Volunteer Latin America

Visit the Latin Lounge

2010-10-26T17:42:00.001+01:00

This blog is no longer in use and has been replaced by the Latin Lounge.

Please visit www.volunteerlatinamericablog.com

Thank you

Welcome to the Latin Lounge

2009-07-18T15:27:00.000+01:00

We would like to announce the arrival of our new blog and invite you to visit the Latin Lounge. It was created to replace this blog in providing news, views, events, travel tips and general information on volunteering overseas. It aims to provide a diversity of posts covering everything from environmental issues to Latin American music and cinema.

Book of Green

2009-07-04T11:28:00.004+01:00

Book of Green is a free paperback eco directory that will guide you to hundreds of companies with environmentally friendly, sustainable, fair trade, organic, ethical and socially responsible products and services.

Book of Green was co-founded by Sue Jueno (founder of Allthingseco) and Katie Keegan (founder of One Green Earth), who run their own individual online eco directories providing free listings and promotions for green and ethical companies.

To find out where in the UK you can get a copy or view the book online please visit the Book of Green website.

Album of the Month

2009-07-01T07:40:00.003+01:00

Gotan Project - La Revancha Del Tango

Phillipe Cohen-Solal and Christophe Mueller started working together in 1996, and consequently set up their own label, Ya Basta! to release their material. With two projects under their belt, Boys From Brazil and Stereo Action Unlimited, they explored the connections between traditional Brazilian beats and modern dance music at a time when it hadn’t been done much. In the late nineties, they teamed up with long-term friend Eduardo Makaroff to form Gotan Project and give an Argentinean twist to their music. Being based in Paris, a city with a long tradition of welcoming musical influences from all over the world, was definitely instrumental in the inspiration of the trio, as they were able to recruit a handful of exiled Argentinean musicians, including Nini Flores and Gustavo Beytelmann.

La Revancha Del Tango is flooded with bandonions (a small South American form of accordion), and Latin inspired beats, to which the trio give a modern touch, and explore the sensuality of Tango, on and of the dance floor. But Gotan Project don’t just take musical influences lightly. This album is everything but dance music with a South American flavour. Cohen-Solal, Mueller and Makaroff work with their guests, let them occupy the front of the stage while they apply diverse textures. Inspired by these ancestral ambiences, in the background. La Revancha Del Tango is haunted by the natural melancholy of Tango music, and the compositions become even more romantic and empowering on the stunning Epoca and Una Música Brutal, when a languorous voice comes landing on these beautiful musical structures. When the Latin vibe gets entangled with Dub, on Chunga’s Revenge, Santa María (Del Buen Ayre) or El Capitalismo Foráneo, Gotan Project only bring together two genres that have much more in common that meet the ear. Beat deconstruction and sound distortion have always been integrant part of both genres. The rebel character of Tango, inviting people to express themselves through dance, finds its roots in the same need to escape ordinary life as Dub, although for slightly different reasons. The strength of Gotan Project lies in the way the trio assimilates the native cultures of their influences, without corrupting them in any way. If La Revancha Del Tango is certainly not an album of Tango music as such, it offers far more than a simple reinterpretation of genres, even on the club classic Triptico, when the South American roots meet New York’s deep house in an unexpected clash of cultures.

Gotan Project achieve with La Revancha Del Tango a brilliant record in many ways. Their very modern approach to classic genres is refreshing and incredibly in tune with today’s musical culture.

A fine record indeed.

Carnaval del Pueblo

2009-06-26T08:02:00.007+01:00

Carnaval del Pueblo (CdP) is the largest and best loved free Latino fiesta in the UK and Europe, celebrating music, dance and culture from 19 Latin American countries.

Londoners of all communities, Latin people and lovers of the Region, come together to share this intense, vibrant cultural experience. This year Carnaval del Pueblo will celebrate its 11th year on Sunday 2nd August in Burgess Park. The annual carnival has become the biggest Latin American event of its kind staged in the UK and Europe attracting, according to the Metropolitan Police figures, well over 100,000. The Event is now used in order to promote knowledge and understanding of Latin American culture.

Top Latin American singer, Luis Felipe Gonzalez will be the main artist at Carnaval del Pueblo. The Venezuelan singer has got many awards as Disco de la Feria de Cali in 1969, Congo de Oro in Barranquilla, Guaicaipuro de Oro in Venezuela and the Gold Star given by Phidias Danilo Escalona renowned for being the first person who used the word Salsa for named this kind of music. The singer has shared stage with famous artist as Joe Cuba, Richie Ray, Tito Rodríguez Joe Cuba, Richie Ray, Tito Rodriguez and the tenor, Placido Domingo.

Carnaval del Pueblo will present Los Chinches, Sur 4, Bahareque, Mariachi Mexteca, Salsa Cubana Cabaret, La Chica Latina y Shakirita and other some surprises.

The Carnival kicks off at midday with a lively and colourful procession from Elephant and Castle to Burgess Park, via Walworth Road, Camberwell Road and Albany Road. This year’s parade will be eco-friendly. Cars won’t be allowed. An innovative system with tricycles and powerful sound equipment lead the procession which have plenty of street performers bringing a representation of the best Latin American carnivals.

Transport Links

Tube & train station for Burgess Park: Elephant & Castle (Northern Line and Bakerloo Line).

Buses to Burgess Park: 12, 171, 68, 45, 468, 148, 176

Please visit the Carnaval del Pueblo website for more information.

Galapagos - A World Heritage in Danger

2009-06-16T06:28:00.003+01:00

International Galapagos Tour Operators Association - Making Tourism Part of the Solution

The Galapagos Islands face serious threats to their unique biodiversity. In 2007, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre placed them on their list of World Heritage Sites in Danger. In response these threats, the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association (IGTOA) has launched a new education and funding program to help meet the challenge of lasting protection for the islands.

The program is designed to help travelers understand the serious issues facing Galapagos, and how travelers themselves can be part of the solution. Visitors to the islands can provide critical financial support for scientific research and conservation and follow best practices during their travel.

For more information click here

Recession Has Prompted Booming Interest in Volunteering

2009-06-15T17:10:00.002+01:00

The numbers of people travelling across the globe to be volunteers has rocketed since the economic downturn began. As unemployment and redundancies continue to increase, there is growing interest in taking time out to do voluntary work overseas, or to learn new skills on a short or long-term project in a developing country.

There's an increasing sense that now is a good time to get away, spend some time abroad doing something worthwhile, and then return when the economy is back on its feet. Another motivation for taking a placement abroad is the chance to gain experience and training that could help facilitate a career change. It seems that rather than thinking of the credit crunch in negative terms, people are determined to turn it into a positive and use it to do something worthwhile.

The British Red Cross says it has seen inquiries about volunteering opportunities quadruple since the downturn began. The Red Cross figures echo findings published late last year by volunteering charity VSO, which said it had seen inquiries about volunteering double. Projects Abroad, the biggest organiser worldwide of overseas volunteer work, and Hands Up Holidays have has also seen a rise in inquiries amidst the credit crunch furore.

What these findings seem to suggest is that the economic downturn is drawing in more people - it is inspiring people to seek meaning and enrichment through volunteer travel. People will always find creative ways to source and pay for their travels if they feel their travels have value and meaning. This is what makes volunteer travel one of the most resilient markets during a recession.

A recent international volunteer survey conducted by GeckoGo in conjunction with Bradt Travel Guides and Lasso Communications, revealed the fact that travellers find meaning in volunteering abroad during a recession. Seventy-seven percent (77%) of respondents believed that their trip was very meaningful, 22% found it was meaningful, and less than 1% felt that their trip was not meaningful in any way. A constant battle in the voluntary work sector is to effectively manage expectations of the volunteer – the fact that almost 100% of respondents found their experience meaningful in some way shows a major victory for the field.

This provides strong evidence of sustainability and longevity for volunteer travel abroad.

Some other interesting findings from the report included that sixty-four percent (64%) of females are currently volunteering or have volunteered before, compared to only 51% of males. The majority of travellers went on their trip alone (57%). Travellers were more likely to arrange their travels through an organization (48%), but independently organized trips were gaining ground (34%) and price was a major consideration (43%). Based on the findings of travellers' concern with pricing, coupled with greater amount of information available on the internet, it is expected the DIY (do-it-yourself) volunteer travel sector will benefit most - with its market share rising in the coming years.

The top overall volunteer travel destinations were Peru (23%) and Brazil (14%).

Paperless Payments Policy

2009-06-15T16:52:00.000+01:00

We introduced our new policy last year because conventional payment methods (i.e. cheques, postal orders or bankers drafts) posed an unnecessary threat to the environment. This initiative has been a complete success and we recommend other organisations consider going green.

The Jungle's Not for Sale

2009-06-13T08:43:00.005+01:00

Peru is witnessing violent clashes between indigenous groups desperately trying to protect the Amazon and the government, who has pushed through legislation allowing intensive mining, logging and large scale farming in the rainforest.

If government and extractive industries have their way, the Peruvian rainforest and its people will suffer massive devastation, with disastrous consequences for the global climate.

Sign the urgent petitions below and support the courageous struggle of the indigenous peoples to protect the Amazon.

Peru - take action 1

Peru - take action 2

Cheeky Monkeys

2009-06-02T09:18:00.000+01:00

We were contacted recently asking if we are affiliated with www.volunteer-latinamerica.com. We would like to make it clear that we are in no way affiliated with this site and the organisation that registered this domain (Fundacion Eco–Volunteer UP) is effectively exploiting the popularity of our site. This was a conscious decision as this organisation was previously called Urcu Puyujunda and their web address was www.cloudforestecuador.com. In our opinion Fundacion Eco–Volunteer UP are cashing in on the strength of our brand by using an hyphenated form of our domain name. Interestingly, we used to promote Urcu Puyujunda (many years ago) but they were removed from our books after negative feedback.

Music of Latin America

2009-06-01T15:44:00.002+01:00

Music is unavoidable in Latin America and this is great news for world music aficionados. We have added many gems to our collection over the years such as ‘Magalenha’ by Sergio Mendes and ‘Gracias a la Vida’ by Mercedes Sosa. From the beautiful and complex sound of tango, to the pulsating sound of samba, to the distinctive and haunting sound of traditional Andean music, you are sure to find some good tunes if you look hard enough.

Every month, we'll select an album from our collection for your listening pleasure.

This months choice is:

Andy Palacio & the Garifuna Collective – Watina

These soul-stirring melodies and vibrant grooves from the Garifuna community of Central America unite the musical legacies of Africa and the Caribbean to create a powerful saga of exile, longing, hope and celebration. Years in the making, Watina is infused with contemporary influences, yet firmly rooted in the rich musical traditions of this unique and inspiring culture. Belizean icon, Andy Palacio, leads an all-star, multi-generational line-up to deliver a monumental tribute to the Garifuna of yesterday and tomorrow.

An immediate world music classic.

Quote of the Month

2009-06-01T13:41:00.001+01:00

"The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man"

Charles Darwin

New Policy

2009-06-01T13:40:00.002+01:00

Volunteer Latin America is proud of its green credentials and ethical policy. With that in mind we thought it was about time to examine the various carbon offsetting schemes we endorse and include in our volunteer guides. Details of our new policy on a carbon offsetting (for international volunteers) will be announced soon.

Hands Up

2009-04-30T17:07:00.004+01:00

Volunteer Latin America is featured in the latest edition of the International Lifestyle Magazine.

Click here to read the latest edition.

Volunteering in Africa

2009-04-30T16:09:00.001+01:00

If you are looking for low cost volunteer programmes in Africa a good place to start is Volunteer 4 Africa

This organisation is still in its infancy but they already have some fantastic projects on their database. Please visit their website for more information.

Quote of the Month

2009-04-30T16:07:00.001+01:00

"I believe that to meet the challenge of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. We must all learn to work not just for our own self, family, or nation but for the benefit of all humankind. Universal responsibility is the key to human survival. It is the best foundation for world peace, the equitable use of natural resources, and through concern for future generations, the proper care of the environment."

The Dalai Lama

Summer Giveaway

2009-04-23T18:01:00.000+01:00

Apply for a volunteer guide from now until the 20 June 2009 and your name will be automatically entered into our prize draw to win free travel insurance or a rucksack of your choice (up to the value of £150). Please refer to your volunteer guide for further details. We will announce the name of the winner on our website on the 21 June 2009.

A Different Kind of Travel Agent

2009-04-23T17:58:00.000+01:00

North South Travel is a travel agency with a difference because all of their profits, after expenses, are donated to projects in the Developing World. Please take a look at their website which provides full details of how they do this. They will be happy to provide you with a quote for your travel requirements and will always try to match or better any fare they may already have been quoted from a competitor. The service provided by North South Travel is only available to UK residents or those flying from the UK.

Green Energy for Webmasters

2009-04-23T17:45:00.001+01:00

As part of a series of recent improvements Volunteer Latin America is now hosted at 1and1 and powered by renewable energy. The transfer from our previous green web host has improved the functionality of website without compromising our commitment to fight pollution and preserve our natural resources.

Responsible Travel

2009-04-23T16:50:00.001+01:00

Whether you are planning the trip of a lifetime, a gap year abroad or just a holiday break, you can make a difference when you travel, not only for yourself but for the people and places you visit.

Being a responsible traveller means more than just offsetting your carbon emissions, it requires thought and preparation. Responsible travel is based on the principles of sustainability and it requires you to examine the environmental, social and economic dimensions of your trip. Thus, responsible travel is all about minimizing the impact of your travel and maximizing the benefits for local economies, environments and host communities.

Making informed choices before and during your trip is the single most important thing you can do to become a responsible traveller.

Give some serious thought to your packing list. Your hi-tech synthetic travel jacket might keep you snug, but is it also warming up the planet or exploiting the people you plan to visit? Your soap and shampoo may smell wonderful but are they biodegradable? Try and ensure your backpack contains as many ethical products as possible (i.e. environmentally-friendly, fair-trade, not tested on animals etc).

Travel lightly and leave any excess packaging at home (i.e. plastic wrapping) - your hosts shouldn’t have to deal with your rubbish.

Educate yourself about the destination you are visiting by reading guidebooks and travel articles: culture, religion, geography, politics, ecosystems and local customs.

Consider your carbon footprint when using air travel as your flight will do more damage to the environment than any other aspect of your trip. You can offset your carbon dioxide emissions through any of the following organisations: Carbon Clear; C-Change Trust; Climate Care; Future Forests; Sustainable Travel International; Tree Flights or the World Land Trust.

Use public transport, hire a bike or walk when convenient - it’s a great way to meet local people and reduce pollution.

Try to support the local economy by buying regional products instead of imported goods. Use local services and businesses which employ members of the community, it is far more enriching and is mutually beneficial.

Help preserve local wildlife and habitats by respecting rules and regulations, such as sticking to footpaths or not standing on coral. Take care not to buy trinkets and souvenirs made from local flora or fauna. By buying products made from coral, starfish, shells, fur, ivory, hides, feathers, horns, teeth or eggs, amongst other things, you may be encouraging an elicit trade in endangered wildlife.

Animals are not here to amuse us, so do not support this trend by visiting circuses, festivals and carnivals where performing animals are used.

Respect local customs, traditions and culture - a responsible traveller doesn't go abroad to force their world-view on developing communities. Always ask before photographing local people.

Think carefully about what's appropriate in terms of your clothes and the way you behave. You'll earn respect and be more readily welcomed by local people.

Respect local laws and attitudes towards drugs and alcohol that vary in different countries and communities.

Try to learn some words in the local language such as please and thank you, as this will be greatly appreciated and shows a respect for the culture.

Don't be obsessed with getting the lowest price when haggling. What does a few pence mean to you compared to the seller?

When eating out, choose small local restaurants so you will benefit individuals instead of foreign companies. Drink local beer, wine and fruit juices rather than imported brands. Take a strong water bottle and boil or purify your drinking water, rather than buying bottled water.

Always try and use local energy and water as efficiently as possible and adopt a zero-litter policy.

When travelling or trekking in sensitive places use a solar powered battery charger for cameras, ipods or global positioning systems to avoid wasting batteries.

When travelling to impoverished countries do not give out medicine to alleviate suffering unless you are medically qualified. It is better to give your unused first-aid kits to local clinics or health charities rather than ‘experiment’ on local people.

If you intend you volunteer overseas try and choose a locally run organisation so all your money goes to the cause rather than paying for the marketing and administration of a volunteer-sending agency. Some foreign run agencies offer little more than glorified holidays and are often more interested in making money than helping the environment or local people. No one benefits form these placements apart from the companies that organise them.

The guidance above is for anyone looking to travel in a way that lessens their impact on the environment and provides genuine benefits for conservation and local people.

Changes in our attitudes to travel and tourism will help build the kind of world that can be enjoyed by our descendants in perpetuity.

Beefing up the Vegetarian Options in Argentina

2009-04-22T16:10:00.000+01:00

The enormous consumption of meat is an ever-present part of the imagery of Argentine cuisine. Even a young Charles Darwin was astonished at how much beef the gaucho's ate for months on end. But the great naturalist's experience of Argentine carnivorousness was positively mild compared to that of the modern day visitor. Argentina is a carnivore's idea of heaven and is second only to the United States of America as the largest consumer of beef in the world. That is a lot of beef, considering the USA has over seven times more people! These days, beef is only part of a serious meat-eater's diet and you will be amazed at the size and variety of offerings if you indulge at a parilla (roasting kitchen). Argentines have also elevated the barbecue (asado) to an art form and it makes the shrink-wrapped pieces of meat we buy in supermarkets look, quite frankly, pathetic.

Despite this great meat-fest the situation is not as desperate as it might seem to some vegetarians. There are always meat-free options at most restaurants and these include empanadas, pasta, pizza, omelettes, tortillas and salads. Tenedor libres (all you can eat buffets) also provide a source of fresh salad and vegetables. There are also a number of vegetarian restaurants to be found throughout the country and these provide a welcome relief from the food mentioned above. Over the last decade the number of vegetarian restaurants has grown to cater for the ever increasing number of tourists and local people interested in healthy alternatives.

If you are planning to visit Argentina or are currently travelling in the country, you might want to make a note of the following vegetarian restaurants. In Buenos Aires some of the hippest eateries are steak-free and we recommend you try Bio, Krishna, Masamadre, Providencia, or Verdellama. Granix (Florida 165 - first floor in the Mitre Building) is also a good choice in the capital for an all-you-can-eat buffet (lunch time only). Another two excellent all-you-can-eat vegetarian buffets include Soychu in San Juan and the Green Apple in Mendoza. There are also many other veggie options in Mendoza. For a cosy and relaxing experience try Verde Gourmet if you find yourself in Colon (Entre Rios). You won't find a warmer or more passionate couple running a vegetarian restaurant in Argentina. Although just over the border in Chile, you will also enjoy the food and atmosphere offered at El Living in Puerto Natales. A popular spot to fill up on veggie fare before and after your hike in Torres Del Paine. Please visit the Happy Cow website for details of other vegetarian restaurants in Argentina and other South American countries.

Written by the webmaster of Volunteer Latin America

Environmental & Humanitarian Volunteers

2005-11-24T12:00:00.000Z

Volunteer Latin America is the the best source of affordable and worthwhile voluntary work opportunities in Central and South America. We give international volunteers the opportunity to make a positive impact on the environment or help those in need without paying large placement or participation fees.

The volunteer opportunities are as diverse and interesting as you can imagine and range from taking part in marine conservation surveys in Belize, to collecting data on Scarlet Macaws in Costa Rica, to teaching English in El Salvador, to providing health care in Guatemala, to helping develop organic farming concepts in Mexico, to trail maintenance in Brazil, to wild chinchilla conservation in Chile, to working with indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon, to helping the street children of Peru, to sea turtle conservation in Suriname, to teaching children about the environment in the Galapagos Archipelago. A multitude of other volunteering opportunities exist throughout Mexico, Central and South America including numerous possibilities to combine voluntary work with language classes (a great opportuntiy to learn Spanish or Portuguese). Hence, whether you are a student taking a gap year, a teacher, a wildlife enthusiast or would just like to spend a few months travelling and volunteering as you go, we are confident our service will help you find the opportunity that is right for you.

Please visit our website (www.volunteerlatinamerica.com) for further details.