Theatre for Social Inclusion
Villa Maria, Cordoba Province | Argentina
Argentina-003 | Print This Position Description
Fufill your dream of working in theater, designing sets, or directing a performance while forming deep relationships with and providing life changing opportunities to children passionate about the arts. Completion of third year university level Spanish required. March - December is the best time of year.
About the Organization
The Theatre for Social Inclusion is an NGO and a theatre company based in the mid-size city of Villa Maria in the Cordoba province of Argentina. They work with 80 kids from different backgrounds. They do not apply any particular theatre technique. They specialize in staging musicals at a highly professional level.
The company was born in a Special-Needs School as a workshop for kids with mental, intellectual and physical pathologies, who were having a difficult time to learn how to read and write. Its goal was to try a new method to awaken interest and motivate the kids.
Little by little it turned out into a space in which, with genuine enthusiasm, behaviors could be predicted and modified: previously unapproachable kids turned into endearing young actors and individuals that did not want to stop playing with their characters and their teacher. In that process, parents, brothers and neighbors started to join in the activity.
A year and a half later, after successfully accomplishing the pedagogical objectives set out, the workshop added another one: social integration. The company attracted children and adolescents from regular schools, street kids, all kinds of people charmed by the beauty the company could create.
It is hard to describe how desperately the kids grabbed this opportunity...and how their behavior, their self-esteem and dreams changed. They never skip a meeting, even when in some cases we know, they had to put up a fight at home.
The company successfully promotes a genuine and deep relationship between the children, their own and other communities. They take the Opera and Classics to places that seldom enjoy that art. Don Quixote, Dracula, Dorian Gray�s Portrait, The Canterville Ghost, One Thousand and One Nights, Caligula, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. It's a meeting between unlikely actors and an improbable public.
The musicals are sometimes special adaptations of the Classics specially done for them by a very famous Argentine producer. For instance, The Canterville Ghost was readapted including contemporary elements, such as the yankee and latino context, etc. Despite the volunteer nature of everybody involved, the organization attained very professional standards.
The company has had not only an impact on the kid's lives, but also on the community that had a disdainful vision of kids from lower income areas. Now, the City's Municipality invites them to perform, and they have toured a few other small towns.
Outsides the theater workshops, the group works on health promotion, educational inclusion and legal rights. For instance, they monitor and assess recent integration to regular schools of kids that previously attended to Special Schools. They also organize activities for families, such as the Costumes and Props workshops.
This is a growing organization with increasing demands. More and more kids want to join. They are getting more and more invitations to perform throughout the region, even in far away parts of the country. There is also the desire to increase the actions and interventions on the socio-familiar context of the kids. They are also very keen on learning about different techniques and experiences on similar contexts.
Job Description
Depending on the intern´s skills, a work plan will be defined by the organization before the intern arrives. Activities may include: facilitating workshops on Puppet theatre, assisting with the monitoring and assessment of children recently integrated into regular schools, Helping with the design of light and sound, facilitating workshops on creative drama techniques, assessment of participants' family background and needs, assisting in the costume and props production, English tutoring, institutional development, etc.
# of Positions per term
2-3
Start Dates
At the beginning of any academic term. March - December is the best time of year, but January - February is possible (summer months).
Duration of Internship
3 to 6 Months
Academic Background
This position is ideal for students of Theatre Arts, Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Education, Special Needs Education. Interns with additional interests and abilities in areas such as Arts and English teaching are particularly welcome.
Skills/Experience
Definite interest in Education and Art as a tool for social inclusion.
Language Ability
Good Spanish language communication skills (completion of 3rd year university level Spanish). Intensive Spanish refresher/upgrade course can be arranged in Argentina prior to internship (prices start at $125 per week for 20 hours/weeks). *This is highly recommended.
Other Requirements
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 $2,750 - $2,950. 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.
Estimated One-Time Expenses
| Expense Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Host Site Fees | $1400 for 12 weeks (includes room, transportation to Cordoba Province) |
| International Travel | $1100-$1600 |
| Visa Fees | |
| Recommended Immunizations |
*See Additional Cost Information below.
Estimated Monthly Expenses
| Expense Type | Price/month |
|---|---|
| Housing | included |
| Food | $100-$150 |
| Local Transportation | $25 |
| Recreation | $50 |
| Personal Expenses | $50 |
Compensation
None.
Additional Expense Information
$1400 for 12 weeks includes: reception at airport in Buenos Aires, bus to Cordoba province, accommodation with host-family, 24/7 in -country support, travel advice in Argentina. It is recommended to budget an additional $100-$150 per month for food and $100 per month for personal expenses.
Theater for Social Inclusion website
Villa María is located within the pampas plains. It is only 140 kms away from Cordoba, which is the third largest city in Argentina, and 600 kms away from Buenos Aires.
Villa María is a medium-size town, with about 80.000 inhabitants. Its principal economic activity are agriculture, cattle farming and dairy industry.
Villa María also boasts its own University and therefore attracts a large number of students from Cordoba and other provinces.
Due to the boom of agricultural prices, Villa María is a thriving city. Downtown, it is possible to find a large number of shops including all the most brands. Bars, restaurants and a musical scene cater for the large young population.
Average temperature in winter is 10 degrees Celsius. In summer, 24 degrees Celsius.
Last Updated on Aug 11, 2008