Volunteer work in the elderly home in Viña del Mar, Chile
- Directly at the sea
- Urban everyday life
- High recreational value
A retirement home does not have to be a retreat from life, it should bring joy to the elderly and let them flourish. Do you agree? Then get involved in the retirement home in Viña del Mar! Support the on-site staff with leisure activities and help the seniors to cope with their everyday tasks.
Vina del Mar
from 18 years
4 - 52 weeks
/ from €1.290
Saturday
Ensure a healthy life for all people of all ages and promote their well-being.
What's the matter?
The retirement home, where you can volunteer, has existed for 23 years and is currently inhabited by 20 seniors. Six employees and several students who are doing their internship there take care of them. The senior citizens' residence in Viña del Mar sees itself as an institution in which the seniors should not only feel comfortable - they should also be provided with the best possible support and encouragement.
By volunteering at the Elderly Home in Viña del Mar, Chile, you can actively help to meet all the needs of the elderly by getting involved in medical care, activities or an entertainment program. In this way you become part of the community that has a positive effect on the mental health of seniors.
The primary goal of your volunteer work in the project is to improve the seniors’ stay in the senior citizens’ home on various levels. You help to take care of the seniors in the best possible way and to integrate them as full members in society. Because they should be kept both physically and mentally fit and supported in everyday tasks.
Your tasks as a volunteer
If you volunteer at the retirement home in Viña del Mar, you can choose your area of responsibility flexibly, depending on what you enjoy the most. In general, you support the staff on site and help the seniors to cope with their everyday tasks. For example, you help them cook or eat.
You can also get involved in many activities for the seniors. For example, you can read them stories, paint, draw, do crafts, or do other creative activities with them. Because these promote cognitive skills and community building and contribute to a positive mental attitude.
You are free to choose the time you want to start your work, because your working hours in the retirement home in Viña del Mar are flexible. However, it is recommended to start your volunteer work at 10:00 a.m., as this allows you to still support the staff with the seniors’ breakfast. In principle, however, you can set your own working hours, and the days are also flexible. However, the seniors are in the retirement home around the clock and are always happy to receive your support.
Accommodation Catering
Hostel in Vina del Mar
During your time as a volunteer you will be accommodated in a hostel with other volunteers. Depending on availability, you will stay in a single room with an ensuite bathroom and a queen-size bed or a single room with an ensuite bathroom and a double bed. The rooms are equipped with a TV and WiFi and are cleaned weekly. Nevertheless, you should also take responsibility for the cleanliness of your room.
In the communal kitchen you can prepare your food together with the other volunteers. If you need some variety, there are numerous restaurants in the vicinity that you can try as you please.
If you want to wash your clothes, you can use the cleaning service for a small amount of coins.
Location
Vina del Mar
Chile is characterized by its long but narrow spread on the South American continent. From north to south, the country is a whopping 4.200 kilometers long, while the east-west stretch averages only 175 kilometers. The Viña del Mar project location is located almost in the middle of the country, in the greater Valparaiso area.
Viña del Mar is the fourth largest city in Chile and is known for its beautiful beaches due to its location directly on the Pacific coast. The city is often simply called “Viña” by its residents and also bears the name “Garden City” because of the numerous parks and botanical gardens. But not only parks adorn the Latin American town - particularly striking are the numerous magnificent buildings from the former colonial era, which still leave a European flair today.
The city of Valparaiso is right next to Viña del Mar and the capital Santiago de Chile is also not far away. This can be reached within approx. 1,5 hours.
So Viña del Mar is a perfect combination of city, beach and nature! There is always something going on here, but relaxation is not neglected either.
Your free time in Viña del Mar
Viña del Mar is not only perfect for your work as a volunteer - it is also generally good to live here. Together with other volunteers you can explore the area in and around Viña del Mar in your free time.
Within the city, the numerous parks and botanical gardens invite you to take leisurely walks or sporty jogging units. During a stroll through the city, you can also admire other sights, such as the Flower Clock, or visit the picturesque castles Castillo Brunet and Castillo Wulff.
If you feel like a relaxing day at the beach, then Viña del Mar in Chile is probably the most perfect place for it. Since the city is located on a bay on the Pacific Ocean, you will find paradisiacal beaches here that invite you to sunbathe and surf.
The neighboring historic port city of Valparaiso is also worth a visit. Stroll through the colorful streets and alleys, admire imaginative graffiti artworks and take a ride on the ancient cable car for a sensational view of the old town and picturesque bays from the hills far away.
As Santiago de Chile is only around 1,5 hours away, the capital is ideal for a day or weekend trip. It is one of the few metropolises from which you can reach the sea just as quickly as the nearest ski area. From there you can explore the Andes in an 8-kilometer hike through the Cajón del Maipo Gorge and marvel at a 5.800-meter-high active volcano.
On-site procedure
Arrival in Vina del Mar
You land at the airport in the capital Santiago de Chile. From there you will be picked up by a team member and taken to your project location or accommodation in Viña del Mar.
Orientation program in Viña del Mar
In your first few days as a volunteer, you will be prepared for your forthcoming volunteer work as part of an orientation program. You will get to know the team and be introduced to your tasks and processes.
Your first day in the project
On your first day at work, you will get to know your colleagues and the assignment site better. Together you discuss your specific tasks and working hours and then you can start! You will be instructed in your activities and can start directly with your work.
Pricing
-
4 weeks of participationbase fee€ 1.290, -
-
up to 48 weeks respectivelyextension week€ 205, - / week
included
Services
Before departure
- Individual advice and support from our trained RGV team in Munich
- Organization including placement in the project and coordination of your stay on site
- Assistance with preparation: visa, health care, travel insurance, etc.
- Non-binding flight advice
- Travel ABC with packing list for your travel preparation
- RGV t-shirt
On site
- Orientation program with the team on site
- Support and guidance from the on-site team
- RGV 24h emergency number
- Project t-shirt to wear during on-site activities
- Airport transfer on the agreed day of arrival
- Accommodation in hostel (single room)
After return
- Participation confirmation of your voluntary commitment
- Reflection course on your experiences abroad
- Evaluation sheet and optional feedback discussion
not included
Services
- Round trip
- Private expenses on site
- Excursions with microlight flights
- Travel and cancellation insurance
- Visa and Vaccinations
- All nights outside your agreed accommodation
- Public transport and extra transfers
- Food and drinks
Individual
Recommended additional offers
& must-haves
Would you prefer to stay in a single room? Are you vegan or do you have special requests for food? Or do you want to do some cool trips with other volunteers in your free time and explore the country?
With us, you benefit from a variety of optional additional services that you can add individually to your booking, depending on your preferences.
Cheap flights with our flight partner thanks to volunteer rates.
Would you like to receive a cheap flight offer for your stay abroad that is perfectly tailored to you? After you have successfully registered, you can have a non-binding offer created.
The excellent rates for volunteers, students and young people are a great advantage. Arrival times and flight time changes can also be sent directly to RGV upon request, so that our RGV teams in the destination countries are always informed about your arrival times.
These special tariffs give you special added value:
- maximum flexibility for rebookings and cancellations
- generous baggage allowance
- Additional discounts on one-way flights: The new volunteer tariffs include attractive discounts to reduce your financial burden on one-way flights (e.g. for stopovers, project or country combinations).
Benefit from the 4 in 1 ERGO travel insurance.
You can easily book the long-term travel protection of ERGO Reiseversicherung after you have registered. You will receive the links to this automatically after a successful registration.
The following building blocks are included:
- Health Insurance
- Comfort protection: accident, liability and interruption insurance
- Travel insurance
-
Two tools to get you started on your personal developmentPersonal development introductory courseFree of charge
- Can only be booked as part of the "Volunteering at the Red Cross in Chile" project
RGV
FAQ
to the project
How far in advance do I have to register?
Ideally your registration takes place at least 3-6 months before the desired departure date, But also short-term registrations are up 1-2 months before the planned departure is possible.
But it could be that your dream project is already booked. In this case we will try together to find a suitable alternative for you.
Can I travel with a friend or in a group?
Yes! On request we enable a double room if you for two with a friend or a friend, or an apartment or other suitable accommodation for groups.
We are very happy to enable our participants to go on a project and share accommodation with friends. Shared accommodation is usually possible both in the volunteer house and with the host family, although the room in the volunteer house may also be shared with other participants. In some locations there is also the option of sharing an apartment.
When registering, please always mention the person(s) traveling with you!
Can I combine projects?
Yes! You can combine projects at one location, at different locations, but also in different countries. It is also possible to combine a project with a trip. You can specify your desired combination directly when registering.
Combination options at a glance:
- Combine programs in one country
- Combine programs across countries
- Combine a program with a language course
- Combine a program with ours Adventure & Trips
There are a few things Project combinations to note: The minimum length of stay per project must be observed and you may incur additional costs for country combinations, for example for an intermediate flight.
What are the project fees used for?
Although we are a non-profit organization, there are costs associated with volunteering abroad. Find out here, why volunteering requires money and what your project fee is used for.
What visa do I need for Chile?
A tourist visa is required for Chile for a stay of up to 90 days. The application takes place upon entry. A flight ticket with a departure date is required.
What language skills do I need for the project in Chile?
For the project in Chile, intermediate Spanish skills (at least B1) are required.
What vaccinations/ health precautions do I need?
If you are traveling from a yellow fever area, you need a yellow fever vaccination. Otherwise there are no compulsory vaccinations.
We generally recommend a consultation in a practice for travel and tropical medicine.
You can get general information about recommended health care and vaccinations online Center for Travel Medicine as well as on the side of Foreign Office.
What are the requirements for the project?
The most important requirement that you should bring with you for volunteering in a retirement home is of course that you enjoy working with people of advanced age. You should also have empathy and empathy and show understanding for the different needs of seniors.
In order to be able to communicate with the seniors and the staff on site, your knowledge of Spanish should definitely be sufficient for everyday conversations. Of course, it is better if you have advanced Spanish skills, for example to be able to read something to the residents of the retirement home.
How much does the daily transfer to the project cost?
The retirement home can be reached by bus in about 10 minutes. Alternatively, private transport (round trip) is available for €14/day.
What do I have to consider as an LGBTQ person?
Please be aware that homosexual acts are considered undesirable in many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and are even punishable by law in some places. In general, people who are identified as queer are often exposed to hostility.
For example, get information from Foreign Office about the exact regulations in your destination country.
Ready to volunteer in Chile? Start your adventure abroad with Rainbow Garden Village!
Rainbow Garden Village has been offering volunteer work and internships abroad since 1999. What started as a small student initiative in Ghana has now grown into an organization with over 250 projects around the world.
You can be sure that your work as a volunteer will be an unforgettable experience. Bring your commitment and your knowledge to do good locally - and at the same time benefit from the unique experiences that will promote your personal development.
Become part of our RGV community!
We look forward to you.
RGV
Your way
to the volunteer
1
Choose your volunteer project and register online.
2
We will review your application and confirm your participation.
3
Prepare for your assignment online or in our preparatory seminar in Munich.
4
Here we go! During your volunteer work, we will support you at any time with our on-site team.
Gallery
Impressions &
Impressions
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