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Work in Spanish-Speaking Countries

Authors: Julia Malette, Abel Mota, and Lizzie Horevitz

Study Abroad Internships and Volunteering (Service Learning)
Short-Term Opportunities (less than one year)
Teaching Abroad
Long-Term Opportunities (more than one year)
Additional Work Abroad Web Sites

Study Abroad Internships and Volunteering
(Service-Learning)

Some study abroad programs also include internship or volunteer opportunities. This is one of the easiest ways to work in a Spanish-speaking country. The best place to find a list of such programs is in the Institute of International Education (IIE) study abroad books in the U-M International Center, Overseas Opportunities Office. These books are also online IIEPassport, which allows you to search under criteria such “Spanish and internship” to bring up programs with both aspects. Some colleges offering study with internship programs in Spain are Middlebury College and Boston University. In Latin America, colleges like SUNY, American University, and the University of Minnesota also offer study with internship exchanges. Partnership for Service Learning is also one reputable organization that offers study programs with volunteer opportunities in Ecuador and Mexico.

The following is a list of examples of service-learning Study Abroad programs:

International Partnership for Service Learning	Community service projects in education, literacy, community development, women’s issues, health, and working with the handicapped, combined with formal classes. Locations include Ecuador and Mexico, as well as several other non-Spanish speaking countries, and include summer, academic year, and full-year programs. Prices are determined by placement.
University of California University Research Expeditions Program (UREP)	Volunteering and field research programs worldwide, including Belize, Chile, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Peru, Spain and Venezuela. Costs vary.
University of Minnesota	Grassroots development internship programs in Ecuador.

Short-Term Opportunities (less than one year)

AIESEC	Description: AIESEC is a worldwide student-run organization that generates over 6,000 paid internships each year in nearly 90 countries. Internships range from those with a business or technical focus to teaching English. Most placements are in South America, and recent destinations include Mexico, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Colombia. There’s a fee that includes placement, visa costs and a preparation program before going abroad. To apply contact AIESEC. Lengths of internships vary.
Alliances Abroad	Short-term (up to 6 months) paid work-placements in Costa Rica. Program fee includes placement, health insurance, orientation, full time support and more. Does not include international airfare. Must have an intermediate level of Spanish.
American Field Service Intercultural Programs (AFS)	Community Service Program Participants volunteer with local organizations that address community needs such as helping street children lead healthier lives or developing training programs with human rights workers. A placement of six months to a year in one of more than twenty countries in Latin America, Europe, Africa, North America and Asia. Fees vary and include airfare and do not include insurance. See web site for application deadlines.
American Friends Service Committee	AFSC works in conjunction with Mexican organizations sponsoring community service projects during both summer and winter seasons. Volunteers serve in teams and live in villages. The summer program is a 7-week program from late June to mid August. Winter program dates vary. Good conversational skills in Spanish required, as well as skills in construction, gardening, arts and crafts, childcare, or other practical areas. Scholarships are available. The deadline to apply for summer programs is March 1. See web site or contact organization for more information on winter programs.
Amigos de las Americas	Countries: Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay This is a nonprofit, private voluntary organization that works on public health projects throughout Latin America. Volunteers typically spend 4-8 weeks during the summer working in rural communities. Projects involve community sanitation, rabies vaccinations, dental hygiene, environmental education, community development and other areas. At least two years of high school level Spanish or Portuguese is required. Volunteers live with local families or in schools or clinics. Fee covers all expenses. Fundraising is optional. A preliminary application plus deposit is required before the final application is due May 1^st.
Amizade, Ltd.	Countries: Bolivia, Brazil Amizade is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting volunteerism, providing community service, encouraging collaboration, and improving cultural awareness in locations around the world. Amizade offers volunteer programs that are a mix of community service, educational opportunities, and recreational activities. We provide volunteers with 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. Applications are accepted up to 30 days before departure. 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. Amizade also offers customized programs for groups of 6 or more.
ARCAS	Countries: GuatemalaDescription: ARCAS places volunteers in Guatemala. Volunteers work on a variety of 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 the Sea Turtle and Caiman Conservation Center. Airfare and insurance not included. Skills in Spanish recommended but not required.
Annunciation House	Organization's self-description is “to provide an experience of service, accompaniment and solidarity with the poor in this border community of El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico. 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 in the sharing of one's life through 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 form 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. For the volunteers, service at Annunciation house is a way of being and living at a particular time in one's life. The work is your life and the living is your work. It is important for volunteers to realize that there must be an openess to doing whatever there is to be done and serving wherever one is needed. Participants must be at least 20 years old and Christian. There is no charge to participate in the project and you may volunteer for one year or longer.” (Or for shorter terms: one-week minimum).
Association for International Practical Training	AIPT is a nonprofit organization that helps to arrange on-the-job training programs abroad for students, recent grads, and young professionals in most majors and career fields. Opportunities are available in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Western and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union; Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries with which AIPT works include Brazil and Mexico. There is a fee required for participation, and employers pay the trainee a salary competitive for the country in which he or she is working. Can do short or long-term work. See also IAESTE, a division of AIPT.
Casa de los Amigos	Casa de los Amigos is a Quaker center of hospitality, volunteer service and cross-cultural dialogue in Mexico. The project places Spanish-speaking interns with local service organizations and community projects for volunteer work of at least 3 months (though there is no fixed time commitment). Placements include work addressing poverty, education, women and gender, street children, AIDS, refugees, the environment and human rights. There is a placement fee. No specific skills are necessary.
Child Family Health Intenational	Countries: Bolivia, Ecuador, Mexico This program is open to med and premed 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 suervision of local physicians. CFHI “supports long-term sustainable health care projects and conducts educational programs in internaitonal health for U.S. medical and premedical students. FHI provides free surgery, immunizations, and primary health care as well as recycling necessary medical equipment.” The age range is 21-30. There are two programs in Quito, Ecuador and one in Cuernavaca, Mexico- students must be conversant to fluent in Spanish depending on the program. Costs do not cover airfare and most programs are 4 weeks with the option of staying on longer.
Cross Cultural Solutions	Non-profit organization that sends volunteers abroad to provide humanitarian assistance with Latin American volunteer programs in Brazil, Costa Rica and Peru. Cross Cultural Solutions offers this as their program description: “Experience a country from a whole new perspective through a Cross-Cultural Solutions' volunteer program in Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, India, Peru, Russia, Thailand or Tanzania. 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. CCS' programs have a unique three-part design. 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.” The application deadline is 60 days before the beginning of the program.
Earthwatch	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.
Foundation for Sustainable Development	Countries: Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Nicaragua Organization's self-description: FSD provides college students, graduate students, and professionals Internship 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. In-country coordinators facilitate your experience. The application deadline is March 1 for summer programs. Cost varies by ranges and do not including airfare, visa and exit tax. There is an application fee.
Global Citizens Network	Countries: Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru Description: Global citizens network sends teams of volunteers to rural communities around the world, where the volunteers immerse themselves in the daily life of the community. Trips last one, two or three weeks. The teams work with local villagers on projects initiated by the local community for the benefit of the community. Past projects have included building a health clinic, renovating a youth center, teaching in a primary school, working in an organic garden. Volunteers must be 18 or older and there is a participation fee. Airfare and insurance not included. Trip dates and application dates vary, see web site for more information.
Global Routes Internship Placements	Description: Global Routes places pairs of teaching interns 17 years of age and older in local schools in remote villages in Costa Rica and Ecuador. Interns live with host families and teach full time in the local schools. They are also expected to 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. Working knowledge of Spanish required.
Habitat for Humanity International’s Global Village Program	Habitat for Humanity places volunteers for short as well as long-term periods 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 21 and receive a monthly stipend, housing, health insurance and 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 (IIE)	The Institute of International Education, the largest U.S. higher educational exchange agency, designs and administers almost 300 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 EducationUSA 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 various departments that form IIE/Office for Latin America, including Educational Advising, English Lanugage Learning Tools, Scholarship Administration, and Publications. Interns will gain experience in responding to U.S. educational inquiries for graduate, undergraduate, and short-term programs of study; 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/Sisters Without Borders	Description: Places women trained in midwifery, obstetrics, nutrition, reproductive health education, drug counseling, stress counseling in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Chiapas (Mexico) Colombia,Cuba and Peru . Volunteers provide service and conduct training workshops. Volunteers cover their own costs for travel and accommodation. Contact MADRE for more information.
Mobility International	Description: The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE), a project managed by mobility International USA (MIUSA) and sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State, provides free information and referral to individuals with disabilities interested in participating in international study, work, volunteer or research programs overseas and also advises exchange programs on how to accommodate participants with disabilities.
New Haven/Leon Sister City Project	New Haven/Leon Sister City Project offers intensive volunteer opportunities in Leon, Nicaragua through our Peace and Justice Corps. A Peace and Justice Volunteer is a person of college age or older who has skills or professional expertise to contribute to our projects. Volunteers must be proficient in Spanish. Volunteers live with host families and work with Nicaraguan counterparts on projects of mutual interest. Volunteers may work from one month to one year. There is no deadline to apply. There is a deposit fee and program costs for the first month. The program fee does not cover air fare. The sites of work are in Leon, Nicaragua.
Pastors for Peace	Countries: Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Cuba Ecumenical project based in the religious community and includes activists from all sectors of society. Placements in Central America, and Cuba. Projects last from 2-3 weeks.
SCI-International Voluntary Service	Countries: Argentina, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Belix Description: SCI is a smaller association that offers short-term volunteer projects (2-3 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.
Volunteers for Peace	Countries: Bolivia, Costa Rica, Cuba Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru VFP promotes short-term (2-3 week) international voluntary service as an effective means of intercultural education and communities service. They provide programs where people from diverse backgrounds can work together to help overcome the need, violence and environmental decay facing our planet. Workcamps 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 months, but there are some available year round. Types of work available include: construction, renovation, environmental, social, arts, and peace programs. There is a 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.

Teaching Abroad

Alliance Abroad	Offers teaching assistant placements in Chile for periods of 5-6 months. There is an application fee and program fee. Includes 80 hours of training, room and board, insurance, orientation, credits, excursions and monthly stipend. Accepts 30 participants per year.
English Language Teaching Assistant Program (ELTAP)	ELTAP is an undergraduate course for credit where participants do team-teaching of English in high school or post-secondary institutions. Placements are for 11 weeks and are available throughout the year in South America: Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Panama. Most participants stay with families, but some stay in flats or school dorms. Participants must write a paper on the experience and keep an analytical journal; grading is pass/fail. There is an application fee. Placements are made year-round. Pre-req: Completion of one year of college or university study with a minimum GPA of 2.75.
Global Routes Internship Placements	Global Routes places pairs of teaching interns 17 years of age and older in local schools in remote villages in Chile and Ecuador. Interns live with host families and teach full time in the local schools. They are also expected to 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. Working knowledge of Spanish required.
WorldTeach	Places volunteers as English teachers for one year in Costa Rica and Ecuador. Six-month placements available in Latin America. Bachelor's degree plus 25 hours of TEFL experience required. 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.

Long-Term Opportunities (one year or more)

Water for People / Agua Para La Vida	Assists rural communities in Nicaragua, Honduras and Bolivia in attaining clean drinking water. Volunteers live in the project community and work as technical advisors and teachers. Experience needed in topographical surveying, carpentry , hydraulics, plumbing, or community organizing. Fluency in Spanish essential. Travel, health insurance and a stipend provided.
Brethren Volunteer Services	BVS is a Christian service program that places volunteers in locally sponsored programs in the Middle East, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and Asia for a period of two years. Volunteers work in education, health care and homeless shelters. A college degree or equivalent life experience is required. Transportation, room and board, medical coverage and a monthly stipend are provided.
Concern America	A refugee aid and development organization for poor communities in developing countries, Concern/America places volunteers in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Mozambique for a minimum of two years. Volunteers must be 21 years old, have a degree in public health, nutrition, agriculture, engineering or medicine and have some knowledge of Spanish or Portuguese. Room, board, transportation, insurance and a stipend are provided.
Cristianos por la Paz en El Salvador (CRISPAZ)	Volunteers strive for peace, justice, and liberation. Some of the projects involve health care, literacy programs, music, agriculture, youth programs, women’s projects, and appropriate technology. Long-term program of at least a year requires intermediate knowledge of Spanish; short-term program of 3 months doesn’t. Volunteers must raise their own financial support and have a sponsoring community or church.
Jesuit Volunteers Corps (JVC)	JVC is a Christian program that serves the poor and disadvantaged in Nicaragua, Belize, Bolivia, 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.
Fourth World Movement	Learn about the most disadvantaged families and develop projects with them. Volunteers must first participate in a two-month 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. There are teams in 24 countries.
Mennonite Central Committee	MCC is a relief and development organization affiliated with the Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in North America. Volunteers commit to service terms in fields such as agriculture, health, education, social services, and community development in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. All MCC workers must exhibit a commitment to personal Christian faith, active church membership and non-violent peacemaking. However, applicants from North America do not need to be members of Mennonite churches. Transportation, living expenses, and a small stipend are provided for terms of two years or longer.
Peace Corps	The Peace Corps is a U.S. government agency that sends volunteers to 95 developing countries, including many countries in Latin America. Volunteers work in a wide range of areas such as education, public health, the environment and nutrition. A two-year commitment is required, as well as a college degree or 3-5 yrs. experience in their area of expertise. Room, board, and a monthly stipend is provided, as well as a readjustment allowance for every month served received upon re-entry into the U.S. For U.S. citizens only.
United Nations Volunteers	Assigns qualified and experienced people for community-based development projects, humanitarian relief, and peace, democracy and human rights operations of the United Nations. Volunteers have served in nearly 136 countries. Assignments are normally for two years, but the duration can be less. U.S. candidates should apply via the Peace Corps. Essential requirements include grad/post-grad degrees and working experience. Housing and other costs provided.

Additional Work Abroad Web Sites

Following is a list of additional web sites for finding work abroad:

GoAbroad.com: Excellent site has sections for volunteering abroad, working abroad, internships, teaching abroad, and study abroad.
HISPANIC Online, Career Links: By Hispanic magazine. Lots of information about jobs and careers for Spanish speakers, though this site's job bank lists few overseas positions.
Idealist: A resource by Action Without Borders. Over 50,000 non-profit organizations in over 140 countries. Excellent search provisions give useful results using “internship” or “volunteer”. Also has lists of volunteer, internship and job opportunities. Search possible by country, type of work, and many other variables. The “browse by country” section lists organizations according to their work focus. Note, however, that not every volunteer abroad program is listed here, so you'll still want to check hard-copy volunteer directories such as The Peace Corps and More. Site includes organizations worldwide, not only U.S.-based ones.
IIE Passport: Absolutely the best place to look for service-learning (volunteering-for-credit) programs, as well as study abroad and internships. Using the detailed search, check the “Format” box for internships or volunteering.
LatPro: Latin America's Professional Network: Positions in Latin America and the U.S. for professionals who are bilingual in Spanish or Portuguese.
Quaker Information Center: By Peggy Morscheck. This very comprehensive website includes links to hundreds of organizations sponsoring overseas volunteer, internship and study programs with a focus on social justice, relief, and development.
Red de Recursos Humanos -Job Finder: Very good site, with many job offers in Spain, in local and international companies. But whether an American would be considered for these positions is another question!
South American Explorer's Club: Offers a database of options to members for volunteering in Latin America.
Transitions Abroad www.transitionsabroad.com: Web site of this well-known magazine for working, volunteering, and studying abroad has articles on these topics and lists programs.
University of Minnesota ISTC: This site has several searchable databases. Each one produces lots of listings by using the term “volunteer”. Searches possible by country and many other variables.
Volunteer International (International Volunteer Program Association): Web site with listings of organizations around the world, and a search engine to find them. Search by region (eg, Latin America) is possible.

Last reviewed: 2/08