Volunteering in Patagonia: Membership and Volunteering Placement Fee

To perform volunteer work in Patagonia, you need to pay 300 €. This amount includes your annual membership fee to Asociación Mapu (60€) and your one-time volunteer placement organization fee (240€). 

By paying the annual membership fee, which you can decide whether or not to renew each year, and by paying to have your volunteer placement organized, you will directly contribute to financing Mapu's projects in Patagonia. At the same time this will allow you to keep volunteering in the future, as a Mapu member, without further placement payments.

Prospective volunteers sometimes question the need to pay a fee to willingly offer their resources, time and energy to performing a project in Patagonia. You need to bear in mind that while you are contributing your work with commitment and responsibility, you are also benefiting from a number of services which are fundamental for the organization of your Patagonia experience, and which are organized and sustained ad honorem by Mapu members. 

More importantly, your fees contribute directly, without any intermediaries, to supporting a community radio, granting micro-credits to small community projects, revitalizing and promoting the Mapuzungun language, currently endangered in the Chubut province, and many other social and cultural development projects in Patagonia.

The placement fee includes:

• Organization of your volunteer work placement
• Translation and/or edition of your Letter of Intent and Curriculum Vitae
• Placement confirmation with a detailed description of your volunteer activities
• Organization of your accommodation with a local host family, as well as hosts description and contact details before your arrival
• Regular contact with a volunteers’ coordinator for guidance and advice before your trip
• Access to orientation material to get ready for this experience.
• Orientation workshop
• Support and orientation during your volunteer work in Patagonia
• Private Spanish classes organization* 
• Language exchange organization*
• Extra activities information*
• Certificate of participation*

* upon your request

For further information on what’s included in the placement fee, please visit the Benefits section.

The placement fee does not cover:

• Travel expenses
• Accommodation and/or board costs
• Daily expenses
• Insurance
• Spanish classes or other extra activities cost

Before you send your fees

• Make sure that the placement you have applied for is available and that your application has been accepted.
• Read the Articles of Association of Mapu (abridged version), the Commitment with the Host Organization, and the Living with the Host Family Guide.

How and when to pay for your membership and placement fee

Please make a wire transfer of 300 € to MAPU Association's bank account. Do make sure that no bank administration costs are discounted from this amount.

Triodos Bank*
c/José Echegaray 5, Parque Empresarial Las Rozas, 28230, Las Rozas, Madrid
Beneficiary: Asociación Mapu
C/ Carlos Solé nº 26, C.P. 28038, Madrid
Cuenta Justa (Account Nº): 1491 0001 22 0010002444
IBAN: ES14 1491 0001 22 0010002444
SWIFT: TRIOESMM

*Why we chose Triodos Bank

You should wire your fee no later than 4 weeks before your arrival. Bear in mind that your accommodation will only be organized and your placement will be fully secured once we receive your fees.