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.

LOCATION OF GUATEMALA VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS

IVHQ has volunteer placements in Antigua and surrounding towns and villages. Antigua is a very old colonial city in Guatemala, located approximately 30 minutes out of Guatemala City. This town is extremely popular with volunteers and has a lot of work available.

START AND DURATION OF GUATEMALA VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS

Volunteers can begin our Guatemala placements on the first and third Monday of every month. We can also start volunteers on Mondays outside of the first and third Mondays but please enquire with IVHQ staff about this before applying. Volunteers can choose to volunteer for periods of one week to six months.

GUATEMALA VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS

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).

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

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.

GUATEMALA VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT DESCRIPTIONS

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

1. 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
2.  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

1. 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
2. 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.

GUATEMALA PROGRAM COSTS

One of the strengths of IVHQ is our extremely affordable fees. CLICK HERE to see the program cost to volunteer in Guatemala and what you receive in exchange for your fees.

ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS

Volunteers are accommodated in either a home-stay or volunteer house where they will live with a local family or other volunteers. We give that local family money from your fee for support, food and board. It is exciting to stay with a family; that way you will learn the Guatemalan way of life, meet local people, eat local food, speak the local language (Spanish) and engage in local customs and traditions. Living is comfortable and all home stays and volunteer houses have electricity and running water. Volunteers can expect to share a room with one or two other volunteers but in some home stays volunteers get their own rooms. Guatemalan food is tasty, diverse and volunteers can expect to experience a myriad of flavours and meals during their home stay experience. If volunteers wish to eat out, there are a large numbers of restaurants and diners to suit all tastes and budgets. If you have special eating needs, please let us know ahead of time so that we can make arrangements for you. However, we need to stress the point that you should not expect to eat as you normally do at home. We will do our best to see that you are well taken care of, but also as a volunteer, there is a need to be flexible.

ORIENTATION

Orientation will begin on the first and third Monday of each month and last for approximately one day. Orientation will be conducted by staff in Antigua and cover everything you need to know for your volunteering placement in Guatemala – Introduction to Guatemala, Guatemalan Customs, Rules and Expectations, Safety, Travel Opportunities in Guatemala and Introduction to your project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing. Once orientation is complete, volunteers will be transported to their home stay and introduced to all relevant parties – home stay family members and program placement staff.

LANGUAGE COURSE

Spanish language courses are available for all volunteers regardless of their ability. IVHQ strongly recommends these for all volunteers unless they are extremely fluent. If a volunteer's Spanish is none to basic and they are staying for a period of longer than two weeks then volunteers should strongly consider these courses as they will allow them to work and communicate with all parties a lot more efficiently during their stay. These language courses are organised on your arrival in Guatemala at the program orientation. The language course is tailored to each volunteer's current level of Spanish (program staff are also professional Spanish teachers, so volunteers find these lessons very effective and worthwhile). The cost is very affordable and offered exclusively to IVHQ volunteers.
Small Group Classes:  1 week 

1 hour/day n/a

2 hours/day     US$40 Total price for entire course

3 hours/day     US$70 Total price for entire course

4 hours/day     US$80 Total price for entire course
Small Group Classes:  4 weeks 

1 hour/day       n/a

2 hours/day     US$140 Total price for entire course

3 hours/day     US$295 Total price for entire course

4 hours/day     US$305 Total price for entire course
Private Classes:  1 week 

1 hour/day        US$30 Total price for entire course

2 hours/day      US$60 Total price for entire course
3 hours/day      US$90 Total price for entire course

4 hours/day      US$120 Total price for entire course
Private Classes: 4 weeks 

1 hour/day       US$115 Total price for entire course

2 hours/day     US$230 Total price for entire course

3 hours/day     US$345 Total price for entire course
4 hours/day     US$455 Total price for entire course

VOLUNTEER WEEK

First Day: On the first day of the volunteering placement, the volunteers will be escorted to the project and introduced to the staff at the project you will be working with.

Weekdays: While our programs are flexible and can be fitted to your requirements, an example of a typical day is as follows.

• 8.00AM Breakfast with the host family or other volunteers in the main volunteer apartment.
• 8.30AM Volunteer leaves home and takes a taxi, catches a bus or walks to the project.
• The volunteer joins with the local staff. You will be given a duty roster and a plan for your work. There is usually a tea break and a lunch break. Work and hours are dependent on the project and the location that the volunteers are participating in.
• 12.00PM - 4.00PM Work at the project usually ends. The volunteer at this point is free to visit and see places or do shopping. You may also want to hang out with the kids up to around 6.00PM.
• 6.30PM Dinner with the host family or other volunteers.

Weekends: During the weekend, volunteers have spare time and usually just relax or take the opportunity to explore other parts of their local district and Bogota. Long weekends can be taken to go and explore Colombia or to travel further afield to places such as Peru, Brazil or Venezuela. If volunteers wish to volunteer over the weekends they can join the local staff and visit the projects to spend time helping the local staff.

Guatemala INFORMATION

Capital: Guatemala City
Population: July 2009 estimate 14,000,000
Official languages: Spanish, 22 indigenous languages
Currency: Quetzal (GTQ)
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6)

• FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions we receive about our volunteer placements.
• Why volunteer with International Volunteer HQ?
• How to book with International Volunteer HQ
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