PROJECT OVERVIEW

You'll work in a Primary Care Centre, or "Salitas" as they are called in Spanish. Primary Care Centres are the first level of access for disadvantaged people in poor neighbourhoods. This is why they are strategically located within these neighbourhoods, to be closer to the people. They are also the first place to go to when you have a health problem and need professional assistance. In primary Care Centres they have family doctors, paediatricians, nurses, psychologists, dentists and social workers, as well as sundry other specialties. It is also worth mentioning that in Argentina, Primary Care Centres are free to all.

You'll help the community members to improve their health and search for more efficient ways of preventing diseases. You’ll shadow doctors and nurses in their daily activities as they work with patients, including:

  • Taking vitals
  • Treating injuries
  • Interacting with patients
  • You may also be called upon to perform other duties when needed, such as assisting with document translations and helping to categorise medications that have been donated to the Centre

The local doctors and nurses will assist you to gain knowledge about the practice of medicine in poor communities and neighbourhoods, as well as providing you with a practical perspective regarding the needs and concerns of the people who attend the Health Centre. Here you'll have a real opportunity to exchange information, questions and answers with patients and doctors and get to know a real community and its daily struggles. In turn, the medical staff have commented on the value of learning from you - "We learn from their experience and knowledge [including] different ways of communicating with patients and professional staff."

You'll work an average of 20 hours per week, Monday to Friday. That will leave you enough time to explore beautiful Buenos Aires! This project can also be combined with any of our other projects in Argentina, or you could even do a second project in a different region of the country, thus doubling your adventure and enjoyment!


ACCOMMODATION

You'll live a hostel situated in a beautifully renovated historic building in Downtown Buenos Aires, very conveniently located for exploring the city and doing shopping. It's big enough to be sociable and fun, yet small enough to feel at home; a real chance to immerse yourself in Argentine culture. You'll share a dorm room and have access to kitchen facilities. The hostel boasts of several amenities like internet and WiFi, a common area, DVD room, library, book exchange and a housekeeping service.

Food:
You’ll be given an allowance for your meals (breakfast and dinner, lunch is excluded projects in Buenos Aires). This arrangement is to give you the flexibility to sample the great Argentinean food. Right on the door step of the hostel there are many cafes and restaurants with great priced menus just waiting for you….the choice is yours!

HOST FAMILY:
If you would prefer a more cultural experience, we can arrange for you to stay with a local Argentinean family. Host family accommodation gives you the opportunity to become more integrated in the local community and is ideal if you want to practice your Spanish (Basic/intermediate Spanish is required to stay with a Host Family). You'll have a comfortable private room and use of the kitchen. Breakfast and dinner is provided every day and you will usually share a typical Argentinean meal with your family.

Facilities in host families do vary, but you will have the opportunity to express your preferences regarding the type of family that you stay with (for example, a family with/without children, pets etc). If you stay in a host family you will be provided with the contact details of other volunteers living in Buenos Aires at the same time as you so that you won't miss out on any socialising!

Please note that if you'd prefer to live with a host family, there is an additional supplement of £107 per week, with half-board.

LOCATION:
The romance of Argentina takes one's breath away. The natural wonders alone take some beating! From the northern deserts to the southern Andean Cordillera, from Iguazú Falls to the magnificent desolation of Patagonia, Argentina's geography is varied and stunning.

Cosmopolitan Buenos Aires: This fabulous city is renowned for its sophistication and has a surprisingly European feel about it. BA is reminiscent of Paris and its tree-lined avenues and frequent plazas have a beguiling, faded elegance. Downtown, the Plaza de Mayo is the traditional focus of activity. Nearby Avenida 9 de Julio is popularly known as the world's widest thoroughfare and, with its nine lanes of traffic, is truly a pedestrian's nightmare! Avenida Santa Fe is the most fashionable shopping area.

Argentina is geared up to thrill - from nights tangoing in the chic quarter of Buenos Aires to gaucho riding in the grasslands of the Pampas. Dynamic and bustling, a city which seems never to sleep, Buenos Aires is one of the most exciting cities in Latin America. Tango was born here, restaurants serve all manner of world cuisines, bars play the latest music, cafés spill on to the streets and nightclubs allow dancing throughout the night.