From 1974 to 1983 the Murialdo Community Health System has graduated 140 volunteers. The authors describe the origin, evolution, objectives, operatio-nalization, educational methods and contends developed in the training. Repercussion of training on the volunteer and his family, on the community and on health services are analysed. Attainement of a job and personal valuation are main motivation for searching the program. Medical activities predominate over others. Relative resistance of health team members in recognizing volunteers role is observed. Concluding, limits and possibilities of this kind of training program are discussed.