La Vida Idealist

Every year more and more people are traveling to Latin America to live, work, travel, and learn. And while these adventure seekers continue to check out the vast cultural, social, and environmental riches of the region – from the samba to tango, the Panama Canal to Patagonia – they are also increasingly looking for new ways to get involved. Instead of simply being a guest in their host communities, many are seeking to connect on a deeper level by helping out in whatever way they can – as volunteers, interns, friends, colleagues, and Eladers.

Sounds intriguing, right? So how do they get started?

The La Vida Idealist blog aims to help bridge the all-too-common gap between good intentions and action, as well as showcase some of the interesting and innovative work that’s being done by global citizens in this vibrant region. Featuring an array of contributors, it is a blog coordinated by an editorial team of idealists throughout the region to:

-Share the stories and journeys of those engaged in community service in Central and South America (where ”community service” means everything from volunteering to running a nonprofit organization of their own)

-Spotlight free and/or low cost opportunities for potential involvement

-Help good ideas travel throughout Latin America

-Provide tips and resources from experts in the world of global service and involvement

By showcasing these different perspectives in our blog, we aim to give you a better and honest sense of what it means to engage in community work abroad: the good and the bad, the challenging and the rewarding.