This is a rare opportunity to contribute to some of Guatemala’s leading industries while spending time immersed in rural communities. You can be based in either a coffee or macadamia nut farming community at the base of the stunning Guatemalan Highlands working on sustainable volunteering projects to benefit locals.
The coffee co-operative that volunteers work with focuses on economic development and sustainable agriculture. Local farmers work their own land, producing organic coffee that is shade grown, hand processed and sun dried. The high coffee harvesting season is from December until early March, but there is plenty of work to do all year round.
The local organization planting macadamia trees seeks to address climate change, assist communities with self-sustaining agriculture and educate the public about the environment. By planting trees, they’re able to introduce Macadamia seedlings to communities as an alternative to slash and burn agriculture.
At both volunteer placements, you’ll work side by side with farmers, providing support in every step of the growing process.
Volunteers at the coffee plantation help in the nursery, with coffee picking, harvesting, weeding, planting shade trees and even packaging of the final product. You can also help with community outreach and restoration efforts.
We recommend stating a preference for the placement you wish to work in, but we cannot guarantee preferences as volunteers are ultimately placed where their help is most needed.
As you will be volunteering alongside the local families, you do not need to have experience in coffee/nut production or farming to participate.
Please note this project has an extra cost of US$75 (approximately CA$100) per week for the extra supervision, materials and logistics involved. This amount will be included in the Program Fee quoted to you by IVHQ when you apply.
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