At a glance
- Join our Human Rights internship in Argentina and gain practical experience raising awareness about justice and dignity for all in marginalised communities.
- You’ll work in the Projects Abroad Human Rights office in Córdoba alongside our dedicated human rights coordinator and local organisations to recognize and promote education about their rights.
- You’ll stay with a local host family, experience Argentinian hospitality and live in a dynamic South American city.
Is a Human Rights internship in Argentina right for me?
This project is a perfect fit for anyone with a strong interest in human rights and helping people in situations of vulnerability, regardless of your level of experience or expertise.
You’ll find that this kind of internship will add a lot of value to future studies or job prospects. You’ll have interesting stories to share that’ll give you an extra edge if you’re applying for a law, psychology, social work, sociology, anthropology, social communication, or similar degree or postgraduate studies. While you’re getting work experience, you’ll also demonstrate your commitment to helping others at the same time.
You don’t need previous experience to join. You’ll work closely with an experienced human rights professional at our Human Rights Office. They’ll teach you everything you need to know.
The internship runs year-round, and you can join at any time for a minimum of two weeks. We recommend staying longer so you can learn more and have a bigger impact on the communities you work with.
What will I do at my Human Rights placement in Argentina?
During your time as a Human Rights intern in Argentina, you will work in the following areas:
- Promote and assist on basic rights of all people
- Work on human rights programmes in communities
Your work will focus on these areas:
Promote and assist on basic rights of all people
Through daily contact with people in situations of vulnerability, we will seek to provide the opportunity to access basic rights. As well as, according to how your stay develops, awareness campaigns can be generated or participate in one that is being developed. Give classes or be part of workshops on various topics in relation to the innumerable rights and struggles or protests that take place according to the social-economic and political context of the moment.
Fieldwork
The Projects Abroad Human Rights Office regularly performs educational and awareness-raising outreach work to tackle a variety of human rights issues. These may involve travelling to rural communities, schools, and other local institutions. You can help us by making presentations, and assisting with training and basic administration.
We also do a lot of work with homeless people around the city. In 2017, we helped 56 disadvantaged or homeless people get free national ID cards. ID cards are necessary to get a job or visit a doctor, so having these cards will make a big difference in their lives.
Each project in which the volunteer is involved will allow him to have contact with people in extreme vulnerability. You can help detect needs, contribute to the creation of resources to resolve demands or be part of a long-term project to reverse various situations, including feeding homeless people, cooking, teaching, and helping to strengthen skills, self-esteem, and social relationships between people.
Where will I be working in Argentina?
Cordoba
Your Human Rights placement in Argentina is based in Córdoba, a city of natural beauty and historical significance with a true zest for life. This is best expressed in its vibrant party scene and colourful street art.
With a population of about 1.3 million, Córdoba is the second largest city in Argentina and home to a truly eclectic mix of cultures. These include various indigenous tribes, Italian-Argentines, Spanish-Argentines, and immigrants from all corners of Europe.
For the duration of the project, you will be working from our Human Rights Office, sharing an office with local staff members and other interns. The office is fully funded and run by Projects Abroad, so we depend on our interns to help with the work. You will also spend time outside the office, in community centres and our partner organisations.
A typical day as a Human Rights intern in Córdoba
You’ll start your day with a light breakfast of toast or tea and biscuits. After this, you’ll head to the office using public transport. Local staff members will accompany you on your first day to familiarise you with the route.
You’ll spend half your time working in our Human Rights Office and the other half assisting with programmes in marginalised local communities. Work can be anywhere between 4 to 8 hours long from Monday to Friday, depending on the weekly schedule. This isn’t like a typical 9am - 5pm office job. You should be flexible as some of the work can take place after hours.
You’ll assist human rights professionals with administrative tasks and prepare for awareness campaigns and workshops. You’ll also have the opportunity to head out into the local community to help with various programmes. You’ll:
- Run awareness campaigns and present educational workshops
- Organise events with other NGOs
Between 12pm and 1:30pm, you’ll get an hour and a half lunch break. If your host family lives close by, you can head home to eat. Alternatively, you can enjoy a packed lunch at the office.
Our office in Córdoba is a constant hive of activity, which means you’ll always have interesting work to focus on.
Weekends and evenings are yours to spend as you wish, and we encourage you to socialise and travel with other Projects Abroad interns and volunteers.
What are the aims and impacts of this project?
The aim of this project is to equip vulnerable communities with knowledge about their rights to dignity and justice. We do this through education, awareness-raising and empowerment.
In Argentina, we work with a wide diversity of people in situations of vulnerability or with rights that daily need to be part of a struggle for their enforceability. Domestic violence, gender inequality, mental health, and homelessness are several of the challenges that they may face every day. Many are unaware of the fact that they are either victims or perpetrators of these abuses. In addition, people also struggle with:
- Poverty
- Police brutality
- Poor prison conditions
- Difficulty accessing reproductive services
- Ongoing discrimination against indigenous people
We established our own Human Rights Office in Córdoba in response to the needs we identified. This office is fully funded and run by Projects Abroad, which means we need your help to reach the communities that need support and empowerment.
Join our Human Rights internship in Argentina and gain invaluable real-world experience working with professionals on campaigns and cases.
Measuring our impact
Our projects work towards clear long-term goals, with specific annual objectives. Every volunteer and intern we send to these projects helps us work towards these goals, no matter how long they spend on our projects.
Every year we take a step back and look at how much progress we've made towards these goals. We put together a Global Impact Report, which documents our achievements. Find out more about the impact our global community of volunteers, interns and staff make, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll stay with a host family in Córdoba. They will welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and have you teach them about your own culture. We believe that this is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of Argentina and have a truly unique experience.
We will always try to let you live alongside at least one other Projects Abroad volunteer or intern at the same host family. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.
Your programme fee includes three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Leisure activities and free time
Argentina is a vibrant South American country bursting with colour and rich heritage. Along with contributing to worthwhile projects, a trip with us to Argentina means you can explore this fascinating country.
Enjoying a coffee at the Plaza de San Martin, with its street performers and iconic statue of General Jose de San Martin, is the perfect way to spend an evening. It’s located in Cordoba, where our projects are based, so you don’t have to travel far for this experience.
For thrill seekers, you can take a weekend trip to La Cumbre where you can go paragliding off lofty cliffs. The surrounding nature is breathtaking and a horse ride around nature trails here is well worth it.
There are also enriching cultural experiences, like the Evita Fine Arts Museum or the Teatro del Libertador General San Martin. You can also learn more about the country’s history at local museums.
There will likely be other volunteers in Argentina with you. So you can choose to explore solo, or with a group of volunteers from different projects.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
This placement is fully researched, safety audited, and risk assessed in accordance with the British Standard BS8848 for the Adventure Travel Sector.
Meet the team in Argentina
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