- Guatemala
Overview
Poverty is highly concentrated in the southwestern communities of Guatemala City. In these regions, it is often vulnerable populations, such as children, those with medical ailments, & the homeless, that feel the most profound effects of such impoverished conditions. Help these village communities by offering much-needed services, including: feeding & clothing, education, construction, agriculture & medical work.
Specialized Program: Agriculture
Help underprivileged Guatemalan families learn to be self-sustainable, or even become local entrepreneurs. One of the project options asks volunteers to build a chicken coop for a family in need, meanwhile also raising the funds to stock it with 25 chicks. Once the chicks have grown, volunteers will then become the family’s first customers, using their purchase to supply a local feeding program. Or, volunteers with a green thumb can build & cultivate a garden space that allows families to grow their own small vegetables & produce. What doesn’t go to feed the family can be sold at local markets as a source of income.
Specialized Program: Construction
As volunteers will witness, many houses in the project communities have been poorly constructed as a result of the limited resources available to area families and individuals. Walls are made of metal, wood, or even corn stalks & plastic wrap. Floors are unfinished & makeshift roofs provide little protection. While in Guatemala, volunteers can actually build not just a new house, but home, for a lucky resident.
Specialized Program: Education
The education project in Guatemala has worked for years to build a partnership with local Guatemalan public schools. With the support of area principals & teachers, volunteers can help provide important supplementary educational experiences for the neighborhood children. This project is one of the largest in impact as the project school reaches over 30,000 kids a year.
Specialized Program: Feeding & Clothing
Volunteers can help to prepare & deliver a food box to a family in need. Not only does a single food box provide enough food for 10 days, its delivery is a chance for volunteers to be welcomed into a family's home. Here, they have a chance to learn more about culture, traditions, & that particular family's unique experience. Volunteers can also choose to give another much-needed resource to community members, shoes. As you bring shoes to their recipients, you will also offer wipes to clean their worn feet before trying on their new footwear.
Specialized Program: Medical
The medical project is designed to fill a critical void in local Guatemalan communities. Many neighborhoods do not have the resources they need to treat the full range of residents’ ailments. Though volunteers should come prepared to offer any number of medical services, the project does allow for a focus in one of several specialty areas. Volunteers can choose to spend their time in general practice, dentistry or optometry.
Includes
- International flights
- Meeting & assistance on arrival & departure
- Porterage at airport & hotels
- English speaking guide
- Meal arrangements and accommodations
Excludes
- Optional tour excursions
- Expenses of a personal nature
- Tips to driver, guide, hotel & restaurant staff