Who We Are

Founded in 2006, Voluntario Global was born with a mission to collaboratively address everyday challenges through education, health, and employment initiatives. Our team of volunteers operates in diverse locations, providing support in areas such as school assistance and community kitchens. As our efforts expanded, we welcomed volunteers from around the world, collectively establishing a self-management system.

In the neighborhoods we serve, a significant issue emerged – young individuals (aged 18 to 25) were being excluded from higher education due to financial constraints. This challenge inspired the inception of 'The Laundry' (2006-2008). Here, young people found not only flexible employment enabling them to pursue their studies but also a dedicated space equipped with computers and kitchens for their academic endeavors. During this historical-political period marked by Kirchnerism, cooperativism-work, and the creation of public universities, education became a tangible and achievable goal with a clear political objective.

The birth of Comunidad MILPA (2012-2014) aimed to provide ongoing training for local youth in vegetable gardening and horticulture, emphasizing agroecological principles. Simultaneously, they learned about cooperative work culture, fostering an associative, supportive, and equitable approach.

For us, cooperatives are the outcome of activism, and activism is rooted in always envisioning where we are headed (activism of the urgency - IN MOVEMENT). Over the years, Voluntario Global has evolved into a NETWORK of organizations, currently comprising 13 entities. We convene in spaces of reflection, facilitated by Comunidad MILPA, where we collectively strengthen our individual initiatives. These gatherings cultivate bonds of understanding, solidarity, and respect, all geared towards a social, cultural, and political transformation dedicated to social justice and community-based cooperative approaches."

This approach translate into intercultural learning, a critical philosophy of volunteer engagement, so rather than simply "giving" and "expecting something in return," our volunteer programs promote deeper pedagogical and existential questions that are relevant to a much wider range of situations where people cross significant differences of power and culture. Therefore, in addition to an intention to collaborate across cultures, we seek to generate a critical awareness that accompanies volunteers as they confront the difficulties that all cross-cultural exchange presents.