Guatemala: Teaching and Education Project

Introduction

Changing a country’s future means investing in the education of its people. Volunteer in Guatemala with a local grass-roots charity providing educational aid to underprivileged communities. Immerse yourself in local life with 25 x pre-departure Spanish lessons included.

Guatemala suffers from several challenges around its educational system. Poor funding, limited teacher training and a lack of resources are endemic, especially in rural areas. Many children are forced to leave school since their families cannot afford the costs of education, leaving them illiterate and with limited future opportunities.

This project places you in a charity established for over 30 years, situated in the beautiful region of Quetzaltenango. It is run by local people who have a close interaction and understanding of local community needs. By working side-by-side with charity staff you will have the opportunity to learn about Guatemalan life and culture.

The charity allows volunteers to bring creativity and fun to a range of subjects, from cooking classes to sports activities and maths clubs. We will match your skills and interests to areas where you can make a lasting change.

You may find yourself helping young children from 0 – 5 years olds with their social and language skills. Alternatively you could be teaching sexual education to adolescents aged 13-18 years old.
There are also opportunities to be involved in programs for adults, especially young mothers and pregnant women. You could help set up educational workshops on the preparation of nutritious foods and how to make the most out of available food resources. There are also workshops helping mothers create handicrafts which will generate family income and enable self-sustainability.

In your free time, explore one of the most diverse countries in Central America with optional excursions to ancient Mayan temples, soaring volcanoes and colourful colonial towns. Pre-departure Spanish lessons are included which will allow you to immerse yourself in local life.

Daily Life

On arrival in Guatemala we will hold a welcome induction in the city of Quetzaltenango, where you will be staying. This is a chance for you to meet our staff and get to know your neighbourhood. If you have chosen a home-stay option, we will ensure you are well settled in with your host family.

The next day we will introduce you to the charity and its staff, including the team-members you will be working with. During your placement, no day will be the same and you will be working closely with the charity staff in delivering educational projects which could range from teaching young children to setting up educational workshops for adults.

The placements are generally Monday to Friday, with flexibility to work full- or part-time. There may be ad-hoc requirements to volunteer on some weekends, if events are organised for then.
The charity will work around your schedule and provide free time, where possible, if you would like to do extracurricular activities or travel excursions. Quetzaltenango is renowned for the quality of its Spanish tutors and if you would like to learn, we can help incorporate Spanish lessons into your daily routine.

This hands-on experience will allow you to learn so much about Guatemala from locals itself.

Travel & Accommodation

We can organise accommodation to suit your preferences, from hotels and apartments, to homestays with local families. We can also organise travel excursions across Guatemala. Whilst these are not included in the placement price, all options can be arranged by us at cost-price with no added fees.

Requirements

• Age: 18+
• Minimum commitment is 2 weeks
• Passion and enthusiasm for volunteering in education
• Different projects require different levels of Spanish language skills: from no previous knowledge to advanced. We will provide 25 pre-departure Spanish lessons for all volunteers.
• Full travel & medical insurance
• Necessary vaccinations
• Necessary flights & visas

Cultural Tour Add-On (Optional)

Join an optional cultural tour of Guatemala, before or after your volunteering placement!

Delve deep into Guatemalan life with a customised itinerary covering travel, cultural activities and volunteering. This tour will enable you to gain a greater understanding of this diverse country and its people. Includes a local English-speaking guide. Tour length and itinerary can be customised.

ITINERARY:

Day 1

• City Tour: Your guide will take you around the city of Xela (Quetzaltenango), visiting the centre and markets. It is an opportunity to pick up anything you may need.
• Artisanal Textile Workshop: Visit a women’s cooperative that was formed after the Civil War and makes artisanal products so that its members can lead a more sustainable life. You will visit their typical clothes museum and also receive a 2-hour workshop on how to weave using the traditional looms. Take home the cloth you have weaved.

Day 2

• Tortilla-Making Class: Learn how to make tortillas which is a staple amongst Guatemalan food. Eat it with local cheese and other typical foods.
• Charity Visit: which works with indigenous communities on a variety of issues such as LGBTQ rights, women’s rights and migration. Have lunch with a representative of the organisation. After lunch, watch a documentary on the history of Guatemala, set in a coffee farm you will visit the next day, followed by a Q&A session.

Days 3-4

• Organic Coffee Farm Trip: Travel to a coffee farm run by ex-guerrilla fighters from the civil war. Day activities include:
  • Seeing how organic coffee is produced.
  • Waterfall and viewpoint hike. (Easy to medium difficulty).
  • Gain first hand experience of what the civil war was like from ex guerrilla fighters.
• Stay Overnight and have dinner with a family in rural Guatemala. Experience the difference in lifestyles in comparison to city-folk.

Day 5

• Volcano hike: Leave early morning for a hike.You can choose between a hard and easier option:
  • Santa Maria: Hard hike 3-4 hours up a volcano with stunning scenery.
  • Laguna Chicabal: Easier hike through a rural town and up a less steep volcano. There is a lake in the crater of the volcano which people use for Mayan ceremonies.

Day 6

• NGO visit: Learn about the brainwashing behind chemical farming and its effects in Guatemala. In the afternoon visit a charity that carries out organic agricultural projects. Take part in their field projects and have lunch in Tierra Verde.
• Evening activity options of:
  • Salsa lesson
  • Spanish language lesson
  • Chocolate-making class

Day 7

• Participate in a Mayan ceremony and learn about its significance.
• Free day in Xela
• Farewell dinner with host family and guide.

For prices and enquiries, please get in touch with us.

Costs

£599 GBP regardless of volunteering project length

* Check the latest currency conversions with xe.com
** All payments incur a 5% bank transfer fee
*** Placements are confirmed with a £150 deposit
**** The remaining balance is due at the earliest date of either (a) 30 days from payment of the Deposit, (b) date of your first Spanish lesson with us. 

What’s Included:

Project Fee includes

• Personal Placement Advisor
• Tailored project with a fully-vetted charity in Guatemala
• 25 x one-to-one Spanish lessons (taken pre-departure and online)*
• Your CV translated into Spanish
• Pre-departure placement preparation
• Welcome induction in Guatemala

*Spanish lessons are given by an experienced tutor from our school and taken before you leave for Guatemala. Connect in an online classroom where you can see and speak to your tutor. Learn from any location convenient for you with flexible scheduling options. Lessons can start once full project payment has been received.

What’s not included:

• Flights
• Airport pick-up**
• Visas
• Accommodation**
• Medical & travel insurance
• Vaccinations
• In-country travel and excursions**

**Whilst the below is not included in the project price, we can offer full assistance & support. All starred points (**) can be arranged by us at cost price with no added fees.

Premium Support Upgrade

We understand there’s a great deal to plan and organise for your trip. When booking a Placement, many of our participants choose to purchase our Premium Support Upgrade to benefit from the expertise, knowledge and experience of our Project Coordinators.

We can provide the personal advice you need to ensure your trip is organised with excellence and planned with efficiency; ensuring the very best experience possible. Read more about how we can help you.