Description:
Be part of it with i-to-i!
Our goal is to achieve 400yrs of combined volunteering all over the world by the end of 2008.
So far we have achieved 325yrs which when broken down means we achieved the following:
- Over 5500 children cared for on our community projects around the world
- A minimum of 13,000 children and adults taught English in schools and community centres
- Hundreds of animals protected including Turtles, Pandas, Elephants, Monkeys and more
- At least 80 homes and structures built for families and communities in need
- More than 8000 trees planted which are enough trees to offset the CO2 emissions of over 2,000 cars
Want to work with animals?
Argentina may not be the first country that springs to mind when you think of South American wildlife havens, but it actually boasts larger natural contrasts than any of its neighbors; the frozen landscapes of Patagonia to the south and tropical northern heat create a perfect recipe for a diverse natural world. El Puma Ecological Park in Argentina's laid back provincial capital brings you face to face with the results as it nurses sick and injured animals back to health before releasing them back in to the wild. The project also runs a breeding programme to increase animal numbers so there's a lot to keep you busy, before you head off to discover the rest of the continent's hottest destination.
Find out more about i-to-i, watch their short video here: http://video.i-to-i.com/site-videos/video.html
Highlights:
What were the highlights of your trip that you couldn't wait to tell your friends about?
"My abiding memory of my trip was of course the animals. I love it when the monkeys stick their tongues out. Cute! They also like going through my pockets to find food and lift up my trousers and look in my socks! I've met jaguars, alligators and pumas amongst others, it's been great!" (Emma Kane)
If you want to be excited by travel ... if you want to see a side of the world that package tourists can only dream of ... if you want to make a difference to the world we live in, and get in touch with humanity, nature, and the earth ... if you want to join the fight against mindless holidays and save some hard-earned cash, come travel and volunteer with us!
El Puma is located in the small town of Candelaria, located on the Rio Parana. Candelaria is known for its mystical Jesuit ruins, eucalyptus and pine plantations, and is the location of a lovely park that has a waterfall, canyon, and campsites.
You will be staying in a homestays located in nearby Posadas, a lively city of 250,000 and travel to your placement each day. Posadas boasts interesting markets, friendly cafes, cinemas and museums, and there will be plenty to do on the weekends.
Qualifications / Skills Needed:
The biggest qualification for this project is a strong love of all animals, as well as the readiness to be involved with the more basic duties that will be required. Volunteers should be committed and willing to help out wherever needed. A love of the outdoors is also essential.
Duties may include feeding animals, cleaning and repairing animal enclosures, building new enclosures, giving guided tours of the centre to English-speaking visitors, observation and data collection of the animals for research. You may also travel around the province with the staff who look for injured animals.
We highly recommend that you learn basic Spanish prior to your project.
Intern Types:
Admin (Recreation, Parks),
Animal Sciences,
Biology(General),
Ecology,
Education,
National Park Employment
and Zoology & Wildlife Sciences
Languages:
English
and Spanish
Cost in US$: $1290.00 for 2 weeks, $250.00 for every week thereafter
Experience Required: no
Typical Volunteer Projects:
animal welfare,
consciousness-raising,
conservation,
eco-tourism,
environment,
tourism,
veterinary
and volunteering
Typical Volunteer: If you are interested in immersing yourself in another culture while giving your time to a worthy cause, then you are a typical i-to-i volunteer. We invite you to join the i-to-i community of dedicated volunteers aged 18-80 who are working on community development, building, teaching, and conservation projects across the globe. Together, we make a lasting impact that changes lives and helps preserve the planet through hundreds of worthwhile projects around the world.
Age Range: 18-80
This Program is open to
World Wide
Participants.
This Program is also open to
Couples and Individuals.
Typical Living Arrangements:
Group living
and Home-stays
Participants Travel to Argentina
Independently
Or
in Groups
Typically Participants Work
Independently
Or
in Groups
Application Process Involves:
Post Services Include:
i-to-i Meaningful Travel's Mission Statement: Founded in 1994, i-to-i is an award-winning organization providing unique opportunities for you to travel, work and live abroad. Thousands of travelers aged 18 to 80 have joined our volunteer vacations and over 15,000 have learned to Teach English as a Foreign Language through our tailor-made TEFL courses.
With over 300 projects on 4 continents, you can join the worldwide i-to-i volunteer community on an extended adventure in areas such as teaching, community development, sports coaching, conservation, building or internships in tourism, marketing, journalism, or health.
Year Founded: 1994