Rikke Olsen, volunteer in a kindergarten: "I will never forget those hugs..."
Written by Jesica FrancoBy Federica Pisi
Name: Rikke Olsen
Nationality: Danish
Occupation: Student
Volunteering period: 8 weeks (7 weeks)
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
What made you want to apply to volunteer and in particular for the kindergarten? I wanted to have a holiday where I could dedicate my time to doing something for others, and to understand how everything works in jobs in Argentina. I choose the kindergarten because I have little knowledge of Spanish and I know the children of kindergarten have support from their families, and so I wouldn’t be too heart broken when I left.
How would you describe the project and your job and tasks? The project works like a normal kindergarten. The idea is to help the parents during the day, so they can go to work while their kids are being looked after. I had to help the teachers/señoras to do their daily tasks: giving food to the children, making sure that they share the toys they are given, cleaning up after a full day of playing and learning.
What are some of the best moments around the project and what have you learnt? Some of the best moments are definitely when the kids show you affection, when they run in to your arms and give you the biggest hug – I will never forget those hugs. But also when they just look at you and smile, even though you did not say anything to them, but you know that they are happy. I have learned many things about the Argentinian culture for sure! I learned how “easy” it is to make things happen, if you just believe it and have the courage to fulfil your dreams. Travesuras has grown so fast in the two years it went from having only one room, to having 4 rooms and a beautiful yard outside with toys for the children.
Do you have any suggestions or recommendations to look forward to for any volunteers that will be taking part in the same project? What matters is not how well organized or structured the projects are. You have to realize that volunteering in the kindergarten is very different from European life. You are there to help the teachers and have fun with the kids. Your time here is in my opinion, not enough to completely transform the lives of the children, but rather you can make a difference by simply being there and helping out. So go in to the project with the least expectations and you will be amazed! Travesuras is a lovely place for children, with a lovely group people :)
Andrew Furness, volunteer in communication: "I discovered a love for writing".
Written by Jesica FrancoBy Federica Pisi Name: Andrew Furness 
Nationality: Irish & British Occupation: Spanish and Politics student Volunteering period: 6 months Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. What made you want to apply to volunteer and in particular for the Communications and Marketing team? As a part of my university course, I have to spend one of 4 years in a Spanish speaking country. I knew this could be one of my last chances to spend time exploring and working without a pay so I had to do something outside the norm of a Erasmus or European placement. However, I think doing something professional like PR & Communications means I can also use my volunteering to learn about office and promotion work which I might need in the future. How would you describe the project and your job and tasks? The V.G. Communication team is very much an office job with a twist. My tasks varied from networking, local and international promotion, article writing and event management. 
What are some of the best moments around the project and what have you learnt? I think I’ve really discovered a love for writing, investigative or otherwise. My favourite part of the job was visiting the numerous projects we’re involved with, to see a typical day. It was great to see a part of Buenos Aires not many foreigners know about, see our work and then publish my thought about it in the VG website. Other highlights would be our office in San Telmo almost collapsing due to a half-storm, the office pet “Telmito” the cat and the various events (Christmas party and 6 years anniversary). As for what I’ve learnt… every organisation in the world needs a high level of admin and support; here I’ve worked with a lot of different people and I think enthusiasm can go a long way to help complete tasks and get the most out of any experience for both yourself and those you work for and with. 
Do you have any suggestions or recommendations to look forward to for any volunteers that will be taking part in the same project? My suggestions for preparing for the Communications team:
- Get familiar with social network sites and public writing or reporting
- Networking is really important for an NGO, so creating links with important local and international figures while also keeping people aware of our work and progress means there is more interest following the organisation.
- Understand the “point” of an internship
- While I’m here to travel and learn Spanish, the Communications team is full of tasks and administration, so be ready to analyse data and take information from a multitude of areas. - There are several blogs about the Communications team experience, so read these and check out adverts and web page to see the sort of attitude we’re aiming for. Thank you very much VG! 
Volunteers attend Río+20 Conference in 'Cancillería Argentina', Buenos Aires
Written by Jesica FrancoBy Andrew Furness and Federica Pisi Between the 20th-22nd June, Río de Janeiro will host a United Nations summit to discuss a green economy and world social development. The idea is to develop a “global model” and on the 11th June in Buenos Aires, members of the Red Social Argentina met to discuss how Argentina should present themselves and what should hope to be gained for South America from the meetings. This year’s official United Nations document explaining the summit tells us that the name comes from the fact that a similar world summit was held in Río in 1992 (20 years ago). The conference is due to be attended by Governments and heads of state from member nations, as well as relevant NGOs and crucially; social movements and “civil society”, i.e. artists, journalists and urban-syndicates but to name a few. This final addition to the invited list has caused great excitement in Latin America as it means a potentially ‘environmental’ conference can be used to discuss a wider range of issues and indeed at the conference myself and Federica attended, one of the speakers was a representative from the indigenous community. In terms of this conference, the introduction was a clear sign of the attitude of the group. I should explain that the ‘Red Social Argentina’ is a group made up of leading figures from the government and social organisations. Both their introductory document and the Ambassador’s opening discourse called for the “Sustainable Development” conference to include more than just ecologists and environmentalists but political and academic interests too. It was stressed that a sustainable social development model must include what they consider the 3 pillars of development: The Economy, Social Work and Care for the environment. 
This meeting took place in the Cancillería Argentina and all of the speakers told us what an honour it was to be presenting in such a prestigious location that for so long “was closed to la voz de los pueblos” but now directly represents this voice which is speaking clearly for a summit with wider interests and a slight shift in focus. For Argentina, social dynamic will be the most important factor. The presenters spoke one after the other to talk about their specific points of views from the perspective of their organisations. They were: Hugo Yasky, Secretary General of the CTA (Worker’s Association), Government Members Edgardo Depetri, Claudia Giaccone, Mara Brawer, the junior secretary of Environmental policy Silvia Révora, the network’s ambassador: Oscar Laborde and the junior secretary of foreign policy María del Carmen Squeff. 
Below is a brief summary of each speaker’s presentation which followed Ambassador Laborde’s introduction: 1) María del Carmen Squeff -Mentioned again the 3 pillars of Economy, Social work and Environmental care and added that these are the key for not only a better environment but for the fight against poverty. -She said she was happy to see the importance placed on social inclusion and participation in the decision making process. 2)Indigenous Towns representative -Spoke of how the indigenous are important to this summit and these projects as they give a perfect example of how to live in harmony with nature. -Expressed gratitude for being recognised in various constitutional laws and hopes this can be continued into a universal trait. 3)Claudia Giaccone -Climate Change co-ordinator: spoke of vital statistics that needed to be addressed in Río this summer, ¾ of the world population doesn’t have enough food or resources -Brought a positive perspective in the sense that since Río 1992 the level of interest has raised and there are now more projects regarding education, health and food worldwide. Said there are opportunities here for a gran avanza 4)Silvia Révora -Talked about the political theory behind these talks; the government does not want to accept a supranational power and thinks the UN has the potential to be controlled by a small number of countries -Agrees with a global venture such as this but primarily wants to ensure the defence of the countries agriculture industry and identity. (Joked that she wasn’t used to applause when her speech received a very positive response) 5) Mara Brawer -Spoke of the human element; a healthy environment is the only way to enable those in poverty to live well -Made reference to Europe’s involvement: “The E.U. sees this as a platform to convert the world to their models but there needs to be a compromise” 6)Edgardo Depetri - Made a very passionate and patriotic speech; Argentina should give examples to the conference -His main points were that Argentina must protect its natural resources because America and Europe are trying to control key international areas in order to recover the damages from their economic crises. 7)Hugo Yasky -Took the position that a global model could be beneficial; the world has a tension between the Northern and Southern hemisphere but this inequality happens inside individual nations too. -Delighted with the progress shown in 20 years (cited example of the original town representative speaking after a government minister) and pushed for policies that would continue benefiting Argentina after the Río meeting. There is one more similar event happening on the 11th and 12th May which will include specific workshops to finish preparation, we hope some future VG volunteers will be able to see what developments occur at this. But overall the objective for Argentina remains to use the ‘important opportunity’ of Río+20 to establish a new global model that will overcome the challenges of existing regulations.
Sono passate quasi tre settimane dal mio arrivo a Buenos Aires per lavorare come volontaria in Voluntario Global.. Inutile ripetere che questa citta’ offre una moltitudine di cose da fare, lughi da vedere e persone da incontrare.. Tutte le mattine posso uscire e vedere qualcosa di nuovo e curioso (ovviamente fino alle tre perche’ dopo si lavora!). Questo week end alcune della ragazze che vivono nella casa dei volontari con me, hanno fatto una gita a Mendosa, approfittando del lunedi’ festivo (si ricordano i caduti nella guerra delle Malvine) e cosi’ ci siamo ritrovate, stranamente, in poche. Domenica sono andata alla riserva naturale di Porto Madero, la Costanera Sur, e ho fatto una lunga passeggiata godendo del sole e del caldo che questo inizio autunno ancora ci riserva. Lunedi, invece, insieme ad una ragazza tedesca, sono andata a Tigre. E’ un posto molto carino ad un’ora di treno da Buenos Aires sul delta del Parana’ (consiglio di dare un’occhiata su google per tutte le info piu’ tecniche e geografiche!).
Abbiamo passeggiato per il mercato di Puerto de Frutos, abbiamo mangiato churros (un dolcetto fritto e assolutamente dannoso per la salute, ma buonissimo!) e poi abbiamo fatto un giro turistico con la barca in mezzo alle isole..ci sono delle casette bellissime e il posto e’ molto romantico, ideale per un week end di assoluto relax. Ora nella mia lista di “cose da vedere nei dintorni di B.A.” rimangono: San Antonio de Areco con i suoi gauchos e la pampa, un giro in Uruguay a Colonia del Sacramento che si puo’ fare in giornata, visto che dista un’ora di barca, Montevideo, sempre Uruguay ma piu’ distante e quindi e’ necessario passarci almeno una notte e le famose cascate Iguazu’, giro piu’ impegnativo in quanto molto distanti, al confine col Brasile… Devo cominciare a pianificare il tutto perche’ sono sicura che il mese e mezzo che rimane prima di tornare a casa, volera’ veloce, come i primi 20 giorni..Il prossimo fine settimana e’ Pasqua e qui si festeggia dal giovedi Santo; non ho pianificato nulla perche’ come sempre quando e’ festa costa tutto di piu’, e allora visto il Budget ristretto, rimandiamo le gite ai week end non festivi e gia’ in bassa stagione..E’ molto strano pensare che qui finisce l’estate mentre a casa cominciano i primi tepori primaverili.. Sono proprio curiosa di vedere se ci saranno processioni o celebrazioni religiose particolari qui in citta’; la cosa diversa rispetto all’Italia e mi pare d’aver capito anche ad altri paesi europei, e’ che qui non si festeggia Pasquetta, e cosi’ probabilmente, la classica gita fuori porta che si fa da noi, e’ anticipata al giovedi o al venerdi’ Santo. Questa settimana quindi si lavora poco, a Voluntario Global, chissa’ che non ci inventiamo qualcosa per festeggiare tutti insieme la Pasqua qui! Federica
By April Bohnert I arrived in Buenos Aires at the beginning of January, excited and unsure of what to expect. I had come to travel and explore, improve my Spanish, and of course, volunteer, but what exactly I’d be doing or what it all would mean to me, I didn’t know. Upon arrival to the volunteer house, any anxieties or apprehensions I may have had, vanished. Each new person I met was friendly and welcoming. There was, distinctly, a buena onda, or good vibe, to this place. In a matter of a couple hours, I was out with some fellow volunteers, exploring the famous Caminito in La Boca and getting to know one another. Now it is nearly three months later. My time in Buenos Aires has flown by so quickly it hardly seems real. In that time, I have met so many wonderful people and experienced so many incredible things. So for my final blog, I want to look back on these past few months and share a bit about the life of one volunteer in Buenos Aires.
The Volunteer Work: Working with and getting to know everyone at Voluntario Global has been such a rewarding experience. The people here care so much about one another, about the organizations that we work with and about the people that we help. In the few months that I have been here, I’ve come to feel like part of a big, diverse family. My particular position has been in the communications team at VG, working to improve and promote the organization. I was immediately drawn to this placement because I had just recently graduated with a degree in journalism, communications and Spanish. Foregoing the job hunt awhile longer, I wanted to travel while still doing something meaningful. Working on the communications team has given me a glimpse into the public relations and marketing world, has allowed me to continue developing my writing and editing skills, and has given me the opportunity to continue working toward my goal of Spanish fluency. All of these have been valuable experiences for me both personally and professionally.
The Experiences: Of course, my time here has not been all work. My volunteer schedule has been flexible enough to allow plenty of time for play as well. In my free time, I have thoroughly enjoyed all that Buenos Aires has to offer. I’ve hit all the main tourist attractions; from the many famous parks, plazas, and palaces to the cemetery in Recoleta and the Obelisco. I’ve also frequented the bustling artisan markets and the amazing parillas, where you can eat steak like you’ve never tasted (pairs very nicely with malbec and good company). Additionally, the nightlife in Buenos Aires is unbeatable. I’ve spent many nights dancing until sunrise at one of the local boliches or tucking into a quiet, dimly lit bar for some good cocktails and conversation. In the past two and a half months I have also traveled to the stunning Iguazú Falls, saw the beginning of Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, wandered the historic cobblestone streets of Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon in the nearby delta town of Tigre. Now, as I end my time in Buenos Aires, I’ll be setting off on a month-long journey through Patagonia.
What I Wish I’d Known: Buenos Aires is a massive city by any standards. With well over 13 million inhabitants and an endless list of things to do, there’s never an excuse for boredom. The city can be overwhelming though, and getting to know your way around takes time. Looking back, there are a few things I wish I’d have known when I first arrived. - First of all, carry a map with you everywhere you go. A good city map can easily fit in a purse or wallet and, I promise, will come in handy on more than one occasion. It will not only save you a lot frustration but also a lot of time wandering around. - Mapa Interactiva is one of the greatest resources for navigating public transportation in Buenos Aires. As long as you know where you’re going and from where you’re leaving, this website will give you step by step instructions on how to get there. It also lists the many bus and metro options and even tells you how to find the stops and stations. -Guia Oleo and Whats Up Buenos Aires are two great guides to culture and dining in the city. Look here for ideas and reviews on restaurants, bars, concerts and events happening around the city. The best part of living in Buenos Aires is experiencing the culture here, and these are a couple good places to start.
Erfahrungen und Erfolge im Gemeindezentrum - Volunteer Stefi Seitz im Interview
Written by Jesica FrancoVon Andrew Furness. Übersetzt von Lisa Kretschmer.
Im Oktober kam Stefi Seitz von Dresden nach Buenos Aires. Im Moment ist sie als Volunteer mit am längsten bei Voluntario Global dabei. In wenigen Wochen geht es wieder heimwäts. Zeit für einen persönlichen Blick zurück auf ihre Arbeit und Erfahrungen im Gemeindezentrum “Los Pibes”.
Warum hast du dich gerade dafür entschieden dich für das “Los Pibes”-Gemeindezentrum zu bewerben?
Von Anfang an wollte ich in Argentinien Englisch unterrichten. Dank Voluntario Global habe ich erfahren, dass zwei Monate meines Aufenthalts hier in die Schulferien fallen würden. Los Pibes war die perfekte Alternative: Hier kann ich, wenn Bedarf besteht, Englisch unterrichten und an den restlichen Tagen die Schule in anderen Bereichen unterstützen. In Los Pibes wird den Gemeindebewohnen über den Englischunterricht hinaus viel geboten, was meine Arbeit besonders abwechslungsreich machte.
Wie lange bist du schon hier und welche Eindrücke und Erfahrungen waren im Gemeindezentrum am eindrucksvollsten?
Oh, das ist schwer! Ich bin nun schon seit vier Monaten in Buenos Aires und arbeite seitdem sowohl als Englischlehrerin und als auch für die Schulverwaltung. Darüber hinaus ist aber so viel mehr passiert! Ich habe das Gefühl mittlerweile wirklich im Zentrum angekommen zu sein und eine Verbindung zu den Familien in “Los Pibes” aufgebaut zu haben - weil wir gemeinsam viel unternommen haben.
Außerhalb des Zentrums gibt es beispielsweise eine Mauer, die lokale Künstler, die Mitarbeiter aus dem Zentrum, Kinder und wir Freiwilligenhelfer zusammen bemalt haben. Von mir stammt ein Mate-Becher.
Ein anderes Beispiel sind die Kurse, die in der Bäckerei hier stattgefunden haben. Wir lernten Medialunas und Empanadas selbst zu backen, was unglaublich Spaß gemacht hat.
Der wahrscheinlich emotionalste Tag war jedoch, als wir die offizielle Namensänderung des Zentrums feierten. Wir haben ein Video über die Geschichte und die Entwicklung der Organisation geschaut und am Ende begannen alle zu singen und zu tanzen – die Stimmung war wie auf einem Familienfest.
[caption id="attachment_1661" align="aligncenter" width="225"]
Mit dem "Tattoo" einer argentinischen Mate-Teetasse zeigt Stefi ihre Begeisterung für Voluntario Global[/caption]
Arbeitstechnisch betrachtet finde ich es toll zu sehen, wie sich Schüler entwickelt haben, die ich auf ihre Prüfungen vorbereitet habe. Im Normalfall hat Berta mir gesagt, wo sie gerade Hilfe benötigt oder welche Kinder gerade Unterstützung bei ihren Hausaufgaben bräuchten. Wenn sie allerdings keine hatten, konnte ich mit ihnen spielen und beispielsweise Zeichnungen für eine Ausstellung im Gemeindezentrum anfertigen.
Mein Spanisch hat sich durch all diese Aufgaben unglaublich verbessert. Auch für die Volunteers, die anfangs aus Zeitgründen keinen Spanischkurs besuchen konnten, war die Arbeit in der Hinsicht definitiv hilfreich.
Wie ist das politische Klima in Los Pibes?
Es ist ohne Zweifel ein politisch ziemlich aktives Zentrum. Ich habe an einer Demonstration in der Nähe des Congreso teilgenommen, wo jeder mit “Los Pibes”-Fahnen auftauchte, um die Rechte eines Farmers zu unterstützen, der aufgrund von Regierungsentscheidungen von seinem Land vertrieben wurde. Es war gleichzeitig interessant und aufregend, Teil davon sein zu dürfen.
In “Los Pibes” finden auch jeden Monat politische Diskussionsrunden statt, in denen es darum geht, wie die Arbeit im Zentrum besser organisierten werden könnte und welches das gemeinsame Ziel des Zentrums ist. Bei diesen Treffen merkt man gut, für was und wo “Los Pibes” gerade steht.
Hast du Ratschlaege oder Anregungen, die du deinen Nachfolgern dort mit auf den Weg geben willst?
Ich denke, das Wichtigste ist die Offenheit, die einem dort entgegengebracht wird, zu schätzen und mit so vielen Menschen wie möglich im Gemeindezentrum zu reden. Auch wenn das Spanisch noch nicht so perfekt sein sollte, lohnt es sich zumindest zu versuchen jeden kennenzulernen. Dann wird man automatisch überall miteinbezogen, sei es wie in meinem Fall in einen typisch argentinischen Backkurs und bei der Mauergestaltung. In “Los Pibes” bekommt man keine Vorurteile zu spüren und wenn man mit der gleiche Einstellung an die Arbeit geht, ist das Einleben kein Problem.
Stefi ist von ihrer Zeit in La Boca und vor allem von dem dort enstandenen “Gemeinschafts-, ja fast schon Familiengefuehl” begeistert. Mit dieser Empfindung ist sie nicht allein - sie lässt sich meiner Meinung nach auf viele Projekte von Voluntario Globals übertragen.
“Los Pibes” ist vielleicht das klarste Beispiel, wie Gemeindearbeit die Lebensbedingungen und den Zusammenhalt zwischen den Bewohnern eines Viertels zum Positiven verändern kann. Projekte wie der “Travesuras”-Kindergarten oder ein organischer Garten helfen dagegen eher indirekt benachteiligten Menschen und zeigen ihnen Lebenschancen auf. Viele Freiwillige von Voluntario Global haben auch aus dem Projekt “La Casa” von einem familienähnlichen Zusammenhalt berichtet.
Stefi hat es bereits erwähnt: “Los Pibes” ist ein breit aufgestelltes Zentrum, in dem vielfältige Aufgaben warten. Die compañeros betreiben eine Bäckerei, eine Suppenküche und eine Textilabteilung. Außerdem werden Boxtraining, Englischunterricht und Nachhilfe angeboten. Wenn Du also Stefis Rat befolgst und in den ersten Wochen offen auf die Menschen zugehst, dann kannst Du dich in La Boca überall einbringen.
Der vielleicht wichtigste Rat zum Schluss: Auch wenn es eine tolle Erfahrung ist, für einige Wochen im Zentrum zu arbeiten, so bekommt man das wahre Gemeindeleben erst nach einigen Monaten zu spüren und kann beobachten, wie sich die Menschen, mit denen man täglich zusammenarbeitet, weiterentwickeln. Das Erfolgsgefühl, das Stefi hatte, als sie durch Nachhilfeunterricht einem Mädchen geholfen hat alle ihre drei Prüfungen zu bestehen, wünschen wir jedem ihrer Nachfolger in „Los Pibes“.
By April Bohnert Everyone has their own reasons for volunteering. Many volunteers come here to learn Spanish and immerse themselves in a new culture. Others come to gain experience in professional and social fields. Whatever their reasons, all come with the intent to help others. After all, volunteering, at its core, is about giving of oneself without expecting any compensation in return. But the fact of the matter is, giving actually is receiving, and there are more and more studies popping up to prove it.
In recent years, research from John Hopkins and the Institute for the Advancement of Health have found a number of mental, emotional and physical benefits gained by volunteering, from increased self esteem, endorphin levels, life expectancy and immunity, to reduced blood pressure, insomnia and depression. Part of this can be explained by the theory of social integration, which posits that people, who feel they are a contributing and accepted part of a collective, are less likely to feel depressed or isolated and more likely to live happy, productive lives. At Voluntario Global, the volunteers are connected with the communities they work in and also with their fellow volunteers. The anxieties and challenges of living in a foreign country diminish drastically with the support and help of others. Seeing a person you have helped or a project you have worked on succeed and flourish is probably the greatest joy of volunteering. Successes both small and large can be very fulfilling, and it’s not uncommon to feel what’s often referred to as “helper’s high.” It may sound crazy, but the effect is tangible. The body actually releases endorphins into the blood stream, creating improved emotional well-being and sense of self-worth, reducing stress, and in turn, promoting a stronger immune system and better overall health.
Altruism is, by definition, a selfless act that improves the lives of others, and with recent studies we can see that it also improves our own lives. With the countless reasons that compel us to volunteer, we rarely consider the biological and psychological benefits volunteering can have, but it certainly is a perk worth mentioning. There may be no monetary or material compensation in volunteer work, but what we give of ourselves comes back to us tenfold in the form of happiness and health.
A Review of the 'Los Pibes' Community Centre and an Interview with our Volunteer: Stefi
Written by Voluntario GlobalBy Andrew Furness (communication volunteer) 
Stefi Seitz is one of current longest-serving volunteers, from Germany having arrived in Buenos Aires in October. With only a few weeks left we wanted to reflect with her on her time at ‘Los Pibes’ community centre and discuss a bit about their work, thoughts and her experiences. What made you want to apply to the Los Pibes community centre? I wanted to come to Argentina to teach English, Voluntario Global were really helpful and told me that there would be holidays during two of the months I was here so placed me in Los Pibes where I was able to teach English when possible and take part in school support for the other days of the week. Los Pibes is a diverse centre and so there were always many activities to do as well as my English teaching. How long have you been there now and what are some of the best moments for you around the centre? Oh that’s hard! I’ve been in Buenos Aires for 4 months now working both with school support and English teaching but so much more has gone on. For me I’ve really got to know the feeling of community and family in Los Pibes through events like the wall painting. Now outside the centre there is a big mural which local artists, the community staff, the kids and the volunteers all helped to complete; I painted a maté cup. Also the panadería hosted classes in Empanada and Medialuna making which was really fun. Probably the most emotional day was when they had a celebration for the official name-change of the centre... we saw a video explaining the history and development of the organisation and at the end everyone began to sing and dance which really made the event feel like a family celebration. In terms of work I’ve loved seeing the development of the people I have helped to prepare for their exams. Normally Berta would tell me who needed help with what or some of the children would have specific homework tasks. If they didn’t have any homework I really enjoyed playing with them or doing some drawings to display in the centre! My Spanish has improved so much thanks to all this, but it was definitely helpful to have some fellow volunteers who could co-ordinate in Spanish and English at the beginning. What is the political mentality of Los Pibes like? It’s obviously quite a politically active centre. I went on a march near Congreso where everyone brought ‘Los Pibes’ flags to support the rights of a farm worker who had been forced to leave his land due to some government development plans. It was really interesting and amazing to be part of this. Actually every month the centre hosts political meetings to discuss how to improve the work of the centre and decide what the mindset should be. This is a good way of getting to know where ‘Los Pibes’ stands. Do you have any suggestions or recommendations to look forward to for any volunteers that will be taking part in the community lifestyle? I think it’s really important to embrace the openness of the place and talk to as many different people inside the community centre as possible. Even if your Spanish isn’t great it’s worth getting to know everyone. Then, like me you will find that you can get involved in all the different aspects on offer such as the bakery, helping to organise and clean different rooms, painting some of the walls or whatever needs doing. Everyone has an open mind so go in with a similar attitude and you’ll really get to know the environment of ‘Los Pibes’. Stefi is extremely complementary of her time in La Boca, calling her feelings “a sense of community, almost family” and personally this is a sentiment I think easily attachable to many of the aspects of Voluntario Global’s work. While Los Pibes is one of the best and clearest examples of a community working for a developing life, projects like the Travesuras kindergarten and the organic garden take underprivileged people and help them reach new opportunities. Similarly I know many volunteers feel “La Casa” brings a family-like atmosphere. 
As discussed above there are several aspects to the community centre. The compañeros run a textile area, a bakery, a soup kitchen, boxing classes, English classes and school support so as you can tell from the interview having an open mind in your first few weeks will gain you access to a range of opportunities in this seminal La Boca area. The final bit of advice to give is perhaps the most important: while it is great to experience if you can only spare a couple of weeks, joining the ‘Los Pibes’ community for a few months will really give you the chance to get to know the way of life and you will see progress with the people you work closely with. Just like Stefi felt she made a difference with a girl who passed all 3 of her exams after studying with Stefi we hope any volunteers coming in 2012 will feel a sense of achievement after settling in as one of the Pibes. Stefanie Seitz is part of VG advisory volunteers team. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Restaurants
For me the food and dining culture in Buenos Aires is among the best in the world. Many volunteers have told me the food is better across South America but it’s the atmosphere of the restaurants and the fact that dining out is a regular part of an Argentine’s lifestyle that makes 3-hour meals fly by and leave you looking forward to the late hours of the day. Guía Oleo (http://www.guiaoleo.com.ar/) is a fantastic guide to all the restaurants in town and gives you all the information you need. Below are some suggestions and my thoughts on the experiences of them: La Pasiva- CorrientesA casual Uruguayan diner on the busy street of Corrientes. Very nice atmosphere with inside or outside dining available. The food is very filling and comes in big portions; very typical of Uraguay- try the Chivito or the metro de pizza.La Cabrera- José Antonio Cabrero, Palermo Renowned as one of the best Steak houses/Parillas in Buenos Aires. Quite pricy but worth every penny as the Steaks are incredibly juicy and large. They also have good sharing options which makes it easy to go in a small group. Go early(ish) as there can be a long wait.
La Cholita- Rodriguez Peña A Voluntario Global favourite! This parilla is not too far from the Casa de Voluntarios and is effectively a cheaper alternative to La Cabrera (above). But that do esn’t mean you lose any flavour, the steaks are large and served on a hot platter, the restaurant also has a very good wine list.
Campo de Asadores- Puerto Madero (near Puente de la Mujer) An excellent and traditional Argentine restaurant. It has a campo theme meaning the food and the decor imitates the field-life of the country’s estancias. Based in a beautiful location, you can sit by the water or inside and enjoy the suede table-cloths and Gaucho-dressed waiters.
Hard Rock Café- Pueyrredón An international classic. I’m sure you’ll all have visited a Hard Rock at some point and this lives up to expectations! Great food, American style BBQs are the favourite and then you’re free to enjoy the various rock memorabilia spread around the walls (heavily Beatles themed in this case)
Iberia- Avenida de Mayo This is very near the volunteer house and is quite a modern restaurant with a wide range of food. Drinks are expensive but the food is very reasonably priced and even comes with flags on top to tell you where the recipe is from! You can eat at a bar, at a table or outside and I would strongly recommend the empanadas or any of the “Spanish” menu. Night-Life As you may already know the night-life out here is a booming experience and very different to what I would be used to coming from Europe! ‘Pubs’ aren’t so common over here and bars will usually also serve food; what I would recommend is taking advantage of the cheap ‘litro’ bottles and finding a place to gather until you want to properly go out. Clubs will never normally open until about midnight and even then you will find yourself very alone if you arrive before 2am. The Argentines are not massive drinkers which at least does mean you’ll rarely have to find yourself in a long queue for the next drink! Clubs/Bars
Gibraltar- Perú Great British style pub in the heart of San Telmo. They serve phenomenal Thai food as well as traditional British pub food. Also, it’s one of the few bars I’ve seen that will serve your beer in a pint glass and not a bottle.
Skybar- Hotel Pulitzer (Maipú) Relatively pricey but an amazing view with a unique atmosphere. Champagne and cocktails are flowing while a DJ plays on the patio balcony.
Cruzat- Sarmiento A Celtic-style pub that boasts over 50 types of beer (light and dark) based in a small tropical garden; quite near the VG house.
Amerika- Palermo Fridays and Saturdays offer an all you can drink bar for between AR$65-85 and on alternative weeks has foam parties!
Terrazas del Este – Palermo With 3 different rooms playing different styles of music (Latin, Rock, Hip-hop) this club will please the majority of your group. The large balcony/terrace that gives the club it’s name is also great in the summer time.
Le Click- Rivadavia This is somewhere I was taken frequently when I first arrived in Buenos Aires. Again, a very large club with 2 floors that plays modern music. 5 minutes from the VG house so always good for an impromptu night out.
La Bomba de Tiempo Featured in BBC’s travel log as an “unmissable experience”. This is a Brazilian drumming event that takes place in an outdoor arena every Monday. Perhaps the most unique, South American and fun event I’ve been to in the city. TourismBuenos Aires is a historical and passionate city with tourist hot-spots to match. There is an ‘architectural bus-tour’ that will show you some of the best points but I think it is much better to take the time to truly explore each spot, and as a volunteer, this will be an easily taken advantage of opportunity. Many travellers have said to me that they think of Buenos Aires as their “home in South America” which is a fantastic way of describing how good a hub this city is for many of your travelling desires. Something fantastic about living in Buenos Aires is the ease at which you can explore surrounding areas. The bus/coach system inside the country means you can sip wine in Mendoza one weekend and scale the glaciers of Patagonia the following! As well as that there’s a one hour ferry to the beautiful old village of Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay where many people go to turn the lugubrious task of extending a visa into a frivolous weekend.
(https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.329618700413821&type=1) And of course there are many amazing things to see in Buenos Aires. The Casa Rosada is an amazing structure and on Thursdays you can see the ever-present ‘Madres de Plaza de Mayo’ walking around the square which is not to be missed. La Boca is a beautiful and impoverished area that is always good for a trip to a bar or souvenir haggling. Similarly make sure you head to the San Telmo market on a Sunday afternoon. Relaxation Points In the vast yet homely metropolises that is Buenos Aires it is not uncommon for travellers to seek pastures new for some open space and relaxation. Of course the bus services and ferry terminals mentioned above can transport you to something a bit different but what about comforting opportunities in the capital itself? Parks Palermo is about a 15 minute SUBTE ride away and has many glorious parks and plazas. Many long term volunteers choose to find an apartment in Palermo for this very reason. If I had to recommend one in particular I would say the Jardines Botanicos,but I think that ma y just be due to my (un)healthy obsession with the cats that roam there. Closer to the centre the Plaza de Congreso is a nice place to go for a run or a stroll but is still largely concrete. CafésBuenos Aires has a good tradition of Cafés, perhaps coming from the French and Italian immigrants. All tend to serve lunch style food (sandwiches, small pasta dishes etc) and have a vast range of coffee that was certainly unfamiliar but very pleasant to me! You will be able to find a small shop on almost any street (and inevitably Starbucks) but here’s some of my favourite frequents: El Gato Negro- Corrientes One of the oldest cafés in the city, this is a very small café that has over 100 types of coffee from all over South America (which is arguably the greatest coffee growing region!) You can also buy bags of your favourite beans to take home. Café Tortoni- Avenida de Mayo Home to Argentina’s first Tango Academy, this café is quite large and very beautiful. Occasionally there are tango shows so look out for events. The food and table service is top class at this famous tourist attraction. MatéFor anyone who hasn’t been to Argentina (or Paraguay/Uraguay) before, prepare for maté to become a large part of your life. It’s a very traditional drink drunk out of a special maté cup and bombilla, all the staff at the projects will more than likely offer you some each day and although some consider it an acquired taste, it’s the perfect way to relax and stay alert while in South America. http://www.voluntarioglobal.org/
Our volunteers, from across the globe, all share a drive for social change and global activism. Many continue their service from home by actively promoting the organisation and recruiting new volunteers.
As we approach the end of 2011, we wanted to take a moment to thank you all, past, present and future volunteers, for your continuing help and support. Your commitment has allowed Voluntario Global to grow and keep up the good work with our network of social organisations and projects. We would also like to take this opportunity to share with you some news. In the last month, some members of our organisation have been working on a new project: The Voluntario Global Alumni Group. The idea behind is to give former and current volunteers a chance to continue their involvement in the organisation after they return to their home country. Our volunteers, from across the globe, all share a drive for social change and global activism. Many continue their service from home by actively promoting the organisation and recruiting new volunteers. Each of you is an integral part of the organisation, and you are in a unique position to represent VG in your home country. We hope this will also be a much easier (and more regular) way to keep in touch with our past volunteers and bring a further ‘global’ context to the projects. What we’re looking for in this new venture is to take advantage of the vast range of experiences encountered by everyone. In this way, we would really be able to establish a bigger network of interest for both the work of VG and the skills of our volunteers. With these past experiences and testimonials, volunteers can help us to become better known in their corner of the globe and maybe even discover some new interests themselves. Thus, the permanent team at VG would be able to keep working inorder to extend the help to those who need it most. We hope the following recent events that highlight the potential of this idea will help you to understand and be further inspired. Between Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve one of our volunteers hosted a cake sale with his family and raised over us$500! It was a simple event with some flyers given round to the neighbourhood and advertised online but was a great way of telling people in Virginia, USA about Voluntario Global and receiving donations. Just imagine if we could get something like this once a month... Something else that we feel the Alumni branch of VG could be prosperous in is assistance with volunteers’ projects. We were recently contacted by a former volunteer who is putting together a book on free travel opportunities around the world and she wanted advice and feedback about Argentina to include in it. We would love to do the same for others in the future. As we hope anyone who reads this will agree, the ability to frequently interact with our alumni not only enables us to improve recognition of Voluntario Global throughout all the countries that we have connections with and set up fundraising/recruitment events in all of these places; but really create a collection of projects/stories/experiences and opportunities all related to the unique lifestyle shared by the volunteers that come here. So you are all now officially invited to share your thoughts and ideas with the rest of us and the world! Any pictures, comments and memories from your experience with Voluntario Global would be greatly appreciated. Come join us on Facebook or send us an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it./This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. FELIZ 2012! 
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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