Incredible Volunteering in Guatemala: Program Costs from USD 250!

  Guatemala

Antigua

Term: Academic Year, Fall, Spring, Summer, Throughout the year, Trimester, Winter 
Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: 1st and 3rd Monday of each month

Description: International Volunteer HQ's partner organization in Guatemala requires volunteers NOW! IVHQ has a wide range of volunteering opportunities available in teaching English, childcare/orphanage work, medical placement, working with the elderly, animal care/animal rights and construction and renovation work in Guatemala.

* Teaching English

The ability to speak English gives Guatemalans a genuine opportunity to find work and build a career in tourism, business, or teaching. Volunteers play an integral part in providing free English to adults and children so they can learn English. Volunteers work in a variety of settings including English learning programs for the poor, public schools, community centers, and public libraries. Work varies but generally consists of providing tutoring to local students, setting up workshops, assisting local teachers and organizing educational games and activities. Classes are taught in the mornings or evenings. Volunteers also participate in cleaning and fixing up the teaching areas as well as fundraising, and collecting donations of books and other educational materials.

NB: Volunteers DO NOT need to be a qualified or experienced teacher.

* Childcare/Orphanage

The childcare program in Guatemala provides individual attention and assistance to children from poor homes and communities. Many children at the projects we work with are affected by poor home life, little to no schooling and alcohol and drug abuse among their families. Volunteers will work in street children centers, orphanages, and schools. Work varies but generally consists of providing individual attention, playing with children, organizing games and activities, educating children regarding hygiene, and assisting with home work. Volunteers play an important role in working alongside local staff to improve the educational, emotional, and hygiene conditions of the children.

* Construction and Renovation

Guatemalan construction projects are focused on home-building, school and orphanage renovation, and building playground and bathroom facilities for areas that don't have them. Volunteers work with a local foreman who provides guidance and training, along with families and other volunteers. Volunteers should come ready to work and to work hard, as you'll be laying brick, doing carpentry, painting, laying tile, and landscaping/gardening. Volunteers are not required to have experience with construction work, but a reasonable level of fitness and strong dedication to the work at hand will go a long way to ensuring you get the most out of your volunteer project.

* Healthcare

The rural areas of Guatemala contrast sharply with those in large cities, especially with respect to medical care. Volunteers get hands on experience working in small local clinics for the poor and/or working with local doctors and nurses on medical programs providing check-ups and basic medical care in poor communities and at orphanages. Our health are some of the highest impact opportunities we offer, both in terms of what the volunteer provides to the local community as well as the field experience the volunteer gains from the experience. It is important that healthcare volunteers have realistic expectations with regard to the activities that they will get involved in (see below). Medical students should understand that independence in medical projects will always be determined by: - level of training and demonstrated expertise - Spanish level - age - personality and ability to take initiative - duration of program

NB: All healthcare volunteers must bring evidence of their level of education, their white coat and their stethoscope.

* Pre-med, 1st year or 2nd year medical students

Clinic or hospital for low-income families:
- Triage: Taking weight, height, blood pressure, heart rate, temperature
- Hospital wards: Making beds, cleaning, talking with patients
- Materials: Preparing materials, sterilizing equipment

Clinic for mentally and physically disabled children:
- Activities: Taking the kids to the park or farm, organizing art and crafts workshops, providing individual attention
- Mealtimes: Assisting during mealtimes, assisting with tooth brushing

* 3rd year or 4th year medical students and medical professionals

Clinic or hospital for low-income families:
- Cleaning wounds, giving injections and sutures
- Consult rooms and specialized departments: Assisting doctor taking physicals and histories
- Campaigns: Giving vaccinations, taking records, drawing blood samples

Clinic for mentally and physically disabled children:
- Activities: Taking the kids to the park or farm, organizing art and crafts workshops, providing love and attention
- Mealtimes: Assisting during mealtimes, assisting with tooth brushing
- Physiotherapy: Providing basic assistance with physiotherapy

* Working with the Elderly

Elderly care programs in Guatemala place volunteers at nursing homes and senior centers in and around La Antigua. The focus of these projects is to help create a compassionate and friendly atmosphere for the elderly. In the communities where we work, elderly people are from very low-income families and now late in life they rely on local service organizations even for their basic needs. Unfortunately, most of these organizations are extremely under funded and international volunteers are a great source of manpower and support for these organizations and communities. Volunteers provide one-on-one attention, basic healthcare, and socialize with senior citizens. Volunteers also organize recreational activities, medicine distribution, and meal preparation. Some volunteers have even created exercise programs, song and dance activities, and arts and crafts projects.

* Animal Care/Animal Rights

Culturally speaking, in Latin America dogs and cats are not really looked upon as integral members of the family the way they are in more developed countries. This often this leads to neglect and animals being abandoned on the streets. The projects we work with protect these animals and provide human company, medical treatment, and playtime for the animals. They also lead educational programs in local schools, spay/neuter programs, rabies vaccination clinics, and fund-raising events. Volunteers work bathing and brushing the animals, providing basic obedience training, cleaning cages, and walking and playing with the them; small construction projects like building dogs runs and creating fences along with photography and fund raising are other activities that volunteers do.

NB: This program has a two week minimum commitment.

Highlights:
* Extremely affordable program fees
* Quality Programs
* Flexible Placements
* 24/7 Support
* Loyalty Program
* IVHQ Information Booklet
* Discount Spanish lessons

Qualifications: Volunteers must be 18 years or older at the beginning of the program and have at least a high school education. Volunteers participating in the health care must have appropriate training and certification (to be presented to IVHQ partner staff on arrival in Guatemala).

We recommend that all volunteers regardless of their Spanish language ability (unless they are extremely fluent), take advantage of the very affordable Spanish lessons offered exclusively to IVHQ volunteers by our program staff in Guatemala. Past volunteer feedback has shown us that volunteers feel they can contribute far more with some Spanish ability. Spanish is NOT a prerequisite for our Guatemala program, however on certain placements (such as medical placements) the level of work a volunteer can do will be restricted with limited Spanish. Our local staff in Guatemala offer hugely discounted Spanish lessons to our volunteers and a wide variety of options (one on one learning, group classes and a local student language exchange). More details on these options are provided when a volunteer registers.

Minimum Education: High School

Cost in US$: Program Fees from USD 250 (1 week) to USD 2,750

* Program Fee
- Airport pick up
- orientation
- program supervision
- accommodation and meals during volunteer placement period
- In-country 24/7 volunteer support and In-country administration costs

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18-75

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Guatemala Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of 2-6

Scholarships are Available. Inquire at university or colleges or online

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad

International Volunteer HQ's Mission Statement: International Volunteer HQ aims to provide volunteers with quality, flexible, safe and highly affordable volunteering placements in developing countries. In addition to providing aid and assistance to these countries, International Volunteer HQ endeavors to increase education and heighten awareness through not only the skills and expertise taken by volunteers to their host communities and institutions, but also through the experiences and lessons volunteers will in turn take back to their own countries and cultures.

Year Founded: 2007