Voluntary Horizons

Volunteering during a trip abroad allows you to engage in a unique and rewarding experience that can have a lasting impact and really change the way you think, act and approach life in the future. At VH we organize volunteering and travelling experiences and educational programs in which the volunteer work: has clear objectives that are possible to achieve yet maximize the time available, will benefit a community, and ensures the interaction and cultural exchange with the local people.

You can participate in a variety of group volunteer service projects in Chile, Brazil, Bolivia andNicaragua that are focused on construction and beautification, conservation and sustainable agriculture, English teaching and educational exchange.

In our strive to make more Global Citizens we also operate Educational Programs. These are ideal for professors or teaching staff wishing to give students a hands-on, educational experience with a specific academic focus about an issue that affects the world today.

You can also join one of our individual volunteer programs in Chile. The programs we offer include conversation work, English teaching or social projects.

Our projects support a wide range of organizations from local schools, to community projects, indigenous communities, local NGOs and conservation initiatives.

OUR VALUES

1. Responsibility

• Ensure the type and scale of our programs are appropriate to the local conditions and that we operate within the limits set by the community.
• Work with partners and suppliers that share our philosophy on responsible business practices and do not harm the communities in which we work.
• Take economic, environmental and cultural factors into account when considering new destinations. We also strive to minimize our impact on the environment during our programs by using providers that are environmentally responsible.
• Actively work with our participants before, during and after their program to ensure they have a positive experience.

2. Cultural Sensitivity

• Ensure our participants act responsibly and respect the local community, its culture and traditions, which in turn help them gain a greater understanding and insight of local customs.
• Create opportunities for positive interactions between a local community and participant groups to ensure there is an exchange of culture and education for both groups.

3. Safety

• Employ highly-trained group leaders that know how to act in the program´s environment and instruct them to monitor and guide the participants to make certain of a safe program at all times.
• Evaluate program safety risks to help mitigate and ensure our Group Leaders are trained on evacuation routes and other safety measures.
• Offer 24/7 support to our participants throughout the program through our Group Leaders and through our home office in Santiago.