Cultural Embrace provides an outstanding opportunity to volunteer in Latin America! Enrich your life and the lives of others by choosing to lend a heart and hand to an at-need projects. We offer service work in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru.  Projects may include working at orphanages, wildlife conservation, construction and renovation work, medical and health, environment and wildlife conservation, community development, social welfare and services, teaching, tutoring, and mentoring, and much more.

Cultural Embrace partners with local non-profits and NGOs to provide physical, mental, emotional, and financial support for these under-served communities. Our goals are to assist at-need and at-risk communities and to improve their standards of living, while providing you a safe and enjoyable way to embrace their culture. Follow the blogs of our current and past participants lending their hearts and hands to others, and allow it to be an inspiration to you to give back to others, or download our Volunteer in Latin America program details. By contributing your time, energy, and passion to others, you will gain a memorable, transformative and meaningful experience while traveling abroad.

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Orphanage Assistance/Street Children

Work in local orphanage homes or shelters for abandoned children. All of these children have come from poor families and suffer from malnutrition and neglect. Assist the limited staff to care for these children. Organize recreational activities, educational activities, sports, arts & crafts, and be the nurturing heart and helping hand that can encourage the children and local staff.

Teach/Tutor

Inspire students by assisting the local teachers at public schools and community centers with their English classes and other subjects. Or, act as a role model for struggling teenagers and adults through informal education classes. Most of these students have dropped out of school, but want to examine alternate opportunities to continue their education.

Social Welfare Development

Work in facilities that help an area's poor communities. Provide support to at-risk and at-need women and children. Help them learn the values, manners, and life skills to become self-sufficient and obtain a higher level of education. Past projects range from tutoring, cleaning, carpentry, program development, sewing, cooking, childcare, business skills training, and administrative duties. 

Health/Medical Clinics

Work at community health and medical clinics. Be a friend to patients, assist medical staff, and organize health and nutrition classes. Knowledge of nutrition, health, and the medical field is preferred for these projects.

Wildlife Conservation

Participate in wildlife conservation projects to help preserve the natural habitats of the local area. Sample projects include sea turtle and bird conservation in Costa Rica and marine conservation in Ecuador.

Environment/Ecology Conservation

Learn and practice nature conservation techniques. Work on a private nature reserve and crop experimentation site. Duties include restoring and improving the grounds, plantations, and facilities. Interact with local communities and expand your knowledge of the reasons, benefits, and ways to be more environmentally friendly.

Building/Construction Maintenance

Lend an extra hand at a multitude of labor-intensive jobs. A variety of projects need assistance with building, painting, gardening, and wiring. Experience and knowledge helpful, but not required.

Want to do gain more professional experience, or get paid for your work abroad? Consider Intern Abroad or Teach Abroad.
 

Volunteer in Latin America Offers:

• First-hand experience helping the local community
• An opportunity to broaden your perspective and worldview
• An opportunity to participate in and learn local cultural activities (e.g.: sports, music, cooking)
• Memorable travel experiences with the chance to see exotic sites you have always dreamed about
• The ability to make lifelong friends from around the globe
• A valuable work experience that strengthens your resume, exhibiting your diligence, independence, and intercultural experiences
• A great way to develop and support your self-confidence and interpersonal skills

Cultural Embrace Includes:

• Guaranteed Volunteer Placement Prior to Departure

Cultural Embrace pre-arranges your volunteer project before you leave home to ensure an easy and hassle-free transition into your new life abroad.

• Housing and Board

Basic, clean & comfortable accommodations in a volunteer guest house or with a host family. Depending upon the destination, 1-3 meals are included.

• Visa Assistance

All volunteers to Latin America travel on the tourist visa. Please contact the country’s Embassy or Consulate to check details, or ask your CE coordinator. Please note that any visa fees are the responsibility of the applicant. And, while we can assist you during the process, ultimately it is your responsibility to ensure that you have obtained the appropriate visa for your work experience. Cultural Embrace has no control over the visa process and cannot guarantee that your visa application will be accepted.

• Arrival Pick-Up and Orientation

All volunteers are picked up at the airport by our local coordinator who will then help them settle into the guest house or host family. The first week includes introductions and orientation to help you settle into your project.

• International Traveler’s Insurance with Basic Major Medical Coverage

Our policy provides basic medical coverage. Additional policies and premium plans are avail-able at extra cost.

• Cultural Embrace ?Culture Kit

Before your departure, we will send you a cultural kit that is filled with useful tips, advice, information, and your insurance card to prepare you for your amazing adventure of living and working abroad.

• Full-time Representation

Cultural Embrace provides English-speaking representation in the United States and Latin America prior to, during, and after your placement.

• You must be at least 18 years of age.  Or, if younger than 18, you must have parental or guardian consent.  
• Dedication to the full term of commitment . Most projects' duration are 1 week to 12 months.
• Some projects require Spanish language skills. Spanish lessons are included with most destinations, and additional classes can be organized. 
• Enjoy providing a service and working with others in a challenging environment.
• Open to foreign cultures and living abroad
• High level of responsibility 

Want a quick glance view of all our programs and destinations, as well as Volunteer in Latin America's projects? Click here.

Prices are customized per project and destination:

O-Orphanage/Streetchildren Assistance
T-Teaching/Tutoring
S-Social Welfare
M-Medical/Health  

W-Wildlife Conservation

E-Environment/Ecology

C-Construction/Maintenance
 

* All Volunteer in Latin America Projects include: room & board (as specified), comprehensive traveler's insurance, airport/bus pick-up & transfer (as specified), full-time pre-departure & local support
** Prices listed in US Dollars, and AUD$, CAN$, £,€ accepted
*** Please note: prices are subject to change according to world currency exchange rates

 
FAQ: Why pay to volunteer?

1. Obtain the Volunteer Abroad Application Forms & Procedures documents in one of three ways:

(a) Download the forms:  Volunteer Application Form (pdf).  Volunteer in Latin America Program Details and FAQ (pdf). 

(b) Fill out an online application request form and the forms will be e-mailed to you within 2-3 days.

(c) Call Cultural Embrace at 1-512-469-9089 or Skype: Cultural.Embrace to have the forms mailed to you in 3-5 days.

2. Read the instructions carefully and complete all forms.

3. Submit your completed application packet to:

CULTURAL EMBRACE
7201 Bill Hughes Road
Austin, TX 78745 USA

Completed packet should include:

• Volunteer Program Application
• Signed Volunteer Agreement
• Copy of your passport (information page only)
• Copies of transcripts, diplomas, or certificates related to field of interest (if applicable)
• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter explaining what you want to do and why you want to provide a service in Latin America 
• Two References: preferably professional and/or character references
• Doctor’s Note verifying that you are in excellent mental and physical health
• Copy of Police Clearance (obtainable from your community's local police station) 
• Two 1½" x 2" official passport-size photos, signed on the back
• One smiling full-length photo of yourself
• US$250 non-refundable deposit (credited towards your program fee) 

Upon receipt of your application, a Cultural Embrace coordinator will contact you for a 20-30 minutes phone interview. Once we accept you in to our program, you will receive an invoice for the remainder of your program fee. In order for us to contact our local partners to start your placement process, we require at least 50% of your program fee.

We recommend submitting your application and program fee at least 12-16 weeks prior to your desired start date in order for us to organize and arrange your internship.

*Cultural Embrace requires an expedited application fee for those applying 12 weeks or less before the desired date of departure. Applications received 8-12 weeks prior to desired departure date will be charged $150. Applications received less than 8 weeks before the desired departure date will be charged $250.

To follow current and past participants abroad, join our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and CE BLOG community. For any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@culturalembrace.com or you can call us at 1-512-469-9089 or Skype: Cultural.Embrace.