Abstract

This thesis provides perspective on helping and international volunteerism. Specifically, research was done with the volunteer organization, Voluntarios de la Esperanza, which recruits international volunteers to work in various hogares, or children's homes, in Santiago, Chile. The experiences of the creators of the organization as well volunteers are examined through the lens of notions of helping and altruism. The motivations of individual volunteers to participate in such a program is looked at as they play out against the goals of the organization and the hogares themselves. Because the ultimate recipients of the volunteer effort are children, it is particularly important to analyze how much real help is occurring. A second major question that is discussed is the idea of an apparent lack of volunteerism within Chile by Chilean in terms of whether or not this is actually the case, why this perception exists. Information was gathered through observation in some of the hogares hosting international volunteers, and semi-structured open ended interviews with current and past volunteers.