Volunteer Abroad in Your Gap Year

Our mission is to create a platform of cultural exchange between disadvantaged youth, their communities and worldwide volunteers.


Looking for a great experience?

Aldeas de Paz (ADP) is a sustainable grassroots NGO based in Santa Elena de Uairen, Venezuela, near to the borders with Brazil and Guyana in South America. ADP is independent from political, religious or business interests. Individual volunteers,iInterns, families and groups are all welcome regardless of age, experience or background. Fluency in spanish is not a requirement, we provide full on-site support for translation (along with free conversational Spanish classes). Our community outreach and development programs are aimed to enhance the life of children and young people in this remote and spectacular region.

I wanted to do something different, see something new and possibly give a meaning to that experience.
Eva Rampazzo / Copenhagen, Denmark


Our location and our Volunteers

Explore the world's most striking landscapes, help with meaningful volunteer work and meet like-minded people from around the world. Our headquarters are located in Santa Elena de Uairén, the heart of the incredible Gran Sabana National Park in Venezuela. This spectacular border region marks an triangle between Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana. We are at the center of one of the world's most impressive biological reserves while enjoying an extremely comfortable climate.

I can’t imagine a more beautiful place to be or better people to share my time with.
Kate Bodkin / London, Canada


Make a difference

Experience local cultures and meet the people Aldeas de Paz Volunteers and Interns work in direct contact with the lovely people of Santa Elena and in stunning locations: In the village center with local institutions, on the Foundations´ Grounds surrounded by a virgin rain forest reserve and in remote and authentic Pemón Indigenous Villages. ADP practices an "Open Book Policy" and offers financial transparency to beneficiaries and supporters alike.

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Mix & Match to Customize Your Experience

Youth Care & Community

teaching and tutoring local children

A unique chance to implement your own ideas and skills enhancing the lives of children
Mobile School

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The perfect project for energetic, creative and outgoing people to share their talents
Ecological Building

sustainable building projects

Learn construction and building pracitices in South America with carpentry projects
Environmental Conservation

volunteer with environmental projects

Make a positive impact on the environment
Medicine & Healthcare

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Be involved in the day-to-day running of a hospital
Pemon Aboriginals

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Gain close insight into the Pemón culture
 
NGO Management

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Experience the day-to-day running of a small grassroots NGO
ECO Village Art & Culture

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Participate in the culturalal and social movement of El Pauji eco-village
Therapeutic Riding

put your horse knowledge to work

Care for the horses and teach high-risk children how to ride

News Stories

News Stories and Updates

New Program

El Paují Exchange

Cultural Exchange and Progressive Art

03 January 2010

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This assignment places you in the middle of the cultural and social movement in a remote eco-village, El Paují. In the 70s, people from ‘outside’ started to arrive. They were mostly young urban couples seeking some peace and tranquility, and a more natural environment in which to bring up their children. Many creatives with a different vision of the world.

We would like to provide volunteers to help raise conservational awareness, create art and learn through the values of mututal respect on which the eco-village was created. Read more about the program.

Webpage Update

We Have a New Look

Updates continute, but look around!

05 March 2010

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After ten years, we have decided to update the look of our website! We hope that it is easier to navigate and find information. If you find any flukes within the recently-launched site, please contact us and let us know.

The next step will be to update our galleries and to continue keeping up-to-date information about our programs and initiatives on the page.

Elephant Grass

Conservation Grant

We earned a grant to help feed our horses

03 December 2009

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We are currently clearing an area of our land to plant elephant grass. This crop grows very well in the otherwise rocky and nutrient-poor soil that in found in areas of the Sabana. The crop will help put the land to good use and also provide food for our horses.

School Improvement

Phase Two Complete

With fundraising help, the work continues

12 August 2010

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We started an alternative school project two years ago and had to stop the building of the school after a year as direct consequence of the “worldwide financial crisis” which affected our funding resources.

The school is in the second stage. This initial plan includes 3 classrooms, a kitchen with storage, bathrooms with an area for changing, a dining area, a children’s playground and recreational facilities. The completion of this phase will allow us to begin teaching pre-school and first-graders. From here we will add 2 classrooms every year, and an art workshop next year.

The school and surrounding playground are to be built in an ecological and sustainable manner. Join our building team to help the progress along!

Fundación Aldeas de Paz is a Registered NGO in Venezuela •• Feel free to email us with any additional questions or call (0058) 289 416 0718. © 2010 Aldeas de Paz. •• Updated 15.08.2010