Work in Spanish-Speaking Countries

Amizade is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting volunteerism, providing community service, and improving cultural awareness in locations around the world. Amizade offers volunteer placements, service-learning programs, study abroad courses and customized group programs. Volunteers are given the unique opportunity to participate first hand in the culture of the region where they are volunteering. Volunteers may be placed in Bolivia or Brazil. There is a deposit and specific program fees are listed on the web site. Cost does not include international travel. Programs fill on a first come, first serve basis.

Volunteers work on a variety of animal conservation projects and in a variety of sites with endangered animals for one week to one month (or longer). There is a minimum one-week stay, but no maximum. Volunteers are accepted year-round, and all volunteers are accepted. Volunteers at the Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Center pay for food and lodging at approximately $125/week. At the Sea Turtle and Caiman Conservation Center fees cover lodging at approximately $70/week. Airfare and insurance not included. Skills in Spanish recommended but not required.

Countries: US/Mexico border-Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas.

Organization's self-description is “In a Gospel spirit of service and solidarity, we accompany the migrant, homeless, and economically vulnerable peoples of the border region through hospitality, advocacy, and education.” The work has as its primary focus responding to the undocumented immigrants, refugees and the internally displaced within Mexico living in the colonias of Juarez. The ministry of Annunciation House consists of the operation of several houses of hospitality; doing community and pastoral work in one of the colonias of Juarez, and the operation of an education center for border education, awareness and immersion experiences. The hospitality offered in three large houses includes everything from food, shelter, clothing and social needs to networking with immigration asylum counselors. Annunciation House is an independent effort sustained by individual contributions and donations, and by an all-volunteer staff. There is a year-long program and a summer internship program. Participants must be at least 20 years old and willing to live in simple, communal living. There is no charge to participate in the project.

Casa de los Amigos is a Quaker center of hospitality, volunteer service and cross-cultural dialogue in Mexico City, Mexico. Casa volunteers live and work full-time in the house.  They divide their week between work in the famous Hospitality Program and all the work around the Casa’s social justice oriented guest house, work on the other Peace Programs of the Casa, focused in nonviolence and conflict transformation, migration, and economic justice, and other projects in the Casa.  We accept volunteers for at least 3 months up to a year, and Spanish fluency is a must.

This program is open to graduate, med and pre-med students. Volunteers assist local counterparts with “primary and preventative care and the training of local health care promoters in rural and urban clinics and hospitals.” Volunteers are under the supervision of local physicians. CFHI “supports long-term sustainable health care projects and conducts educational programs in international health for U.S. medical and premedical students. CFHI provides free surgery, immunizations, and primary health care as well as recycling necessary medical equipment.” Spanish language skills may not be required, depending on the program. Costs do not cover airfare.

Non-profit organization that sends volunteers abroad to provide humanitarian assistance with volunteer programs in Brazil, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Peru. Cross Cultural Solutions offers this as their program description: “By participating in a CCS program, you will have the opportunity to work side-by-side with local people on locally designed and driven projects, allowing you to see a country through the eyes of its people. CCS is a recognized leader in the international volunteer field, sending hundreds of volunteers overseas every year. The volunteer work is on sustainable community development projects… you will be able to truly immerse yourself into the culture. Programs range from 2-12 weeks.” CCS offers volunteer placements and internships. There is no age limit.

Organization's self-description: Earthwatch Institute is a nonprofit volunteer organization which directly involves members of the public in scientific field research expeditions worldwide. Each year, Earthwatch will support more than 130 expeditions in 45 countries and 18 U.S. states, sending some 4,000 people, age 16 and up, to work as short-term field assistants to leading scientists in disciplines ranging from archaeology to zoology. The organization's three-fold mission encompasses Research, Conservation and Education. Apply at least 2 months ahead of fielding, but applications are accepted year-round. Projects range from 1-3 weeks. Financial aid may be available. Knowledge of Spanish is generally not required.

FEVI runs a volunteer program in rural communities just outside of Quito, Ecuador. Volunteer programs include personalized placements in local community organizations, schools, and clinics and range from 2 weeks to 1 year. Spanish not required for placement. Fees are reasonable and include room and board with homestays in rural towns or in the city of Quito. Organization started by professor at well-known university in Quito. Check their web site for more info or contact former participant and current FEVI staff member, U-M grad Erin Miller (erinmiller@umich.edu).

Organization's self-description: FSD provides college students, graduate students, and professionals internship and volunteer opportunities with nonprofit organizations in Latin America and Africa. Internships are available in a variety of areas in community development, including: youth development, education, health, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, micro-credit, environment/conservation, human rights, women's issues, and more. Programs include orientation and debriefing sessions, family homestay, program materials, project grants, and group trips. Interns are placed in their own family homestay and own internship for complete immersion. Internships range from 9 to 52 weeks. Short-term (1 to 8 week) volunteer programs are available. The application deadline is March 1 for summer programs. Cost varies and does not including airfare, visa and exit tax. There is an application fee.

Habitat for Humanity places volunteers for short as well as long-term periods in many countries in Latin America. Jobs are in community development, through helping local committees build low-cost homes in partnership with the needy. Long-term volunteers must be at least 18 and occasionally receive a monthly stipend, housing, health insurance or reimbursement for travel expenses. The minimum age for short-term (1-3 wk.) projects is 18, and cost varies according to the location.

The Institute of International Education, the largest U.S. higher educational exchange agency, designs and administers international exchange, training, and technical assistance programs on behalf of the U.S. and foreign governments, corporations, foundations, universities and international organizations. The IIE-Office for Latin America is the educational counseling center for the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, answering more than 50,000 requests for information per year on study in the United States. IIE also serves as the base for the Regional Educational Advising Coordinator for Education USA Advising Center in Mexico, Central America and Caribbean. IIE-Mexico hosts the largest of three computer-based testing centers in Mexico, which administer exams such as the GRE and GMAT among others. IIE also administers various scholarship programs through the Ford, Hewlett, Packard, General Electric, Lucent, and Goldman Sachs Foundations. IIE maintains close ties with the U.S. Embassy, Mexican and U.S. academic institutions and government agencies related to education.
Interns have the opportunity to work within the Scholarship Division or the Educational Advising Division. Interns will gain experience in responding to educational inquiries for graduate, undergraduate, and short-term programs of study in the US; communicating on a formal level with private and governmental organizations; conducting research for publications; editing the monthly advising center newsletter; creating presentations; managing databases; marketing; and assisting with general program administration. Interns receive a monthly stipend to help cover living costs in Mexico City.
Deadlines for application:
Summer (May-August): March 15
Fall (September-December): June 15
Spring (January-April): October 15

MADRE arranges for culturally competent, skilled professionals to work with women and children and provide assistance to staff and community leaders at our sister organizations in Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Peru. Places professionals trained in Human Rights Law and Advocacy, Women’s and Community Health, Media and Computer Literacy, Education and the Arts, Food Security and Sustainable Development, and Administration and Organizational Development. Volunteers cover their own costs for travel and accommodation. Fluency in Spanish and experience in professional field is required. Volunteer placements last 3-6 months or longer.

SCI is a smaller association that offers short-term volunteer projects (2-4 weeks) in Latin America. Work ranges from physical labor such as farm work or construction, to social work and activism. Fees are low. There are also many project opportunities in Spain. Summer listings are published in mid-May. There are now newer long-term projects that last from 3 months to a year. See web site for listings.

VFP promotes short-term (2-3 week) international voluntary work camps as an effective means of intercultural education and community service. Work camps are truly the microcosm of a world where nations join together giving priority to improving life for humanity. Most programs take place in the summer, but there are some available year round. There are also some long-term volunteer placements. Types of work available include: construction, renovation, environmental, social, arts, and peace programs. There is a small registration fee. Transportation not included. No application deadline: first come, first serve. Programs have 10-15 volunteers with 2 North Americans per program. See web site for open camps.

Global Routes places pairs of teaching interns 18 years of age and older in local schools in remote villages in Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Belize, and Peru. Interns live with host families and teach full time in the local schools. They also complete a community service project in their community. Two-month summer and three-month academic term placements available. No application deadline, limited to space available. Fee paid to organization. Working knowledge of Spanish required.

Places volunteers as English teachers for one year in Chile, Costa Rica and Ecuador. Summer placements available in Costa Rica and Ecuador. Bachelor's degree plus 25 hours of volunteer or paid TEFL experience required for year-long programs, bachelor’s degree not required for summer programs. Program fees range and include airfare, 3-4 week orientation, training, health insurance. Room and board and a small stipend are provided on-site by the host institution. See web site for up-to-date departure dates and costs.

Dave’s ESL Café is the most popular web site on teaching English abroad. The job listings are helpful in searching for paid positions. The Latin America and Spain job discussion forums offer a place for potential teachers to get advice about working abroad in these countries. Many experienced ESL teachers post here on their experiences abroad.

A refugee aid and development organization for poor communities in developing countries, Concern/America places volunteers in Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Colombia, and Ecuador for a minimum of two years. Volunteers must be 21 years old, have a degree in public health, medicine, nutrition, nursing, agriculture, community development, education, or appropriate technology and be fluent in Spanish or willing to finance own Spanish learning. Room, board, transportation, insurance and a stipend are provided.

JVC is a Catholic program that serves the poor and disadvantaged in Nicaragua, Belize, and Peru. Volunteers must be 21 years old and commit to a minimum of two years of service in areas such as teaching, youth ministry and social outreach. JVC provides room and board, insurance, and a monthly stipend.

Learn about the most disadvantaged families and develop projects with them. Projects are in Guatemala, Bolivia, Mexico, Peru, Honduras, and El Salvador. Volunteers must first participate in a three-month unpaid internship, living and working with full-time volunteers at the NY and Washington area centers. At the end, interns discuss with their supervisor what their two-year assignment will be. Placements can be domestic or international. There are teams in 24 countries.