Film & Photography Internship in Argentina

“The project I was working with consists of a small operations team and working with them on various communication projects ranging from blog writing and photography to documentary-making is a great way to gain an understanding of how the organisation works as a whole.

I came upon this opportunity online whilst looking for volunteer abroad schemes that would be beneficial to my interests and career. At 28 I’m older than the average gap year traveller – so I was relieved when I arrived that there were a variety of interesting people of different staying at the Guesthouse. It is worth bearing in mind that many of the people who run the organisation are doing this alongside other jobs and commitments which means that sometimes they aren’t the most organised bunch when it comes to welcoming new volunteers but as long as you are proactive with them I found the set up to be more than adequate but remember – you get out what you put in when it comes to volunteering, it’s down to you to make the experience as fully immersive and worthwhile as you would like it to be.

It is the Communication Team’s job to share and document the volunteer experience right from the start of every journey – reaching out to new volunteers in advance of their arrival, welcoming them in their first days and finding creative ways to share their first impressions and experiences using social media and the website. There is a weekly team meeting, where everybody gets together and catches up on the progress of the projects, the volunteer house and where the communication team should focus most of their efforts and what the aim is for the week. Depending on your Spanish language proficiency this can be quite a daunting challenge to start with (it’s all discussed in Spanish) but it’s amazing to see how your understanding and input develops as the weeks past and confidence grows.

Up to once a week you travel out to the volunteer projects at different stages – photographing and interviewing the volunteers and coordinators when the time is right. This is a great opportunity to see parts of Buenos Aires you would never see as a tourist and also to navigate the public transport to reach the more remote projects base outside of the city. There are always special events, educational and social gatherings to report back on and it is important to use your initiative for new topics for blog posts and ways to present and spread the ideologies and practices of the project. If you take some time to travel the rest of Argentina or get involved in another aspect of Porteño life the team actively encourage you to share your experiences.

Those interested in the more technical side of filming with their own cameras and equipment (the project has no equipment to lend you, so it is important you bring your own laptop/software/camera to get the most out of the communications programme) have recently been working on developing and recording a ‘Buenos Aires Survival Guide’. This is a series on YouTube that will feature volunteers from all over the globe, sharing tips and funny experiences. Location scouting, filming and documenting the real heart of the city, practicing editing and casting the right volunteers for the job is both challenging and enjoyable for all involved. Scheduling and mapping out routes and timetables for filming and where it is possible to get the best visuals and interesting view points of the city is also really great experience for those interested in a career in the media.

Working in the Communications Team is a varied role and challenging role – it is a perfect way to share skills and experience whilst adjusting to a new way of life in Argentina, meeting and interacting with locals and travellers alike.”

Film & Photography Internship in Argentina