Today we bring you a feature as part of GoAbroad and STA Travel Win the World Contest, in which it could be YOU who wins the trip of a lifetime to South America to explore Peru, Brazil, and Argentina. This incredible trip also includes airfare from the United States to all three countries and back, as well as program costs. To give you a better idea of what awaits you in each destination, we’ll be featuring interviews with each of the volunteer organizations over the coming weeks.
To get started, scroll down to learn more about how Connect 123 will match you with a program that interests you Buenos Aires, Argentina!
1. What are some of the “must-see” sights to discover while volunteering in Buenos Aires?
Buenos Aires is a vibrant and passionate city – there’s tons to see and do! First, the basics: Recoleta cemetery, Caminito in La Boca, San Telmo and Mataderos fairs, Teatro Colon, Cafe Tortoni, the Ateneo, and that list goes on and on! And then there are plenty of amazing sights to see outside of Buenos Aires – go whale watching, tour wine country, hike the glaciers, rappel down waterfalls at Iguazu or visit Ushuaia, the End of the World!
2. Tell us a little bit about the volunteer opportunities the Win the World Contest winner have to choose from!
All of Connect-123’s volunteer opportunities are customized to the volunteer’s background, skills and interests! Volunteers can work on projects related to community service, wildlife, economic development, human rights, education, public health, or youth development and sports. For example, past volunteers have assisted at an after school facility for lower income children, built homes in disadvantaged communities, worked on urban garden initiatives, and organized wheelchair basketball games and races, etc.
3. What about the Connect-123 experience makes it unique?
Connect-123 takes into account our volunteers individual interests and skills to find them a great fit. We work hard to find meaningful volunteer projects where participants can create change both in the community where they serve and within themselves. Our dedicated and enthusiastic on-the-ground staff offers unparalleled support both before, during and after the trip!
4. What is accommodation like for Connect-123 participants?
Volunteers can choose to stay in homestays, with local young professionals, or with other program participants. All of our housing options are located in two neighborhoods (Palermo and Recoleta) that we think are the best because they’re the most fun, they’re centrally located and have great access to public transportation.
5. What kind of social and cultural events take place while volunteers are working with Connect-123?
We organize weekly events where we get the entire group together to do something fun around town – these range from street art tours to wine tasting events to tango dancing lessons to attending fútbol games. They’re great because they give you a chance to connect with other program participants while making sure you explore all that Buenos Aires has to offer.
6. What is your number one tip in order to have the experience of a lifetime in Argentina?
Go with the flow! Argentina has a culture, language, style (and schedule!) all it’s own. Rather than comparing things to your home country, get to know more about why things are the way they are in Argentina, and try them out yourself. You might be surprised to find that when you get home, you long for the way things were done in Argentina!