Participate in Guatemalan Social Work Projects

Guatemala faces various social issues that need to be addressed as soon as possible in order to ensure sound social structure in this immerging nation. Children are usually the ones to suffer the most. With families often unable to support multiple children under one room, some children make the conscious effort to leave their homes – believing their chances for survival are somehow better if they control their own destinies. Such children need to be rehabilitated in their family/society by imparting them proper guidance and counseling. Under this project, our volunteers will do the same - all in hopes of providing a better future for these children amidst their social challenges.

Your activities as a volunteer

Volunteers will support these children by counseling them to return back to their family and lead a normal life. Volunteers can also teach those children various skills, educate them, tutor them, mentor them and make sure they are living comfortably with their families. Besides, volunteers can organize and run various workshops, social activities to raise awareness in the society.

Project skills required

No specific qualifications are required to join this program, yet participants must commit to help these often impoverished and tragic children. Volunteers in this project should be mentally prepared to deal with often uncontrolled circumstances Many of these children seldom realize the "reality" of living on the streets and some are "new" to their situations. All volunteers are encouraged to be flexible, patient and adaptive.

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) and 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 they are doing with their home stay and project. If project placement is very far, then our local staff members maintain communication by either email and/or phone.