Our career break projects include South America voluntary work with children, community volunteering and animal conservation.
A career break in South America also offers an excellent opportunity to learn a language; you can learn Spanish or Portuguese with our language school placements.
Click on an area of the map or use the links below to find out about the career break programmes we offer in that area.
Give an impoverished family the keys to a house you’ve just built for them. You’ll be working to build safe, solid houses to replace their cardboard shelters. An extremely rewarding project - no building experience needed.
This programme is a unique opportunity to see one of the world’s most bio-diverse destinations and combine volunteering, travelling and environmental conservation in one incredible trip!
Make a real difference to the lives of disadvantaged children and adolescents who have grown up in some of Cusco's poorest areas, working in daycare centres, boys' homes, schools and orphanages.
Help meet the need for teachers on a spectacular island. Teach English and music, crafts, sports or foreign languages – whatever you feel comfortable with. A great way to contribute while learning about a new culture.
Make the most of your trip to Latin America by learning Spanish. Experienced teachers will set up role-plays and organise cultural visits and classes to make your stay as authentic and enjoyable as possible!
Assist in the running of an animal rescue centre set in the Amazon. Your new furry and feathered friends could include monkeys, parrots, ocelots, pumas and lions.
Give the vulnerable and disadvantaged children of Bolivia, new skills, confidence and the opportunity to have fun. Help to organise creative activities from painting and drawing to dancing and sports, volunteers can also lend a hand with the running of the centre in the kitchen, serving meals and keeping things spick and span.
Set off on a life changing and culturally enriching trip around Peru’s most incredible sights! Take in the awe-inspiring views of Machu Picchu, wander through bustling markets, work on your Spanish skills, get to know the local alpaca and explore the wonders of Lake Titicaca!
If you want to gain a real insight into Latin American culture Buenos Aires is definitely the place to be! Learn the language as you live and breathe the Argentinean lifestyle, whether you’re after a lesson in tango or a football fanatic, learning Spanish in Buenos Aires is a unique and enriching experience!
Brighten up the lives of children who are largely left to fend for themselves. Organise activities, encourage them to keep healthy and show them someone cares. You’ll also be supporting children who attend school.
Help children in Ecuador acquire the skills and knowledge they need to secure a job. Work with other volunteers to develop lesson plans, then give your own lessons in English, sports or the arts.
Play a vital role in rehabilitating wild animals that have been maltreated. Get involved in their daily care, feed them, monitor their behaviour and make sure their enclosures are clean.
Not only is this a hugely worthwhile programme, it also gives you the chance to experience at first hand these amazing creatures. The nearby beach also offers fantastic surfing and you will get the chance to learn the sport or hone your skills as part of the project.
Take fun, innovative and fruitful Spanish lessons at our language centre. Learn from experienced teachers and take advantage of cultural activities and a home-stay to practise outside of lessons. ¡Olé…!
Channel your creative energy into community centres and make a huge difference to their users. Whether you make puppets, play Simon Says or organise a sports day, you’ll make a valuable contribution.
Make a valuable, long lasting contribution to a village in Guatemala. Give the children some basic lessons in English, maths, computing or crafts, or help with healthcare.
Get involved with all aspects of orphanages and homes. Teach English and other lessons, run arts and sports activities and help the staff feed, bathe and take care of the children. Most importantly, make them smile.
Discover why so many people love Bolivia. Take Spanish lessons and learn to salsa, do some valuable volunteer work with children or animals, visit the highest city in the world, meet the indigenous Tacana people and lots more.
A language course is a fantastic way to start your adventure. Learning the language is the best way to make the most out of your volunteer project. The lessons will help you converse with the locals, introduce you to the culture and it's a great way to meet new people.
See a stunning country from all angles. Trek through national parks, take a Spanish language course, go white water rafting, meet local craftspeople, climb a (safe!) volcano, help with a community project – and relax on the beach!
Learn Spanish with students from across the world. Classes are small and friendly and the teachers are qualified native speakers. Cultural activities and home-stays mean plenty of chances to practise.
Make a significant difference to lives of Argentina’s underprivileged children by volunteering in the Youth Outreach programme. You’ll not only be giving them a safe and secure environment, your assistance with education and day-to-day help will dramatically improve their standard of life.
Learn enough Spanish to chat with the locals, travel around South America and make your ideas understood on a volunteer programme. Cultural activities and excursions will help you get the most out of your stay.
There’s no better way to kick-start your tour of the Galapagos than with the incredible Galapass introduction! Forget about the trouble of getting there and finding your feet, and choose from an array of adventurous opportunities to start your travels!
Put your medical skills to good use in the poverty-stricken and under resourced areas on the edges of Buenos Aires. The underprivileged residents of these areas have little or no access to health care facilities and your help can make all the difference.
Every year thousands of dolphins are hunted and killed illegally along the Peruvian coastline. Volunteer help is urgently required on this pioneering programme to protect the dolphins. You will form an integral part of the research team, collecting important information on the dolphin’s distribution areas, their behaviour and interactions.
Get up close to jaguars, parrots and other wildlife. The creatures have been held captive, but will hopefully be returned to the wild. Help nurse them back to health and educate the public about the centre’s work.
A whirlwind trip through South America’s most incredible sights, your gap year adventure will take you from stunning ancient ruins to hectic modern cities! Ecuador - Peru – Bolivia.
Work with some unusual but very friendly creatures at a wildlife society. It’s a hands-on experience, which allows you to feed and exercise baby sloths, monitor eating habits, help with specialist care and more.
The online TEFL courses are internationally recognised, giving you the opportunity to travel and teach wherever there are people who want to learn. The only decision you really have to make is where you want to go and make a difference!
Jacky Davies had a fantastic time getting to grips with the local lingo and helping to care for sloths in Costa Rica, find out more about her South American adventures here.
Gap Year for Grown Ups provides Career Break Voluntary Projects and Culture & Language programmes throughout South America and Central America. They have the best available Community voluntary projects as well as a number of Conservation Volunteer Projects to choose from. Combine these voluntary work placements abroad with learning Spanish in South America.
For useful volunteer travel advice to South America from Gap Year For Grown Ups, use the following links:
