Santiago Volunteering and Internship Opportunities
It is possible, though not easy, to obtain a volunteer or internship position while you are in Santiago. The main focus of the Santiago Center is its academic program, and students are encouraged to evaluate their academic workload and other program commitments such as field trips, guest speakers and program activities before committing to a volunteer or internship position. If you are interested in doing an internship or volunteering, you should get in touch with the Santiago staff well in advance of the quarter, to learn more about what might be feasible.
Volunteer Opportunities
If you would like to get involved in the local community by working with children, the environment, poverty reduction, etc., committing less time and receiving no academic credit, then volunteering may be a good option for you. While volunteering is much more flexible than interning, it does require time and effort as well as strong Spanish language skills. Sometimes volunteer organizations are situated far from the Stanford Center, implying travel time to the location. Students should not plan on dedicating more than 6 - 8 hours a week on volunteering and are expected to follow through with their commitment until the end of the quarter.
- Liceo Lastarria (English language support for high school students)
- Hospital Dr. Luis Calvo Mackenna (Volunteer at library / waiting rooms in children’s hospital)
- INCAMI - Instituto Católico Chileno de Migración (Social work with immigrants, job support)
- COANIL (Work with children with intellectual disabilities)
- All of the listed volunteer organizations require a strong background in Spanish.
While it is possible to arrange a volunteer position during orientation week with the help of Santiago staff, students interested in volunteering are encouraged to research their options before arriving in Santiago in order to start their position as soon as possible. Students should contact Rachel Matheson (rmath@stanford.edu) in Santiago.
Internship Opportunities
Students who are interested in pursuing an internship should keep in mind that all students are expected to comply with their academic and program obligations before completing an internship. The 12 credit hour minimum does not include the internship credit hours (2), and students must sign up for 12 hours of regular Santiago BOSP classes in addition to their internship. Students should plan to dedicate about 6-10 hours per week (maximum 10 hours) to an internship. Additionally, most organizations will expect that you have strong Spanish language skills—completion of 2 years of Spanish is recommended.
Students interested in pursuing an internship should make their own arrangements by researching and contacting organizations of interest. Students who intend to pursue an internship should also send a detailed proposal to Program Director, Iván Jaksic (ijaksic@stanford.edu), at least 30 days before their arrival in Santiago. Those students who plan on taking an internship for credit will also be required to write a final two to three page paper reflecting on their internship experience. This paper must be submitted to the Director before the end of the term.
Research Opportunities
Undergraduate Student Grants for Research
Several grants are available through VPUE that can help support research abroad, including the Chappell Lougee Scholarship and Major Grant. For specific details regarding grant deadlines, eligibility, and policies for off-campus research, please visit the Student Grants Website.