Volunteer Opportunities in South America | GivingWay
Volunteer Opportunities in South America
  1. Home
  2. Volunteer Opportunities Abroad
  3. Volunteer in South America

Volunteer Opportunities in South America

If you are thinking about volunteering abroad in South America, we say go for it! GivingWay offers 100s of non-profit organizations to choose from, spectacular nature, incredible cultures, and considerably low travel and living expenses. Throughout your research you’ll come across countless non-profits and social initiatives operating across South America - from Rio De Janeiro’s favelas to small villages in rural Peru. This means that the setting of your volunteer work will be just as diverse as the causes and operations you’ll come across. This also means that with the right preparation, you can find exactly the volunteer opportunity that you’re looking for. Volunteer opportunities include wild animal rescue, animal rehabilitation, literacy, art education, health care, and more.

Volunteer Abroad with Local Non-Profits

Instituto para el Desarrollo Humano - Bolivia

Organización No Gubernamental Es una organización boliviana sin fines de lucro, cuya Misión es de aportar al crecimiento integral de las personas desde el ejercicio de la medicina preventiva, la defensa de los derechos humanos y del medio ambiente.

4 Reviews
CADES

Health, CONTRIBUIR A LA REDUCCIÓN DE LA POBREZA RURAL MEDIANTE LA PROMOCIÓN DE PROYECTOS SOCIALES CON EQUIDAD, VIABILIDAD Y SOSTENIBILIDAD, EN LA BUSQUEDA DE IMPACTOS PARA EL DESARROLLO INTEGRAL COMUNITARIO, management of risks and adaption of climate change

1 Review
FreeWildlifeBrazil Celine

FreeWildlifeBrazil Celine is an animal release center situated in the Atlantic Forest. We combat the hunting, trafficking and illegal capture of wild animals and offer them a chance at freedom!

36 Reviews
View all

Volunteer in Animal Care

Quechua School

We help children and their families teaching values, languages and motivating sports. We carry out healthy tourism, valuing its culture and caring for nature; we promote research and programs in vulnerable communities.

1 Review

Biodiversity Research Institute

The Biodiversity Research Institute is a nonprofit NGO that develops biodiversity research and environmental education programs for the purpose of ecological conservation.

95 Reviews
View all

Volunteer in Childcare

NGO Oye LENA

Oye LENA is an educational project located in Curahuasi, in the heart of the Andes mountain range at an altitude of 2,600 metres. It was founded on 15 April 2012 and has been an officially registered NGO in Peru since 8 February 2013.Oye LENA is short for “Oye Loquitas EN Acción!”, which freely translated means: “Listen up, we are taking action!”We believe that every child has the right to qualitative education, focussed on personality development, regardless of their own capabilities and limitations and regardless of the place and culture in which they grow up. Children from underprivileged families and ethnic minorities, children with a disability and children in rural areas should have the same opportunities as others.

5 Reviews

Ecuador Tierra Viva ETV

The Ecuador Tierra Viva Foundation is a nonprofit charity organization based in Ecuador. Our mission is to improve the quality of life of the Ecuador’s neediest communities through the providing or improving water, health, and education services.
View all

Volunteer in Conservation Work

FEMM Ecuador

We are an Ecuadorian private, non-government and non-profit organization, we have been working on research and conservation of Marine Mammals for 30 years with the support of volunteers and recently carrying out projects with marine-coastal protected areas to preserve them in a better way.

1 Review

Inka Terra Asociación (ITA)

We are committed to scientific research as a basis for biodiversity conservation of the Amazon.
View all

Volunteer in Teaching related activities

Peru Vivential

We are a non-profit organization based in Peru providing free English education to disadvantaged children and adults in the local community Our main goal is to support children from public schools with English Classes.

3 Reviews

Tinguacó Foundation

At Tinguacó Foundation, we are focused on community building through educational workshops and projects, with the goal of improving everyday life, promoting sustainable initiatives and strengthening the social fabric across a number of rural communities. 

6 Reviews
View all

How to Volunteer in South America

How to find volunteer opportunities in South America

Ever thought you’d be assisting research at Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands, teaching children at Argentina’s Iguazu Falls, or building a greenhouse in Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni? Unless you are a very specific dreamer, you’re volunteering fantasy probably never went that far.But choosing a volunteering destination in South America starts from considering the settings you’re drawn to the most - urban or rural, mountain or valley, snowy or sunny. Each country and area have their own character. So go further than Peru, Argentina, Chile or Brazil and don’t hesitate to look for just the right place.

Best time to volunteer in South America

South America has steep differences in altitude which makes its atmosphere change dramatically between areas. This means that there is no single best time to visit and volunteer in South America in general, rather, to find the best location-weather combinations. You’ll find the Galapagos best in June and Patagonia from November through February. Being near the equator, Peru is a popular volunteering destination whole year long - being mild both during winter and summertime.

Essential information about South America

Flights might be expensive and trains operate mainly in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador and Peru. If you're planning to volunteer in South America, it's best to book flights between countries in advance. Visas are usually required - so make sure your passport is valid!