MAPU Association is a young non-profit, founded in Madrid, Spain, in April 2006. The main objective of MAPU Association is to encourage and promote cooperation and development projects within the communities of Argentinean and Chilean Patagonia in order to foster local self-sufficiency, augment the locals´ resources, and improve their capabilities for positive and sustainable development.

Patagonia Volunteer is a program developed by MAPU Association as a community, social and environmental development tool in the frame of International Cooperation. Its goal is to offer solutions to the locals’ needs, problems and social interests, while contributing to fostering fairer relations between this southern region and the developed countries of the north.

Volunteering Placement Description: MAPU Association seeks the cooperation of volunteers to help MAPU with daily tasks in its Patagonian base in Argentina, in the city of Esquel, Chubut province. The main responsibilities of this volunteering placement include coordinating and assisting volunteers travelling to Patagonia as well as communicating regularly with local host organizations.

Regarding the coordination of volunteers, you will carry out the following tasks:

- answering e-mails in Spanish, English and/or German
- gathering and systematizing useful information for volunteers
- assisting with and suggesting new material for the Orientation Workshop
- following-up with volunteers during their stay in Patagonia
- organizing the language exchange program among locals and international volunteers
- searching for new volunteers and regular members for MAPU
- promoting the Patagonia Volunteer project, etc.

Regarding the contact with host organizations, the activities include:

- following-up with host organizations which are currently working with international volunteers
- organizing workshops and preparation for host organizations which have never worked with volunteers and require some previous orientation
- searching for and contacting new host organizations, etc.

General Activities: coordination of the community of the MAPU Association website; search, follow-up and contact with local host families, etc.

Objectives: The objective of this placement is for you to help the Patagonia Volunteer project function efficiently and to help promote its values, ideals, and goals.

Requirements: For this volunteering placement you need to be flexible, proactive, creative, sociable and self-sufficient when developing activities. You need to have good command of the Office package (Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel and Word), of the internet and of the general workings of the computer, at user level. There are no specific requisites regarding studies and/or previous experience.

Languages: Advanced level of Spanish and English or German

Minimum and Maximum Length: 2 months minimum, flexible maximum

To perform your volunteer work, you would need to pay a fee of 250 € to the MAPU Association. This amount includes your annual membership fee to MAPU Association (50€) and your one time volunteer placement organization fee (200€). Through your annual membership fee, which you will decide whether you renew the following year, and the payment of the organization of your volunteer placement, you will not only contribute to finance the MAPU Association projects, but you will also be able to keep volunteering, as a member of MAPU, in every available project in Patagonia which fits your profile without having to pay the volunteer fee again. Also, you will get help organizing your trip, finding an accommodation at a reasonable local price with a local host family and all the support you may need for this experience.

If you are interested in this volunteering placement, please visit our website (http://www.patagoniavolunteer.org/) or contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Fernanda Rojas, directly at info@patagoniavolunteer.org. She will send you the Application Form in which you will need to include a Letter of Intent (you will find a guide on what to mention in the letter) and your Curriculum Vitae.