Help construct Orphanages and Schools

Children, especially orphans in Guatemala lack proper facilities in housing and education. Proper infrastructure of houses and schools is necessary for healthy development and education of a child. RCDP International, through its construction projects, wants to offer safe environment for these children. Under this project, volunteers will repair or build homes and schools for orphaned children. Occasionally, you might also be asked to work in community improvement projects.

Your activities as a volunteer

Working hours are normally Monday – Friday from 8- 12:00 pm and 2- 4:00 pm. Hours may vary based on weather, project needs, and construction schedules. Construction projects are led and organized by a local foreman who will determine specific work projects and guide volunteers.

Project skills required

Construction labor is very physical in nature so volunteers need to be physically healthy. General worksite knowledge is important. Basic Spanish fluency is important, but not mandatory. If you cannot speak Spanish, we suggest you enroll in our Spanish language course to make your stay more rewarding – both for you and for the children you are helping.

Project Location

Antigua Guatemala or La Antigua was the third capital of Guatemala which also served as the colonial Spanish capital of Central America. It is a World Heritage Site and is probably the most popular tourist destination of Guatemala. Due to its popularity amongst tourists and its very well developed tourism infrastructure, Antigua Guatemala is often used as a central location in which many choose to set up base and from here, visit other tourist areas in Guatemala and Central America.

Accommondation/Meal and Supervision

In Guatemala, all volunteers stay with well-screened host families. Our host families are socially respected and are well versed in the art of hosting international volunteers. Host families offer a safe home, private rooms (occasionally rooms will be shared with other same-gender volunteers) and shared bathroom facilities with running water and a "western" style toilet. Volunteers can to do their own laundry at home or the host family may offer to do it for you for a nominal extra fee. You will receive three prepared meals per day. If you will be out of the house during lunch hour, you can request a lunch "to go" that you can take with you or eat out on your own. Host families provide typical meals that are traditional to Guatemala.

Throughout the volunteer project, our local staff stays in contact with volunteers either through visits or via email/telephone. With longer placements, we visit our volunteers every two weeks (when possible). Volunteers are always welcome at the local office. If project placement is near, we request that volunteers stop by the office once a week to keep us posted on how you are doing with your home stay and project. If project placement is very far, then our local staff members maintain communication either by email and/or phone.