Just going to make a note: I am starting another volunteer post teaching English for Un Techo para Chile, a prominent org that has won awards for it's work throughout Chile and Latin America. I went with a friend on Saturday for the first time. The Org doesn't actually have anything to do with it other than they found the space; the three volunteers, who are all students at the Catolica and none of whom speak English as maternal language, do everything else. They teach in an empty room that sits on the toes of the Andes (it really is right in the mountains, at the end of Peñalolen, east Santiago) and in a communal living space (funded by the gov? the org? trying to get this straight). It's almost an hour and a half from my house and noticeably colder up there.
It was amazing! The people were so kind, incredible smiles, even though only 3 came. It's unpredictable and up to you to organize, but with real potential to make personal impact. It was two parents and their 12 year old daughter (the parents doing it for their daughter, of course). It's not the poorest part of Santiago for sure, but it's not where I live either.
Anyway, all the Europeans have to leave in December so I think I'm going to take it over by myself, unless we find someone to help. It's 6 o'clock on Saturdays, which puts a lump in things, but I'm really excited. I'm going to learn a lot.
I also applied for a paying job teaching English at an organization that assists immigrants (I don't know their status, if they are immigrants, refugees, etc.) from Africa moving to Chile. The org needs their workers to speak English to communicate with an international community. My fantastic lit teacher recommended me the job because his wife works at the org. We'll see....
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good luck!
ReplyDeletealso, your last post me dio muchas ganas de responder pero en una manera demasiado elaborada para un blog comment. sin embargo, me parece que tus pensamientos van en una buena dirección.