Chile

Chile is a land of extreme and sublime beauty. It has the world's driest desert in the north and glaciers that extend to the end of the world in the south. The Andes and the Pacific Ocean create the perfect setting for a country that is bordered by mountains and sea all along its length.  Raging rivers, snow-capped mountains, glaciers and endless coastline make Chile the adventure traveler's dream.

With a growing economy and political stability unparalleled in Latin America, Chile is the perfect place to find new opportunities. Our programs are based in Santiago, the capital of the country. Santiago is a vibrant metropolis considered one of the most modern and exciting cities in Latin America. Santiago is a place full of culture and entertainment, with a strong European influence, where economic development is tangible and the lights never go out.

ELI offers internships in both nonprofit organizations and private companies. We have internships in the area of Physical Therapy, Social Work and long-term internships in the area of Law and Engineering. Our programs are the perfect opportunity to develop your skills in a professional work environment and learn about the functioning of a country in the process of economic growth. Chile is also a country committed to reduce social inequality, a pressing issue throughout Latin American. Volunteer opportunities for social aid projects are available on an individual basis.

ELI partners with some of the most important organizations aimed to help children with disabilities, athletes and individuals offering unique opportunities for internships for professionals and advanced students of Physical Therapy.

Interns in these programs have the opportunity to assist therapists during the sessions, assist with the implementation of rehabilitation programs, and observing the forms of care and treatments applied to children and young people with various forms of disabilities or injuries.

Please note that all internship placements in Chile require a high level of Spanish proficiency.

Horse Therapy (EFL)

ELI has Internships available with organizations offering Equine Facilitated Learning, a growing form of therapy with horses for children with mental and emotional disorders.

Interns in this program have the opportunity to assist therapists during the children’s sessions, learn about the different exercises for rehabilitation and observe the forms of care and treatments applied to children  with various forms of disabilities. Interns in this program must be strong, flexible, show initiative and commit to at least 4 weeks.

Disabled Children

For volunteers with a background in social work or special education, have the opportunity to work with special needs children abound. Volunteers in this program will have the opportunity to attend rehabilitation and recreation to help prepare these children to build strong self-esteem and provide physical and intellectual stimulation necessary for learning.

For volunteers with a background in education, ELI has opportunities working with public schools, day care centers and After School Programs in Santiago.

English is obligatory in all schools in Chile. Sometimes the schools are underfunded and need support with language training. Participants will assist the English teachers and in some instances will be assigned their own class.

For participants looking to work with youger kids, Interns can work at a Day Care Center helping looking after the children, preparing educational activities, organizing events with the parents and preparing meals for the children.

We also work with after school programs for unprivileged children. Volunteers are responsible for preparing recreational and educational activities spend time with the kids and act a role model for the children.

Participants need to have an intermediate level of Spanish and commit to 4 weeks minimum.

In 2007, Chile finished implementing new criminal procedure code throughout the legal system. The new system is now similar to codes followed in North America and Europe. Interns with this project will work with Chilean lawyers and non profit organizations assisting with research, case preparation, and record keeping. Some past interns with this program have been invited to observe courtroom proceedings. This internship is a great opportunity to gain experience in the Chilean legal system, learn about international and human rights law, and gain first hand knowledge about the effects of country-wide legal reforms. Interns should have a high-intermediate to advanced Spanish level.

The biggest commercial activity in Chile is mining. However, the field of engineering in Chile is widespread due to its strong infrastructure development and expansion in recent years. Therefore many engineering firms are looking for interns, students preferably in their final year and require a minimum stay of three months to ensure they are integrated into the company and its work. Possibilities include: Civil Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, mining and more. All placements will be based on the relevant education and work experience of the applicant.

Please note that all internship placements in Chile require a high level of Spanish proficiency.

ELI partners with a variety of small and medium sized firms in Santiago looking for interns in the following areas:  international business, marketing, entrepreneurship, consulting, internet advertising, web design and online marketing.  All internships are made on an individual basis depending on the length of your proposed stay, your interests and availability. 

ELI has opportunities for students of architecture and related fields working with private companies and public institution in the design and construction of residential and commercial properties as well as conservation of historical buildings. Participants can develop and collaborate on projects in the area of design for residential and commercial properties as well as participation in international competitions or participate in the current conservations projects.

Interns must have the ability to work in a team, an advanced level of Spanish, knowledge of software as Cad and must commit for a minimum stay of 2 months.

Marketing and Tourism in Wineries

The first vineyard in Chile was planted almost 500 years ago by a Spanish monk. Since then, Chile has become one of the main wine exporting countries in the world. Interns can work in one of several wineries in and around Santiago. Among typical duties, interns lead winery tours and work in the tasting room or the marketing and business development department.

For similar resources on other countries and programs, please see the "Experiences" tab above.

Staff Galleries:

Paola's Gallery

Feedback:

"I got to know many of the residents at Coanil and left considering them as my friends. Although many of them could not communicate effectively due to their disability, we were able to find activities that we enjoyed together such as singing, drawing, and reading the newspaper. It was a fascinating experience to learn how to become friends with people who not only spoke a different language than me, but who had to express themselves in very different ways than what I am used to. It was also incredible to see the amount of love and compassion between the residents and staff at Coanil when it is evident that many people there suffer from severe disabilities but replace sadness with joy!"
-Megan M.

Suggestions:

"I only stayed in Chile but pretty much traveled every direction. It was a gorgeous country so I would recommend really going anywhere just to see what the country has to offer. Some major places I would recommend visiting is down south—Pucon, Valdivia, west to the beaches—Valpariaso, Vina del Mar, east to the Andes—Cajon del maipo, and up North—la Serena and San Pedro de Atacama. There are plenty of free tours in Santiago and lots of sightseeing in the city itself that were amazing."
-Deepika P.

"When your down there without real contact back home you find yourself making friends and learning to live in the moment and take things in stride. I also recommend having no expectations about what you want it to be, make it what you want it to be."
-Joe R.

Program Includes:

*Pre-Departure Materials 
*Airport Pickup 
*Orientation Session 
*Volunteer placement 
*In-country support 
*US based staff support

Does Not Include:

*Airfare

*Housing
(Housing is arranged separately and generally costs between $300-$400 per month for a shared flat.

Optional Spanish Classes: 

*US$120 per week
*20 academic hours of Spanish Classes per week
*3 levels offered (Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced) 
*Class size : Maximum of 6 students 
*Class materials

Accommodations

Volunteers live in a shared apartment with Chilean  and International Roommates or Host Families.
We can help you set up housing before you arrive in Santiago.
The roommates we work with are all young professionals. Each participant has a private bedroom and shares the common areas and bathrooms with their roommates or the family. 

Arrival Dates

Participants should arrive in Santiago on a Thursday or Friday. Placements begin Monday morning.

Spanish Language Classes: Classes begin the first Monday of each month. If you are taking Spanish lessons, you need to arrive on the Friday or Saturday prior.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is not included in the program fee. We prefer to let participants decide what kind of coverage they need. Please see our FAQ page for information on travel insurance.

All prices are listed in US Dollars. The program fees reflect the costs ELI faces when setting up a program. We work hard to keep our costs as low as possible. ELI is a registered 501(c)3 non profit. US taxpayers may be able to deduct some or all of the program fees. If you are outside the US and wondering what these costs translate to in your currency, click here for an online conversion tool that will give you the approximate current exchange rate.

Apply Now

After you fill out the application form on our website, our application advisor will be in touch to help you with the next steps.  We have set up a checklist here for you see exactly what steps you need to take to go abroad with ELI.

Application Fee: $200
(refundable only if we are unable to find a placement that matches your request)