Alcohol Abuse Advice

Experience Patagonia in a Different Light

Working as a volunteer always involves more than the actual time spent at the site. It’s a way to share or gain experience in a multitude of fields and is, of course, a fantastic way to give back to the community. Volunteering abroad is all that and more. Coupling volunteer work with travel creates an incredible combination that provides greater knowledge of a foreign culture and affords an opportunity to learn more about yourself. Patagonia is a dream destination for hikers and nature lovers known for its natural beauty and marvelous landscapes, But there is a side to Patagonia that escapes many travelers who pass through the area quickly.

For many small towns in Patagonia, poverty and underdevelopment are serious problems that require serious attention. Along with frighteningly high statistics of alcoholism and suicide, the utopian image of Patagonia becomes more clouded. About 25 years ago, a group of young couples from Buenos Aires decided to move to Patagonia in order to start a foundation with the aim of service to the community. These young people all shared a common conviction: to help the most needy, those to whom reality denied the possibility to develop. The group chose Junín de los Andes as the location for their project and inaugurated the Integral Education Center (CEI in Spanish) San Ignacio in the 1980’s. CEI San Igancio is at its core a high school for students from this particular area of western Patagonia. Some students live as far as 500 kilometers away and have to travel very far just to get to school. They have an active volunteer program in which people come from all over the world to lend their time to this unique institution.

The school suffered a terrible setback when it burned to the ground in 2007. Despite the effort of the staff and the firefighters of Junín, the building with all its facilities, including classrooms, bathrooms, the kitchen and the school lodge were completely destroyed. In the wake of this devastating calamity, the community banded together in an amazing way to help rebuild CEI San Ignacio. The Argentine Army housed students who lost their beds. The gas company YPF donated new pipelines and tanks for fuel. Local construction companies volunteered their time and materials to help construct safer, newer, and better buildings. The new school buildings have literally risen from the ashes of the old foundations and the school is running again at full capacity. This rapid reconstruction is a testament to the resolve of the founders, volunteers, students, and community members who believe in the value of CEI San Ignacio.

CEI San Ignacio is the perfect place to volunteer your time in Patagonia for a great cause. It’s located in the foothills of the Andes mountains near Lanín Volcano and ready to receive volunteers almost year-round. Volunteers live together in their own house at the school and perform a variety of important tasks to help the school. Many tasks include physical labor, but they cover a wide range of areas. The overarching idea behind CEI San Ignacio is to accompany and aid the integral development of the most needy rural community inhabitants of western Patagonia. Studies include more than classroom time; the students learn about responsible and sustainable farming techniques among other useful skills. The people who benefit directly from CEI San Ignacio are the students themselves, Mapuche families, teachers and pupils at rural schools, rural community leaders, and social developers among others.

Volunteering in Junín de los Andes is a way to experience Patagonia in a different light. Everyone knows that young people are our most precious resource and these young students are no exception. CEI San Ignacio is an institution with a real purpose and it shows. Volunteers are able to experience the majesty of Patagonia while making a difference in your people’s lives. Junín de los Andes is also one of the most famous fly-fishing destinations in South America and a great place for hiking. Volunteers can work for a period of two weeks or more and many choose to stay for around a month. Adding a trip to Junín de los Andes as part of your Argentina trip is a way to ensure that you have an unforgettable experience in Patagonia and also one that makes a real difference in the lives of young people.