Get AMPED Abroad: Human Rights in Argentina

  Argentina

• Cordoba: 
Cordoba

Term: Throughout the year 
Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: First and third Monday of each month

Description: AMPED's human rights project in Argentina focuses on righting the wrongs committed during the country's Guerra Sucia (or Dirty War) and preventing such atrocities from happening again in the future.

Argentina's Dirty War, led by military leaders that had seized government control, was a campaign to silence political dissidents. From 1976-1983 military leaders executed some of the most repressive human rights violations in history. Over the war's thirteen year period, journalists, trade unionists, students, and activists were arrested illegally, tortured, murdered, or forced to disappear. Nearly 30,000 people "disappeared" during the war's period, taken away from their families and other loved ones without a trace.

An Argentine court later denounced the crimes as crimes against humanity and genocide.

The children of the "los desaparecidos" (the disappeared) are championing the memories and the struggle of their loved ones by continuing the pursuit of justice and solidarity, and advocating life imprisonment for those responsible for the genocide. The end goal is to bring awareness to the atrocity to ensure that the events are never repeated.

While AMPED volunteers are prohibited from engaging in any form of public protest, participants can help advance the cause of "the disappeared" through the following efforts:

* Surveying source information i.e. newspapers, books, documents, manuscripts, etc., and organizing the information into a systemized framework of research related to human rights in Argentina with special emphasis on the violations in Cordoba;
* Bringing awareness to human rights issues in Argentina and the efforts to confront them to European countries; and
* Assisting with planning and organizing fundraising activities.

Highlights: Participants receive FREE Spanish and Tango lessons.

Participants receive free Spanish lessons for 2 hours per day, Monday-Friday, for the duration of their stay, up to 120 hours.

Qualifications: Intermediate Spanish communication level and a minimum 3 month commitment are required for this project.

Cost in US$: Starting at 910

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: While participation is not limited to this demographic, the average age is 18-26. Program placements are in Cordoba, Argentina, which is a college town. Because Argentina tends to be known for its cultural sophistication, participants tend to be on the higher end of the age range. Participants that are flexible and open minded when it comes to cultural differences, ways of life, and work pace are those that tend to benefit most from their experience abroad, as do those that demonstrate initiative with regard to recommending and implementing changes to improve the project and to assist the staff.

Age Range: 18 and over

This Program is open to American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Argentina Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Other
• Resume
• Transcript

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Alumni Network

Year Founded: 2008