Travel News

Voluntourism Spotlight: Coach Soccer in Argentina

Locations in this article:  Buenos Aires, Argentina

When you think of Argentina, you may think of football. In this week’s Voluntourism Spotlight, together with UK based company Travellers Worldwide we’re highlighting their sports program that gives volunteers the opportunity to be a youth coach at a local sports center in Mendoza.  Check back every Wednesday for more voluntourism opportunities and tune into Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio on Saturday for more information.

Established in 1994, founders Phil and Jennifer Perkes created Travellers Worldwide in order to have an organization that allowed people from all over the world to offer their time to help others in foreign countries and in exchange be guaranteed an experience of a lifetime.  Travellers Worldwide has established 300 projects around the world and works predominantly with developing countries.

With two World Cup Titles and countless Copa América Titles under their belt, it’s no surprise that football is a major part of the Argentinian culture.  As a youth coach, you will be immersed in this time honored pastime by assisting the head coach at a local sports center in Mendoza.  You will be trained in organization and planning for each class, pupil motivation, coaching of rules, etc.  Along with football, the center offers sports including basketball, volleyball, and various other activities.

Volunteers must be 17 years of age or older and should have a good knowledge of the sport as well as the language. There are  15 to 50 pupils in each class ranging from children to teenagers.  Class meetings and times vary depending on the time of year.

The program is open year-round and the volunteers must devote a minimum of 2 months upwards of a year. The cost of the program is $4,645 for 12 weeks including accommodation, food, pickup from Buenos Aires airport to your accommodations, transportation to and from the project center, and 24-hour emergency medical support.  Flight accommodations and visa transactions are the volunteer’s responsibilities.

For more information on the program to coach and play sports in Mendoza visit the Travellers Worldwide website.