General Info
The Fundacion C hospital is specifically for very young children who suffer from malnutrition. You'll help through giving meals to the children as well as playing, reading, singing, and stimulating them as they recover. No previous experience is required, just a love of children and a desire to help eradicate their malnutrition and become healthy again!
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The children attending Fundacion C have nutrition problems and require feeding every 3 hours. Sometimes the mothers also stay in the hospital with their children and they are taught how to give the children what they need in the way of nutrition to that when they leave the hospital, they hopefully won't ever have to come back. Each child has a very specific amount and type of food/formula that is prepared and labeled especially for that child at every mealtime. The children's weight, height and growth is monitored very closely during their stay and outpatient children also have their diet at home monitored.
You’ll work for as many hours as you choose, between 8.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. We suggest you work for about 3-4 hours a day, at least 3 days per week. However, you can work anything up to 7 days a week if you wish!
Some of the work you'll be involved with includes:
*Helping in the kitchen - this means preparing the meals to specific formulae for each child to combat that particular child's nutritional needs to ensure their recovery
*Serving the food, taking care to ensure that each child receives the food and/or formula mix that has been specially prepared for them. Generally, these undernourished children need feeding every 2 to 3 hours.
*Helping to feed those children whose mothers are unable to be at the hospital to help them eat.
*Playing with the children and entertaining them, as well as giving them love, attention and care, is a very important aspect of the project. The majority of children range from a few months to 5 years old, and if they are fretful, unhappy and insecure, it impedes their recovery. Your care and time spent with them will aid their recover. Your work in this area will also enable those mothers who are able to spend all their time staying at the hospital with their children to get some well-deserved breaks. Although the mothers are encouraged to spend all their time at the hospital, including sleeping there, in order to learn how to continue to properly feed their children after they leave the hospital, sometimes this is just not possible. The children of these mothers, in particular, need special care and attention.
There is a basket of mixed toys such as building blocks, kitchen sets, cuddly toys, etc., for you to use when playing with the children. However, there is no library of books as such to read to the children. We would ideally like to build up a reasonable library of books that can be used as we believe that not only will reading to the children keep them entertained, books can also be used to teach the children in an informal, 'non-study' environment. Colouring books are also very popular with the children.
It is very important to have an energetic positive approach to this volunteering project as lots of encouraging stimulation is as important for the children and the loving care and attention you can give them.
WHAT YOU'LL GAIN FROM DOING THIS PROJECT:
An exciting, never-to-be-forgotten adventure into Latin America.
The enormous satisfaction of helping disadvantaged children and knowing that you made a difference to them.
New skills, more confidence, a greater understanding of a different culture, invaluable personal and professional development.
An entry on your CV or résumé that will put you head and shoulders above most others in the job market
And best of all ... an unforgettable experience!
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES YOU CAN DO WHILE ON THIS PROJECT:
Add to your travel experience in Argentina by doing some additional exciting activities - you never know, you could develop a passion for Latin American dance, or learn a new skill!
Spanish Language Courses:
You can take a few hours of private lessons a week at the same time as doing your project. You'll be amazed at how much it will add to your enjoyment during your stay.
There are also lots of outdoor activities you can do in your free time. Mendoza is renowned for activities like skiing, mountaineering, rafting, etc.
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!
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation will be arranged for you with a local host family, allowing you to have a better insight into Argentina and become integrated into life in the region of Mendoza. You will be provided breakfast and for dinner 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.).
These families have been visited and vetted by Travellers and are with friendly and caring families who provide comfortable, warm and safe living surroundings. You’ll most likely have access to TV/DVD and communal dining room and you will have your own key. This is an excellent way to improve your Spanish too! You will be met at the airport on your arrival by your family.
TRAVEL:
You have the option to arrange your own flights or we can assist you with your flight arrangements. If you would like us to do this for you, we will liaise with you regarding available flights and dates to suit you. All arrangements for your flight bookings/payments will be fulfilled by Murray Rogers Travel Limited, ATOL No. 6856. Where possible, we arrange for two or more people to travel on the same flight and we will let you have the names and telephone numbers of other volunteers on your flight, so that you can chat to each other or even meet up before leaving for your placement.
You'll fly into Buenos Aires where you'll be met by either Melina or Adriana Saccal, our local organisers. From the airport you'll be taken to your accommodation. Several days later, once you have settled in and recovered from the flight, you will be introduced to your host teaching institutions.
VISAS: Visa’s are not required for a stay of 90 days if you are a British Passport holder. If you're from another country, we'll liase with you about your visa requirements, if any, and make the Visa process very easy.
Where possible, all flights we arrange for you have changeable return tickets because many of our volunteers choose to extend their stay once they are in their destination country. Changeable return tickets enable you to do so, within the limits of your visa and the level of your air ticket, of course. If you choose to book your own flights, you should endeavour to get a changeable ticket.
To read about the excellent Support & Backup we provide before you leave and during your programme, please click here.
We can also arrange your flight dates to give you additional time at the end of your project for travelling around and sightseeing - this is a fascinating and wondrous country!
Benefits:
Costs vary depending on length of placement, but starts at £1,595 for four weeks. You can participate for up to one year, subject to visa requirements.
Included is full support from the moment of booking and throughout your placement to your return home. There are support staff 24/7 in all our destinations worldwide and a 24 hour emergency international telephone line direct to the Head Office. All meals are provided, unless otherwise stated. Accommodation is provided (whether a rented house, a hotel/hostel, homestay, apartment or flat).
You’ll be met at the nearest airport on your arrival by our in-country manager who will take you to your accommodation and give you a full induction into the area. He/she will also be on call 24/7 and you’ll see them frequently.
Pre-departure you’ll receive comprehensive information about every aspect of your placement and necessary preparations, ranging from what to pack, to visa information, to what to do on your weekend travel in the country. Your safety, well being and happiness throughout your placement are our primary concerns and we will keep in touch with you throughout. International flights not included.
Requirements:
Minimum age 18, you need basic to intermediate level of Spanish. All projects are open to all nationalities. No qualifications or previous experience are necessary, just a good dose of enthusiasm! Everyone is welcome on a Travellers programme, whether gap year, undergraduate, on a career break - or even retired! From 17 years old upwards, and all nationalities. This placement would suit anyone who wants to make a real difference, wants first-hand experience of a different culture and has initiative.
