About the Organization

EPES was founded in 1982 as a health training project of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile. Inspired by a vision of quality and fairness in health care for the poor, it offered training, guidance, and support for community health groups. Over the past twenty years, EPES has grown from a small, emergency-response team to a leader of systematic community campaigns to improve health services and awareness. Although the EPES Foundation maintains close links with the Lutheran Church, as an independent foundation it can operate with more autonomy and grow in accordance with the needs of the community. A Board of Directors comprised of academics, representatives from the Lutheran Church, and activists on health, human rights, environmental, and women's issues now directs its activities.

EPES is dedicated to improving the health and quality of life of shantytown inhabitants through the training and organized participation of the residents themselves. A staff of twenty health professionals and administrative personnel works in two centers, Santiago and Concepción. The EPES Center in Santiago is the headquarters for the organization, with a library, meeting rooms and a large conference room that can seat over one hundred people.

EPES trains local residents, mostly women, about illness and health; together, these community health promoters study their own communities' needs and advocate for improvements. The emphasis is on confronting local health problems and the underlying conditions that cause them. EPES' approach is unique in that the efforts of health professionals are combined with those of permanent teams of community health promoters. These teams diagnose and address the root causes of illness and fight for improved conditions and services. The health promoter training program lasts one year and includes three stages: motivation and selection; training; and organizational consolidation. Participants learn how to diagnose and prioritize a community's health needs and how to put their new public health knowledge to work in their own communities. Health teams develop their own work plans and operate autonomously. Through participation in a range of issue-based networks, EPES and its allies push for broad changes in social policy, especially at the local level.

Job Description

EPES creates an individualized program with appropriate assignments for each intern. The first week is considered an orientation period in order to get to know the organization and its work. During the internship with EPES, it is expected that each intern will get to know the other work areas of the organization in addition to his/her area and will also be able to participate in training activities and on-site projects in the communities. EPES provides appropriate work space as needed by each volunteer and covers work-related transportation costs and other work-related expenses. Each volunteer will have a supervisor to help guide them through the internship as well as provide monitoring and evaluations. It is asked that, at the end of the internship, each volunteer hands in a brief final report of his/her experiences of the internship, achievements, challenges, lessons learned, and suggestions for the organization.

Internship duties and activities could include:

· Support the design and execution of educational activities with the community: seminars, workshops, campaigns for women and teens of little resources.

· Participation in forming and consulting with Health Groups.

· Development of the evaluation process and systemization of long-term educational activities.

· Participation in the design and implementation of "Health Schools" at the local and international level.

· Participation in the Fund for Small-scale Projects on Sexual and Reproductive Health directed at community organizations.

· Involvement in the local community networks to tackle problems such as domestic violence, AIDS prevention, and sexual education for adolescents.

· Collaboration in the investigative process of the topics covered by EPES.

· Support in the creation, editing, production, and diffusion of materials pertaining to health education.

· Support in translation from English to Spanish or vice versa.

· Support in internal activities and diffusion of information of EPES' Educational Resource Center for Action.

# of Positions per term

1

Start Dates

Any time

Duration of Internship

12 weeks minimum, more preferred

Academic Background

Public health, health education, social work or other majors with pertinent preparation/experience.

Skills/Experience

Previous experience studying/working in Latin America highly preferred.

Language Ability

Must have completed 4th year Spanish or equivalent (including study abroad). Intensive Spanish refresher/upgrade course can be arranged in Santiago prior to internship (prices started at $125 per week for 20 hours/weeks). *This is highly recommended for interns who have not previously lived in Chile.

Other Requirements

Applicants must be motivated and committed to work in poor neighborhoods and be willing to take on the difficult problems encountered in these areas. Must be open to learn from the community for reciprocal benefits.

Total costs vary depending on how long you plan to be abroad, where you will be living, your personal spending habits, and current exchange rates. The following estimates will give you a ballpark figure for this internship. Get help with the math from our handy Cost Calculator.

IE₃ Program Fee

The program fee* for the first term of any internship is $2950 - $3150. You do not pay tuition in addition to the program fee. Visit your University's IE₃ page for details, costs for additional terms, and campus administrative fees.

*The program fee noted above reflects the anticipated fee increase that will go into effect for the Fall 2010 term and will apply to all terms thereafter.

Estimated One-Time Expenses

Expense Type	Price
Host Site Fees	$100 (EPES); $98-$140 (Contact Chile)
International Travel	$1400-$1600
Visa Fees	$100
Recommended Immunizations	$500

*See Additional Cost Information below.

Estimated Monthly Expenses

Expense Type	Price/month
Housing	$190-$350
Food	$150
Local Transportation	$75
Recreation	$50
Personal Expenses	$50

Compensation

none

Additional Expense Information

EPES is not in a position to provide financial support to interns. The Foundation asks for a voluntary donation of $100 from internship participants to help offset logistical and administrative backstopping costs.

Interns will receive assistance in locating suitable, safe and convenient housing. There are options to live with a homestay family, rent a room in a home or apartment or to rent a furnished apartment. Generally, rents run from about $190-$350 per month depending on the option, locale, etc. [a shared apartment is between 130.000 CLP and 150.000 CLP per month]. There is a one-time fee charged by a local agency to arrange housing and to assist with any issues that arise during your stay. The cost is $98 for interns staying for one term and $140 for two terms.

Interns should budget $550-$650 per month for rent, food and living expenses. Students planning to travel extensively on weekends or go out frequently should budget additional funds.

The Chilean Government charges a one-time $100 reciprocity tax upon entry into Chile.

EPES is located in the capital city of Santiago in a working class neighborhood. There are about 8 million people living in Santiago. It is a modern, urban environment with ease of transportation via the metro and buses. There are many activities in the area from museums and nightlife to shopping and extreme sports.

Read IE3 Blog - regional director's visit to Santiago de Chile

Information on Santiago

Santiago Tourist Information

Read an Article: EPES: 25 years making a difference in people's lives (2007)

Read Previous Intern Reports:

Doug (MPH student)

Laura