Overview
Volunteering and Adventure Travel in Guatemala

Volunteers joining this six-week programme will be immersed in one of several indigenous communities situated near Antigua, Guatemala. Surrounded by volcanoes and mountain lakes, volunteers will live in this old Spanish Colonial town to learn or improve their Spanish and travel to nearby rural areas to teach literacy to children as part of the project work. GVI, along with leaders of the indigenous communities, has developed its own schools to assist children who otherwise would not have the opportunity of any formal education or who need educational reinforcement.

Volunteers will also build energy-efficient stoves and have the chance to explore parts of Guatemala on two multi-day guided trips; getting the opportunity to see one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, cave in magnificent caverns and raft down beautiful rivers.

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

To build Alberto’s stove was without doubt the best day’s work I have ever done.

Jez Clarke, 2007 Volunteer

What Difference Does This Project Make?

Volunteers will be working on the first of GVI;s Programme in the area, which provides first time education and reinforcement to local community children, plus scholarships for them to attend national school (at primary, secondary and college levels). GVI also runs a food and fruit programme. Without these projects, education would not exist for most of the children. Volunteers also build two energy efficient stoves, removing smoke from family households and allowing them to save of up to 75% of their normal firewood consumption, which helps the family as well as the environment.

Highlights

Teaching in indigenous communities, building two energy efficient stoves, receiving one-on-one Spanish tuition, and going on two exciting multi-day adventure trips to Lake Atitlán and Semuc Champey.

Location

Guatemala is one of the jewels of Central America, packed with ancient ruins, active volcanoes and intriguing Mayan culture. Volunteers live in the beautiful old Spanish colonial town of Antigua, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Antigua is famed for its beautiful Baroque architecture and stunning ruined churches, and has three large volcanoes that dominate the horizon. Project work is carried out in communities all within a one-hour bus journey from the town.

Field Conditions

Volunteers live with local families in Guatemala in comfortable but basic accommodation, to have an enriched cultural experience and have the valuable opportunity to practice your Spanish! All accommodation provided is private, has washing facilities and includes three meals a day; lunch is eaten in the communities.