Working with Children Internships Abroad
Make a difference through Child Development & Youth Work Internships
Passionate About Working with Children? We Have a Program for You
Some people have always known they were meant to work with children. Others discover it on the road, in a classroom in Seville, or in a Youth Center for street kids in Quito. Either way, Adelante’s internships abroad for working with children are among the most enriching, flexible, and human experiences in our portfolio, available across seven destinations in Spain and Latin America.
Whether you’re teaching English in a Spanish school, supporting special education programs in Barcelona, working with at-risk youth in Uruguay, or volunteering at a renovated Youth Center serving children in underserved communities in one of Quito’s neighborhoods, every placement puts you in direct, daily contact with children who benefit from the energy, care, and cross-cultural connection you bring.
One of the best things about this field is its accessibility. Low Spanish speakers are accepted more in this sector than in almost any other sector, short-term placements are available alongside longer commitments, and the personal rewards are immediate and undeniable. If working with children is your calling or something you want to explore, this is the place to start.
Why Choose a Working with Children Internship Abroad?
Children are the most honest mirrors of cultural difference, and working with them abroad teaches you about people, communication, and yourself in ways no other professional experience can. Here’s why you should choose children-focused internships:
Serve communities that genuinely need you
From under-resourced schools in Spain to youth centers for street children in Ecuador and community programs for disadvantaged youth in Oaxaca, these placements put you where the need is greatest.
Build skills valued across education, social work, psychology, and public health
Direct experience working with children internationally is a powerful credential for any career involving people, especially children and families.
Develop cross-cultural child development insight
Every culture raises children differently. Working in another country’s educational and social support system gives you a perspective on child development and welfare you can’t get at home.
Available across seven destinations
Spain (Madrid, Barcelona, Seville), Uruguay, Chile, Ecuador, and Oaxaca, Mexico. Whatever region calls to you, we have a placement there.
Earn academic credit
Most Adelante interns receive academic credit through their home university, with full documentation support from our team.
These placements are open to candidates from education, social work, child psychology, early childhood development, public health, and any field with a genuine love for working with young people. Beginner and low-intermediate Spanish speakers are welcome in most placements, and Adelante provides language classes at the start of your program to build your confidence before you begin.
What Will You Do as a Working with Children Intern Abroad?
Your day-to-day work will depend on your destination, background, and specific placement, but here is a look at the types of roles and settings our interns work in:
Teaching & Academic Support in Schools
In Madrid, Barcelona, and especially Seville, interns are placed in academic school settings, teaching English, supporting classroom teachers, and working with children across age groups in a real Spanish educational environment. These placements are ideal for candidates pursuing careers in education, TEFL, or bilingual instruction and offer a unique window into how education works in another culture. Low Spanish is manageable in many of these settings, as English instruction is exactly what the schools need.
Special Education & School Counseling
Some Spain-based placements are within special education programs or school counseling offices, working alongside specialists who support children with disabilities, learning differences, or social-emotional challenges. These are rewarding placements for candidates in psychology, social work, or special education and offer clinical exposure that is rare in an international internship program.
Youth Centers & Street Children Programs
In Quito, Ecuador, Adelante places interns in a renovated Youth Center in one of the city’s most underserved neighborhoods, serving street children who have limited access to education, safety, and support. This is one of the most meaningful placements in our portfolio: demanding, humbling, and transformative. It is the kind of experience that becomes a defining chapter in your career story.
Community Youth Programs in Latin America
In Uruguay, Chile, and Oaxaca, Mexico, interns work within community organizations serving disadvantaged children and youth through after-school programs, tutoring, sports and activity leadership, creative arts, and structured social support. These placements combine direct work with children and community development experience, making them a strong fit for candidates interested in social work, international development, or child welfare.
Every Adelante Program Includes
AFFORDABLE PROGRAMS
Both our Internship Abroad and Study Abroad Programs are among the most affordable you’ll find. Explore a new country and gain meaningful internship experience that makes a difference, without being limited by your budget.
CENTRALIZED ACCOMMODATIONS
Enjoy your own private room in a shared city-center apartment, conveniently located near your placement, local life, and weekend adventures.
GUARANTEED, CONTRACTED INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT
You’ll receive a signed contract from your host organization before you arrive. We have placed 100% of our candidates in one of their requested fields and stand behind that with a guarantee.
CUSTOMIZED PROGRAM BUILDING
Your Adelante director builds your placement around your background, interests, Spanish proficiency level, and areas of interest. No cookie-cutter placements.
GUIDED REFLECTION EXERCISES
We help you identify and articulate the skills you’ve built abroad, an essential step in translating impactful international work into language that resonates on your resume, in interviews, and on graduate school applications.
ACADEMIC CREDIT SUPPORT
Nearly every Adelante intern who needed academic credit has received it. We provide full documentation and can work with your home institution to meet their requirements.
How the Application Process Works
1. Apply Online
Fill out our simple online application. There is no fee to apply, and it takes only a few minutes to get started.
2. Get on the Calendar
Eligible candidates receive a link to schedule a free, first interview by phone or Google Meet. Send in your resume and current photo before your interview to secure your spot
3. Interview
We’ll learn about your background, areas of interest, Spanish level, and goals so we can start building the right placement for you.
4. Interview Results
Within 1–2 business days, you will receive your interview results by email. Successful candidates receive an acceptance letter with clear next steps.
5. Confirmation
Confirm your spot within one week of acceptance with a confirmation fee. This means there is no tire-kicking, and you are committed to going abroad. A second interview and full placement details follow soon after.
6. Pre-Departure
Once confirmed, you will receive a comprehensive Pre-Departure Information Packet with everything you need to prepare for your time abroad, including visa guidance if required, along with cultural prep.
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Read MoreReady to Make a Difference in a Child's Life Abroad?
The children you work with will remember you long after your program ends and you'll remember them too. A working with children internship abroad with Adelante gives you guaranteed placement in a meaningful role, affordable city-center housing, full in-country support, and the opportunity to experience the world through the eyes of the children you serve. Low Spanish speakers welcome. Short-term and long-term placements available. Apply today — the kids are waiting!
Start Your ApplicationContact UsWhy Choose Adelante Abroad?
Adelante Abroad has earned the trust of thousands of candidates worldwide through 25+ years of guaranteed placements and life-changing experiences. Since 1999, we’ve specialized in providing affordable, customized internship and study abroad programs across Spain, Latin America, and Scotland, and we’re not a large, impersonal agency. We’re a team of seasoned travelers and international education professionals who’ve lived abroad ourselves and know what it takes to make your experience a success.
Every program is built around you: your goals, your values, your background. With in-country directors operating full-time in every city where we have programs, you’re never on your own. No matter where in the world you are.
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Intern Spotlight
“My trip to Barcelona has been truly amazing. My internship is great and has helped me expand my career. It’s going by so fast, but I’ve been soaking up every minute of it.”
Lauren S., University of South Florida
