Frequently Asked Questions

How can I pick a suitable volunteer program?

We recommend that you write a list of all the things you are passionate about (teaching, children, etc.) and then head to our volunteer opportunity pages to investigate what types of placements we offer, the tasks and responsibilities, requirements, etc. Then apply to a volunteer opportunity and we will contact you with all the available placements possible and details and you can narrow it down from there.

How many hours per day and how many days per week will I be volunteering?

Our volunteer programs schedule, on average, volunteers to work for a minimum of 15 hours per week. Often this work is distributed over 5 days, but schedules are flexible.

Can I choose my volunteering placement or am I assigned to one?

Expanish has set up a volunteer placement program that allows volunteers to apply for the area they are interested in, and then Expanish find(s) the appropriate placements that are available and open for the dates and duration the volunteer is looking for.

What level of Spanish is required for the volunteering program?

Every volunteer placement has a different Spanish requirement, ranging from a beginner to advanced level. Once volunteers choose a Volunteer area, they will need to indicate their level of Spanish during the booking process and the volunteer coordinator will place them into a suitable project based upon their Spanish level. However, when volunteering in Argentina or any other Spanish speaking country, a working knowledge of the language is extremely beneficial in regards to the volunteer work, cultural immersion, meeting locals, and navigating throughout the country. Those volunteers with little or no Spanish may only be able to get involved with basic type tasks, which will still be beneficial to the project.

Do I have to be of a certain age to volunteer?

The minimum age for Expanish volunteer is 18.

What are the other volunteers going to be like?

Our volunteers come from a myriad of different countries and cultures, and are anywhere from 18 to 80 years old!

Why should I pay for a volunteering program?

This is a common question for first time volunteers, so we have dedicated a page to it. Go to our
Volunteer Benefits page to read details about volunteering and why it pays to volunteer with a
solid and structured organization.

Will I need a visa to volunteer?

Depending on your country, you may or may not a visa to volunteer in Argentina. Go to our Support Services
page to find out more about tourist visas as well as entry fees into Argentina.

When can I start my volunteer work?

There are two weeks of compulsory Group Spanish classes before volunteers can start their volunteer placement at their project.

There are set start dates year round for each area of volunteering that we offer

Volunteers will have the Volunteer orientation on the final day of classes (in most cases a Friday) and then will be given the time and date of the day that they will first go to the project with the volunteer coordinator. This may be either the Monday or the Tuesday after their Spanish classes.

If you wish to volunteer during any of the above times, please apply as early as possible and keep other placements in mind.

National Holidays in Argentina 2011

• January – 1st Año Nuevo
• March – 7th, 8th Carnival
• March – 24th Día Nacional de la Memoria por la Verdad y la Justicia
• March – 25th Feriado Puente Turístico
• April – 21st, 22nd Viernes Santo
• May – 25th Día de la Revolución de Mayo
• June – 20th Paso a la Inmortalidad del General Manuel Belgrano
• July – 9th Día de la Independencia
• August – 15th Assumption Day
• October – 10th Día de las Américas
• November – 21st Día de la Soberanía Nacional
• December 8th Inmaculada Concepción de María
• December 9th Feriado Puente Turístico
• December 25th Navidad

Are the volunteering placements safe?

At Expanish Volunteer we carefully cover every element of the volunteer program placement including health and safety for our volunteers and take every step necessary to ensure that we are providing the safest and securest placements we can. Volunteers will always be in contact with a volunteer guide and will never be kept in situations that they are uncomfortable with or feel unsure about. Please look to our Volunteer Benefits (please link to relevant page on new site) page to get further details about the benefits and security that come with booking placements through a volunteer organization.

Also at the point of booking, volunteers are asked to indicate what level of culture shock they will feel comfortable working in, just to make sure we don’t place volunteers in a high culture shock project (ie a shanty town) unless they wish to have this type of volunteer experience.

Do I need insurance while I am in a volunteer program?

Expanish recommends that all volunteers have health and travel insurance during their volunteer time abroad, and of course, recommends having this insurance for their entire travel time abroad. If you are interested in purchasing travel & health insurance through Expanish’s partner CareMed International, please click here.

May I move into my accommodation before my course starts?

Yes, you may move into the accommodation Expanish Volunteer has provided you with at any date that is suitable for you, just make sure to let us know in advance.

How and when should I register? How can I confirm my spot in the program?

Just click on the link that says Book Now in any of our volunteer pages! At least one month in advance is recommend, but we always advise volunteers to register as soon as possible for their volunteer program in order to ensure a suitable placement.

In order to confirm volunteer registration and accommodation, a minimum deposit of $500US (or the full amount of the program if less than $500US) is required. It is critical that students understand that until this moment we can not guarantee a place in our accommodation. For programs over $2,500US, a deposit of 20% of the total program is required. If a registration is submitted less than 4 weeks before a programs start date, volunteers must pay the full program fee in order to confirm.

The entire program balance is always due 4 weeks before the program start date.

When should I pay for my volunteer program?

Once you register, you will receive a complete invoice for your program. You can choose to pay the full amount of your program at anytime however, a full payment must be made and confirmed by Expanish at least 4 weeks before student arrival.

What are my payment options?

Payments for volunteer programs can be made by credit or debit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express), via PayPal or with a bank transfer before the program start date. Current students who want to add to their programs can also pay in cash (U.S. dollars or Argentine pesos) in person at the school.

What is the Expanish Cancellation Policy?

For cancellations received fourteen (14) days or more in advance of the program start date, Expanish will refund all but the deposit and less non refundable charges (registration fee and bank charges).

For cancellations received less than fourteen (14) days in advance of the program start date, no refund will be issued. After a course has started there is no refund for any program or service, this includes cancellations and/or part cancellations.