Overview
Teach and Travel in Central and South America for Six Months

This combination program gives volunteers the opportunity to work, live in and explore four Latin American countries for a total of six months; from the highlands of Guatemala to the jungles of Honduras, the snow-capped peaks of the Andes of Ecuador to the deserts of Peru. Volunteers will teach on GVI-run projects, which are dedicated to teaching literacy and numeracy to underprivileged indigenous communities. Throughout your travels you will gain one-on-one Spanish lessons, have plenty of time to practice at home stays throughout your journey. This combination also contains a huge number of exciting adventure and cultural trips letting you discover the best of central and South America.

View Film Footage, images, blogs, volunteer stories from the field, volunteer video diaries and more at the programs media centre

To be able to experience four different cultures in four different countries, and being able to make such a difference to each, really impressed how diverse Latin America is.

Jason Bond, 2007 Volunteer

What Difference Does This Project Make?

Volunteers will be working in GVI's Programs, which provide educational reinforcement and first-time education, funded through volunteer contributions. We also run a food program. Without these projects, education would not exist for most of our children in Guatemala and the children in Honduras, Ecuador and Peru would not have access to primary reinforcement in the understaffed schools.

Highlights

Teaching in indigenous communities; taking one-on-one Spanish lessons and practicing on the friendly locals; building an energy efficient stove; enjoying multiple side trips to do a variety of things in a range of locations, such as traveling to Lake Atitlán, hiking through Colca Canyon and trekking the Inca Trail to reach the spectacular Inca ruins of Machu Picchu, Peru.

Location

In Guatemala volunteers live in Antigua and project work is carried out in communities approx one hour journey away.

In Honduras, volunteers live in Copan Ruinas, a tiny colonial town close to the famous Ruins. Project work will be undertaken approx 30 mins from town.

In Perú, volunteers are based in Arequipa, between the desert and the Peruvian Andes. You will travel to nearby communities for work.

In Ecuador, Otavalo is our base town and our projects are situated an hour away up in the mountains.

Field Conditions

Living with local families in comfortable but basic accommodation allows for an enriching cultural experience and the valuable opportunity to practice Spanish! All accommodation provided is private, has washing facilities and includes three meals a day; lunch is eaten in the communities.