortunately there was no sun, many clouds and a lot of wind. Therefore we went back to Montevideo earlier than we wanted to because I was too cold. Across the board it was a great trip to a great country which a lot of people should visit. It is a trip for people who want to relax a little bit and to spend some days on the beautiful beaches there. Thanks to my roommate Dee with whom I always have a great time and for discovering the country with me.
In order to honor Armin's memory, co-founder of Voluntario Global, and with the help of its most loyal volunteers, we created a fundraising campaign to enable young argentinians from our projects to volunteer abroad. As one of Armin's dreams was for all young people to have the chance to travel, see the world and have an opportunity to broaden their minds. The campaign has so far collected $7.524. This gives five youngsters the opportunity to travel abroad, thanks to the many volunteers that have donated for the cause. The completed forms will be thoroughly selected by our board of former volunteers and members of the community in Argentina. The Participants Paola Nina is part of Uniendo Caminos. She lives in Villa 21, a humble area in Barracas neighborhood. Her goal is to visit Mexico and participate in a health project to enrich her medical career. She wants to proves herself that she can be an efficient volunteer even in a different culture and benefit future people in her community by sharing her experience. Ximena Suárez and Nicolás Molinaare the cutest couple at “By your side” school of English in Pablo Nogues. They were students and now they become teachers. Their goal is to experience the language they had been practicing for so long in a native country, that's why they have chosen a rural school in Portsmouth, UK, to volunteer on what they know best: teach. At their return they hope to bring back some English culture to their community. 
Samantha Zurita is part of the kindergarten “Los Pinitos” in Jose Leon Suarez. She wants to go to London to learn more about responsible tourism at the local organization “Friends of the Earth”. By working on an environmental project she hopes to help kids at Suarez. Juanito Omar Hurtado is the youngest volunteer constructor at Chacras eco building project. He wants to continue learning on how to improve his construction skills. That's why he wants to participate in an eco- building workshop in Metelpec, Mexico, so he can exchange knowledge and then share it with the local communities of Villa Elisa, in Buenos Aires, and Centennial, in Neuquen, when he returns. 
Mabel Mamaniis part of the VG Young People Group. She studies to become a social worker and lives in Soldati neighborhood. She wants to be a volunteer in a rural school at El Zapotal in Xalapa, Mexico. She is convinced that being a social work student will let her not only enjoy her experience volunteering, but also gain valuable skills for her future career practice. 
Christian Oropeza Basualdo is also part of the VG Young People Group. He studies architecture and lives at Flores neighborhood. His goal is to expand a sustainable development and bio-architecture project at Tenjo, province of Cundinamarca, Colombia. He is interested in learn techniques from the locals and bring his knowledge back to his own community. To make it possible for all this young and inspiring people to volunteer abroad, please help Voluntario Global by donating as little or as much as you can is receiving at
The 23rd of January of this year may have felt like any other day for you. And it probably was like any other day, if it was not for it's special name tag - World Freedom Day. Being originally celebrated in Taiwan and South Korea as a memorial day, marking the return of some 22,000 ex-communist war prisoners of the Korean War in the 1950s to Taiwan, people all around the world still remember the 23rd of January as the starting point for the establishment of a World League for Freedom and Democracy that back in the days had the intention to fight the expansion of communism worldwide. No matter how connected we personally feel to this historic event and the circumstances at that time, we all have the chance to pay tribute to this day and take the opportunity to hold in for a minute and reflect on what freedom means to us and the people around us.
The reality is that freedom is an ambiguous word that continues to be contested. It is not unlikely that the question of what freedom really means, will leave us with more questions than answers - like any other important question in life. However, considering the fact that still only few people regard themselves to be truly free, we should pick up the debate on freedom over and over again. Freedom as it is generally perceived in today's society tends to have a political and economic connotation. People may consider themselves as free when living in a jurisdiction that is not underlying any military or economic occupation. Moreover, criteria such as personal safety and absolute freedom of speech express true political freedom. However, the existence of these expressions of freedom is highly challenged around the globe by suppressing states and governments. In financial terms, the general opinion in today's widespread capitalism is that money equals freedom. From a capitalist point of view, only those who have access to rich financial resources can enjoy what freedom really means. All others depend on selling their labor power in order to grant them access to a restricted amount of opportunities. However, how much of all these superfluous goods and services that surround us should we actually desire to possess? Isn't most of what we desire just covering up some kind of emptiness in our lives instead of filling it with experience that seems to be so much more rewarding for our true happiness and well-being?
Beyond all the political, economic and social influences that tend to narrow our perception of freedom, it is our mind that determines if we actually feel free and how much we desire a certain state of freedom. Not each and every one on this planet may have the privilege to enjoy a system that allows them to act freely – the voice of people is still getting suppressed by political systems worldwide; governments still take economic decisions at the expense of vast majorities of the population; people remain in poverty without any promise for change - however, each and every one of us has the potential to act for freedom, for ourselves and for others. Any of these acts for freedom will be motivated from within ourselves and ultimately rely on our state of mind and how we decide to feed it. By unplugging from controversial messages we consume and the social conventions that limit our actions, we will be able to focus on what truly matters to us and constructively direct all our power and energy in a direction that we consider to be right.
This may all sound very extreme but in fact it is not. Like most things we would consider good, freedom would not come as an extremity but as something moderate. Freedom will not only give us the choice but ultimately also the right to do what we believe is right, even sometimes at the expense of our own wants. Combining our privileges of some degree of economic, political and financial freedom with our freedom of mind, we have the power to help the less privileged people to follow their desire for freedom that exists in their minds and achieve more freedom in any perspective. Freedom is manifold and there are a hundred ways to go and promote more freedom worldwide. It starts with giving hope and creating perspectives for others that desire the kind of freedom we may already have. Freedom should not be a desire, it should be reality!
When I came to Argentina to volunteer, they asked me how I think I would deal with the 'culture shock'. At first I didn't really understand that concept, and the term 'Culture Shock" sounded a bit scary to me, like some kind of disease. Now I understand it a bit better. There really are some cultural differences between Argentina and Europe (where I come from). However I actually didn't find them 'shocking', but rather found them liberating and mind-opening. Its good to see that things can be done diffently. On the other hand I also met volunteers who had some problems with the differences when they came here. I think taking an open perspective, coming with an intention of learning new things and the will to adapt to different circumstances (instead of trying to make things work as you are used to at home) helps a lot in making the best of volunteering. In this article I want to focus on two culture-shock-aspects: uncertainty (changing circumstances) and a different rhythm of working.
One of the things I learned while volunteering in Argentina is being flexible, to "go with the flow", instead of sticking to stone-hard expectations. Things aren't as structured as in Europe, each day might bear a surprise. For some volunteers this is irritating in the beginning, but when you just take it as it comes, this uncertainty is actually a great aspect of volunteering. In fact, when you decide to leave home sweet home and travel to a country far away, a bit of uncertainty is what you want, right?
Last (european) summer I contacted Voluntario Global for volunteering in a NGO for sustainable development. My plan was to work 2 month in an organic garden and 2 month in their Communications Department, but things turned out different. When I met up for the first time with the Boss of the Grassroots-NGO, Chacras, she told me that the Organic Garden in the psychiatric hospital didn't exist anymore, instead they set up a new garden in the outskirts of the city. The NGO did not really have work for me in the communications department (and also my spanish would have been too poor for that task...). Instead I learned that they have a lot more projects, which are in ecological construction and help in a cultural center in the psychatric hospital. I was excited about the eco-construction project instantly. I was also excited about the work in the cultural center, but this excitement was mixed with a bit of nervousness, since I never worked with psychiatric patients ever before but I decided to give it a try, "Vamos a ver!" ("Lets see!").
The eco-construction turned out great, the argentinian co-workers were amazingly friendly and, as the site is located a bit outside of the city, going there 2 days a week was a perfect holiday from noisy Buenos Aires. The work in the cultural center of the psychatric hospital (Hospital Jose T. Borda) turned out even greater, the first time I entered the place I was overwhelmed by the warmhearted welcome the "locos" ('crazy') gave me. Now after three month going there feels like visiting friends (and not like 'work' at all). Also the Center itself is amazing, its filled with great art by patients and international artists. Every 4 weeks they hold a festival with theatre, music and movies. So in the end, giving the new volunteering-opportunities a try, instead of rejecting them, and beeing disappointed about not beeing able to do the exact work I signed up for, was the best choice. I recommend to not come with too fixed expectations, instead try the opportunities that come along!
Another thing you will experience working as a volunteer, which may be irritating at first is a lot of waiting. I met some volunteers who really could not deal with that and got quite nervous. They kept asking; when can we work, what can we do? Instead of recognising the value of the waiting time; the chance to socialise, drink Mate and relax. Of course you don´t want to sit around all day (and you wont!), but as a volunteer you have to learn to take it easy sometimes! "Tranquilo!" ("Slowly") Conversation is a essential part of working here. In 'western' countries we make a rather strict division between work and leisure. We rush to get things done, take a quick lunch break, maybe take 10 minutes more to have a coffee and a cigarette and then rush back to work. Hurry, hurry, hurry! Volunteer-work here is different! Work is supposed to be a social event. When you have lunch you take your time, after lunch you drink Mate with your fellows, talk, tell jokes, drink more Mate. A break usually doesn't take less then one hour. That doesn't mean people are lazy, things get done, they just might take a little bit longer and if you have a good time while working, who cares if it takes a bit longer? Once you understand that (or maybe you already did and came here for that reason) you may find that working that way is a lot more healthy than the 'work-as-hard-as-you-can' way we follow so often in Europe and the US. Moreover this gives you the best opportunity to practice your spanish and learn about the argentinian culture, so you don't have to think of it as 'lost time'.
So the 'Culture Shock' is what you make of it! Just be ready to let go of some old habits and learn new ones and you will find the argentinian culture very enjoyable!
I always dreamed about living at the beach, but was surprised when I arrived in Buenos Aires and there was no such beach there or anything close. The water is too contaminated to take a swim so its not possible to cool oneself and there are just a few small waterparks in the North of Buenos Aires. A few days before Christmas it was simply too hot to do anything outside so my roommates and I were looking for a new way to escape the heat and their was a chance with Mar del Plata, a small city in the south of Argentina with 600,000 residents. A city that is known as a place for holiday makers. So, for us, there was no doubt not to go there and we booked our bus tickets immediately. There are several bus companies that sell those tickets to Mar del Plata so you are not pressed for a certain time. We decided ourselves what was the best time because we did not know any of those bus companies. After that we all read our travel guides to get more information about the city and its' neighborhoods so that we knew where is the best place to stay. We found a great hotel, just two blocks away from the beach (Arcos Hotel). We were so looking forward to escaping the heat, traffic and noise of Buenos Aires. We were counting the days from until we went. The day finally came and we went to the Retiro bus station to look for our gate because you don´t have a fixed gate where your bus leaves. You need to listen to announcements, which are hardly understandable for foreigners, very carefully. Our bus was one hour late and we were so glad when we saw the bus with the name of the company (Flecha Bus) and Mar del Plata on it. The bus system in Argentina is really great. You can go to every different part of the country by different bus. The buses are really comfortable. You have bigger seats and a lot a of space for your feet. If you get your tickets very early, you can choose your seat and you should select one that is on the top at the front. After checking in we realized that from time to time it was getting colder. That’s another thing you should be aware of. It depends on the bus driver can regulate the air conditioning. For us it was way to cold and we were freezing all the way down to Mar del Plata.
As we reached Mar del Plata we were overcome by the heat there. Another surprise was waiting for us because we were not allowed to take a cab on our own. We had to wait until a man, who worked for the bus station, came to us and allocated us a cab. The hotel we chose was close to the beach, included breakfast and an English speaking receptionist which is really rare to find in Argentina. Our first aim was to find a place where you can buy food. It was so easy to find a good, cheap All-you-can-eat restaurant there and we were really satisfied afterwards. Then we went directly to the main beach just like thousands of other Argentinean people. There is no way to find a place where you can be on your own. We knew that, but we still surprised how many Argentinean people meet in one place. I was definitely surprised that the beach was that crowded but it seemed to me that nobody else did. The main beach was close to all the hotels and hostels and you could see the small beach “houses”. My roommates and I had never seen anything like this.
These houses stood in one row and they were neither beautiful nor cheap. They were not that crowded because most of the Argentineans brought their own umbrella, we didn´t and hoped to get some shade under a tree but there was not one single tree on the beach. That´s the reason you should bring good sun block and a hat, otherwise you will get burned like we did. One day we decided to buy an umbrella with three seats for 180 Pesos. However that was just the off-season price and the prices can climb to 250 Pesos in January and 350 Pesos in February. So you should bring your own umbrella with you. One of the best experiences of this trip was the ice-cream in Mar del Plata. There were many different ice-cream shops which were hugely different to all the place I have ever seen in Germany. On the one hand there were many different flavors which I had never heard of and on the other hand you could get huge portions of it. We ate one kilogram of ice-cream one day and we really enjoyed it. You could find at least one ice-cream shop in every street where you could buy one kilogram of ice-cream for 5 Euro. In the end I would say that this trip was one of the best experiences I have had in Argentina and I would like to thank my roommates, Dee and Tom, for sharing these great experiences with me and for an unforgettable trip to Mar del Plata.
Everyone probably did it at least once in their life or helped a good friend or family member doing it. It's usually a big step for everyone involved and may include lots of sweat and emotions. We, the team of Voluntario Global, did it as well: We moved into a new home in a historic place just a five minute walk from the volunteers' house in the center of Buenos Aires. Do you still remember moving into a new room in your parents' house when you were young? Or do you recall moving out of your parents' house and standing on your own feet for the first time? Think of the excitement of calling a new space your own. Remember the visions you had for your new kingdom - a place where you imagined your dreams to get wings and start flying. You built your own center of creativity, a place that was formed by your personality while significantly forming your personality at the same time. You grew with this place. You felt the growing power and influence you got, but also the increasing responsibilities that were awaiting you. For us – Voluntario Global – it’s just like that. Moving into a new office is like moving into a new home. It's a new chapter in the life of a person or in our case the team of Voluntario Global. A new home allows for new creativity and will bring new opportunities for us to advance in the work we do day by day. It was my first day of volunteering for Voluntario Global, when I first entered the building on Avenida Rivadavia - a building that looks like it has survived many storms and could tell many historic tales about Buenos Aires, just like a wise Granny sitting in the same chair as years before and telling all the stories of her life.
And yet, another storm was about to come up. The sky above Buenos Aires drakened that Tuesday afternoon. Thunder, follwed by lightning. Rain shattered on the transparent tiles of the roof that bring light all the way down to the first level of the building. A small sign welcomed me on the right side of the hallway. "Se ruega no escupir en el suelo" which means as much as “Please do not spit on the ground”. - This sign, still being original from when this building was first in use as a school for the Carmelites nuns in the beginning of the 20th century, takes you back in time a hundred years.
Entering the office, I could feel the thunder unfolding its power outside. Noticeable winds circulated through the building. The windows panes in the office opened and closed by itself. A little later the sky opened up again, marking some kind of new beginning. Just then our first meeting was about to start.
At Marketing and Communications, we know our duties well and are always on top of our work. This Tuesday afternoon, however, we logged out from all our social media channels for an hour and discovered some hidden talents. In the manner of an productive team building session for our newly formed team, we bundled the forces of our four heads, mastered the challenges of a lack of instructions and built up a nice and big meeting table. This table will be the center of our future creativity and will hopefully serve the team for many exciting years of creative work for Voluntario Global. Soon after, the first working plan was hung up as a wall decoration, bringing the first bits of colour to the walls of the office. These first steps into our new space will allow for new perspectives and build the foundations of everything that is about to come. Being an addition to the Voluntario Global family, our new office traditionally deserves a name. Reflecting its purpose of primarily being a place for social interaction and exchange between the team member, we are happy to announce that Voluntario Global now has a “Social Headquater” in Avenida Rivadavia, Buenos Aires.
“Armin´s Dream fundraising” is a campaign made to honor the memory of Armin, co-founder of Voluntario Global, who was killed the past 4th of March. He was convinced that the opportunity to travel and learn from other experiences and exchange was an essential way of training, motivation and creation of bonds among those seeking a more equal and fairer world. This is an essencial idea of VG until today. Armin died at the age of only 29 with a big dream remaining unfulfilled: he had always wanted to travel and experience cultural exchange himself.
Therefore, this fundraising campaign is looking to enable young people from the shantytowns in Argentina to volunteer abroad. It´s the desire of the people who knew him that others have the chance to travel, see the world and have an opportunity to broaden their minds.
Today Armin´s Dream campaign has collected $7524, giving five youngsters the opportunity to see the world, thanks the many ex volunteers that have donated for the cause. Participants will be thoroughly selected by our board of former volunteers and members of the community in Argentina.
In order to encourage participation, Voluntario Global team decided to call to action by giving those who presents their forms before the 30th of December the chance to be one of the first two selected travelers. Thanks to this move, young people from various areas and with different interests have reached Voluntario Global with questions, suggestions and wishs in order to complete their forms.
For example Ximena and Nicolas, whom had been student in an English school and now they have become teachers, decided to experience the language they had been practicing for so long in a native country. But this kids won´t be just traveling as tourists because they want to experience culture through an exchange in a rural high school. “We had been doing so much learning and teaching over the past years that this opportunity motivate us to mix our knowledge with the knowledge from another culture”
Samantha is another participant in Armin´s Dream campaign. She presented two optional destinations in witch learn more about environmental care and conservation. Samantha is an assistant at a kindergarten and is studying tourism. This way she will be able to learn how sustainable development can be combining with tourism experience. “I would like to work as a volunteer in a local organization abroad where I can learn how to assist in the care of the environment and then in the future use it in my dairy community activities ”
To keep making all these dreams come true donate at:
Many people who have been left outside the labor market are now creating their own way of business recovery. Some of these initiatives emerge from social organizations that pro-vide training, resources and motivation to grow. The Role of Networks and the Contribution of the State The first step is always the hardest. Therefore, the initial push is extremely valuable. As far as business ventures go, the civil society organizations are often `the push` engines. It is them who —due to proximity, presence, principles and knowledge—provide training to small entrepreneurs, help securing sources for funding and develop a method of operation so the wheel keeps on turning. Of course, while these proposals kick-start the process, the big challenge is to keep the ma-chinery going over time. At that point, the link with other stakeholders becomes the key. Especially with the State, who through social programs, subsidies and credits, can provide sustainability to such initiatives. "In most marginalized sectors, from which they have removed the possibility of accessing technical training, the presence of NGOs and the State facilitates retrieval of knowledge and experiences that enable the development of more complex forms of association. Probably, in many cases, the experience of these entrepreneurs spreads to family operated workshops and various forms of solidarity", says Patrick Griffin, president of the National Institute of Social Economy (INAES, in spanish).
Necessary Ties As its name implies, the organization Voluntario Global works to develop volunteer pro-grams that seek to promote social awareness and generate opportunities for integration, often through education. "We were pushing kids to finish highschool, to continue studying, but how are they supposed to do that? It is impossible for them to get a part-time job and attend University of Buenos Aires at the same time", says Valeria Gracia, co-founder of the organization. That crossroads, however, was the starting point for a cooperative called Su Lavandería, a run by young people from low-income sectors of southern Buenos Aires. This cooperative has been running for four years and was made possible by a collaborative network. Voluntario Global develops works in the sustainable tourism sector and is connect-ed to the Cámara Argentina de Hostels, which raised the need for a reliable laundry service that would allow them to take their sheets, towels and more. A hotel owner contacted a laundry machine business that sold them the first equipments at a good price. Meanwhile an international volunteer program from Spain and England began the search for grants, and they obtained the YPF Foundation for young entrepreneurs, which allowed for the laundry to open in 2008. The State became an important link in this process, through its Ministry of Labor Productive Program, which financed the purchase of three additional machines allow-ing more job positions. Today there are seven washing machines working and nine young individuals employed. "The laundry room could function with four people and be more efficient, but the goal is to generate as many cooperative job positions as possible," affirms the coordinator and em-phasizes that "the goal is not for these individuals to always work there "but for this to be "a passing cooperative" where they are able to study and at the same time experience "anoth-er type of work". So while they generate income in Su Lavandería, David is preparing to be a physical education teacher, Ariel is about to be a be a graduate in Odontology and Anabella is finishing highschool. "I am impressed at how this has grown. When I first arrived there were two washing machines and now there’s no space for anything; this is very good.
There’s a new ironing board... it is good that we continue with this", she gets excited before the cameras that record the fourth anniversary of the cooperative. Without the contribution of these social organizations and the State, Su Lavandería would not be have been possible In addition, the young people who are now leading this initiative would have surely had to abandon or postpone their studies. As long as the wheel keeps turning, these boys and girls will complete their studies and begin to look for jobs related to their interests and others will have a chance to resolve their studies by working in ´Su La-vandería´ project. Equitable Sharing The way in which the members of each organization are economically organized is key to ensuring their continuity and smooth operation. Following this aspect, Alameda Foundation put the focus on working with the Qom community in Formosa. "We, along with the CGT’s Human Rights Secretariat, have an obligation to monitor this as we are responsible for the machines (seized in sweatshops). In that context, we proposed an equitable distribution of income and if that does not happen, the contract for the loan terminates ”, declares Tamara Rosenberg, member of the organization. Thus, the mere existence of the project was subject to the equitable distribution of profits. The same premise applies for Añatuya, in Santiago del Estero, among the weavers of the Haciendo Caminos Foundation. "We have fairs once a month where we introduce and sell our work, and the money is distributed among the students of the workshop" confirms Etel Carrion, the coordinator. This is about —she affirms— “dignifying women”. Original spanish version Muchas personas que habían quedado al margen del mercado laboral encontraron en el aprendizaje de un oficio y la creación de un emprendimiento propio el camino a su reinclusión. Algunas de esas iniciativas, surgen al amparo de las organizaciones sociales que aportan capacitación, recursos y el impulso necesario para crecer.
El rol de las redes y el aporte del Estado. Textos: LUCIANA ROSENDE El primer paso siempre es el más difícil. Por eso, el empuje inicial tiene tanto valor. Si de emprendimientos se trata, las Organizaciones de la Sociedad Civil constituyen muchas veces los motores de ese impulso. Es que sonellas las que –por cercanía, presencia, convicción y conocimiento– aportan a pequeños emprendedores la capacitación, ayudan a procurar fuentes de financiamiento y desarrollan el modus operandi para que la rueda empiece a girar. Claro que, si bien estas propuestas permiten poner en marcha los engranajes, el gran desafío es que, con el paso del tiempo, la maquinaria siga funcionando. Allí, entonces, se vuelve clave el vínculo con otros actores sociales, sobre todo con el Estado que, a través de programas sociales, subsidios y créditos, puede aportar sustentabilidad a este tipo de iniciativas. “En los sectores más marginales, a los cuales se les quitó la posibilidad de acceso a la formación técnica, la presencia de ONG y del Estado facilita la recuperación de saberes y experiencias que permiten el desarrollo en formas asociativas de mayor complejidad. Probablemente, en muchos casos la experiencia de estos emprendedores se va extendiendo a talleres familiares y a diversas formas de asociativismo”, destaca Patricio Griffin, presidente del Instituto Nacional de Economía Social (Inaes). Lazos necesarios Como su nombre lo indica, la organización Voluntario Global trabaja en el desarrollo de programas de voluntariado que buscan promover la conciencia social y generar oportunidades de integración, muchas veces mediante la educación. “Estábamos impulsando a chicos para que terminaran el secundario, para que siguieran estudiando, pero, ¿cómo iban a hacer? Si para ellos es imposible conseguir un trabajo de medio tiempo y llegar a la Universidad de Buenos Aires”, relata Valeria Gracia, coordinadora de la entidad. Esa encrucijada, sin embargo, fue el punto de partida para la cooperativa de trabajo Su Lavandería, puesta en marcha y atendida por jóvenes de sectores de bajos recursos económicos del sur porteño. La iniciativa, que ya cumplió cuatro años, fue posible gracias a una red de colaboraciones. Voluntario Global desarrolla tareas de turismo sustentable y está vinculada a la Cámara de Hostels, que planteó la necesidad de contar con una lavandería de confianza para llevar sus sábanas, toallas y demás. Un hotelero hizo el contacto conuna empresa de máquinas lavadoras, que vendió a buen precio los primeros equipos. En tanto, un voluntariado internacional de España e Inglaterra se puso en campaña para la búsqueda de subsidios, y una beca de 8 la Fundación YPF para jóvenes emprendedores permitió que, en el 2008, la lavandería comenzara a funcionar. Los eslabones de esta cadena incluyen al Estado, que, a través del Programa de Entramados Productivos del Ministerio de Trabajo de la Nación, financió la compra de tres máquinas más y permitió generar nuevos puestos de trabajo. Hoy, hay siete lavadoras encendidas y nueve jóvenes trabajando. “La lavandería podría trabajar con cuatro personas y ser más eficiente, pero el objetivo es generar la mayor cantidad de puestos cooperativos”, aclara la coordinadora y enfatiza que “el objetivo no es que los chicos se queden”, sino que sea una “cooperativa de paso” en la que puedan estudiar y, al mismo tiempo, experimentar “otra manera de trabajar”. Por eso, mientras obtienen un ingreso en Su Lavandería, David se prepara para ser profesor de Educación Física; Ariel está a punto de recibirse de odontólogo y Anabella está terminando el secundario a través del Plan FinEs. “Me impresiona cómo creció. Cuando vine había dos máquinas y ahora no hay espacio para nada; está rebueno. Hay una plancha nueva… está bueno que sigamos adelante”, se emociona ella ante las cámaras que registran el cuarto cumpleaños de la cooperativa. Sin el aporte de las OSC y del Estado, Su Lavandería no sería posible. A su vez, sin la opción de este tipo de emprendimiento, los jóvenes que hoy protagonizan esta iniciativa seguramente ya habrían tenido que abandonar o postergar sus estudios. Si la rueda sigue girando, cuando estos chicos y chicas concluyan sus carreras y ya estén buscando empleos acordes con sus intereses, otros tendrán la chance de solventar sus estudios haciendo pie en Su Lavandería, la de todos. Reparto equitativo El modo en que se organizan económicamente los miembros de cada emprendimiento es clave para garantizar su continuidad y buen funcionamiento. Por eso, en ese aspecto puso el foco la Fundación Alameda al trabajar junto a la comunidad qom, en Formosa. “Nosotros, junto con la Secretaría de Derechos Humanos de la CGT tenemos la obligación de monitorear porque somos responsables de las máquinas (incautadas en talleres clandestinos). En ese marco, planteamos un reparto equitativo de los ingresos; si eso no pasa, se da por terminado el comodato”, advierte Tamara Rosenberg, miembro de la organización. De este modo, la existencia misma del proyecto quedó supeditada a la distribución igualitaria de las ganancias. La misma premisa rige en Añatuya, Santiago del Estero, entre las tejedoras de telar de la fundación Haciendo Camino. “Hacemos ferias una vez al mes donde se vende y se expone, y ese dinero se reparte entre las alumnas del taller”, afirma Etel Carrión, la coordinadora. Se trata –afirma– de “dignificar a la mujer". Para leer la nota completa que salió en el la edición impresa podés suscribirte a la revista aquí
My story as part of 30 years democracy party
I was one of the thousands that gathered at Plaza de Mayo this past Tuesday celebrating Argentina´s 30th anniversary of return of democratic rule. I did not know what to expect, only knew that this was a ´not to be missed´ event in Buenos Aires. After a quick stop to my house, Albi, a German volunteer, our Argentinian friend Marcela and I were on our way to Plaza de Mayo. We walked dowon Avenida de Mayo, which temporarily turned into a pedestrian street for this event, welcomed by chorizos, burgers, flying toys, vendors with 20-peso beer accompanied by festivities coming from the Casa Rosada. 
The Casa Rosada or "Government House" is the executive mansion and office of the President of Argentina, which has been declared a National Historic Monument of Argentina. We slowly made our way towards the house, but first, an important stop. Quilmes! You cannot celebrate 30 Years of Democracy without the national beer `Quilmes`. We arrived on the outskirts of the Plaza and all three of us stopped simultaneously in ahhh.. All around us were groups of thousands of people marching with flags, people chatting, drinking beer, eating street food and children of all sizes running around. The typically calm, cobbled street of Plaza de Mayo was rendered unrecognizable. It was moving, playing and jumping and had come alive. I sensed the freedom of this commemorating event as we heard marching chants in the distance, people staring intently at screens with an occasional hand in the air saluting. We kept moving on until we reached a comfy spot near a fountain. The event had various artists playing non-stop throughout the night from Leon Giego to La Renga. As we were satisfying our thirst with Quilmes and taking in engulfed stage of colors and lights, I was very happy that I had the opportunity to be there to celebrate with the Porteños. 
The celebration continued, as the artist Varela came on playing an accordion with a partnered violinist. The three of us were happily perched near the fountain watching a video of the democratic history of Buenos Aires with occasional chatter and looks reflecting our amazment of this celebration. Shortly after, a song I didn't recognize came on, but somehow I knew it was significant as heightened smiles and an energy of pride swooped through the square. It was Argentina's National Anthem with a twist of drums, accompanied by dancers on the ever so large constructed stage. At that moment, the crowd began singing, dancing and we began to swing side to side and move with the crowd. The patriotism and a long road to democracy was transformed in the energy that we all felt at that moment and I felt it through them. I was one of the thousands that had a chance to be there and this made me feel so grateful to share that moment, that evening, to always remember Argentina's 30 Year Democracy celebration. The song that had the plaza come alive with incredible energy was over as the crowd continued to ride the wave of happiness. The best way to finish the celebration was of course, fireworks. There was an amazing spectacle of fireworks surrounding us in the front and to the right and left of the plaza. We were so close we could feel the thunderous booms and smell the smoke and sulfar in the air. It was abs olutely beautiful and it is and event I will never forget.
On November 30, Voluntario Global held its annual meeting of organizations to celebrate the end of the year with those who have supported us in building ties of commitment and work. During the meeting we shared experiences about various projects that have occurred throughout the year. This time we were accompanied by: Lorena, Liliana, Stella, Claudia and Monica from kindergarten projects, along with our continued volunteer, Bernadette. Mabel and Christian were there representing Christian youth group. Silvia from the English School, was accompanied by two former students who are now teachers and are enrolled in "Armin's Dream" scholarship. Rocío, shared her experience in a monthly discussion about education. Jasmine and Sofia, help tutor English at a community center in La Boca neighborhood. One of the main topics was the scholarship in honor of Armin, a founder of Voluntario Global. This campaign seeks to develop the training of future grantees, giving them the opportunity to participate in international conferences or a volunteer experience abroad with the aim of generating an impact on both their lives and in their communities. As of now, Voluntario Global team released a list of possible projects in Latin America. Another issue discussed was the creation of space for Voluntario Global internal communication in order to promote sharing and exchange between different projects. Thus, each coordinator, teacher or project assistant will have the opportunity to share the experience of their daily work strengthening the links that help them grow and stay strong. In 2013 with a total of 200 volunteers, Voluntario Global continues to create ties for growth and reflection dedicated to education, health and solidarity. This was mentioned by Mikkel Mondrup, a volunteer from Denmark, who said ¨I think it was good to see a different side of Argentina (and the world in general) that tourists do not normally see. At first it was a little difficult, but now having worked and played with the kids and seeing them happy made me feel great, especially, when I was able to familiarize myself with them¨. On the other side of this, Lucile Bernard from France, had a more professional experience at a responsible tourism travel agency, said: ¨I really liked having a professional experience and learned how to be a professional on the job¨. From all this, we hope to start this new year with those who accompanied Voluntario Global in recent years and those who continue to contribute to our network. We look forward to continuing sharing experiences and new ways with everyone. 
VOLUNTARIO GLOBAL
Voluntario Global helps local communities by being available to discuss anything that local organizations need, and offering ideas for further change and development.
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CONTACT
Location: General Pacheco. Buenos Aires. Argentina
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