Provide long term teaching assistance in indigenous communities and learn Spanish
Program Overview
Travel to the fascinating country of Guatemala, home to incredible Mayan ruins and erupting volcanoes, and live in Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and volunteer your time teaching in Spanish to indigenous children.
You will teach children from the age of 4 for one full academic year, providing long term assistance which will greatly aid their development. Depending on your level of Spanish you could be teaching anything from the children’s first letters and numbers, up to sciences and maths to the older classes.
This project is operated by our in-country partner, Phoenix. Phoenix have been working with indigenous communities in Guatemala for almost 10 years, providing an education in a safe and fun learning environment.
Life on the Program
You will work Monday to Friday in one of two indigenous communities, where over the course of your time you will establish a close bond with your class while providing a consistent education for them.
Your contribution is hugely important to these children and your hard work and effort in your lesson planning and class preparations will aid their development, even more so over the long term. Your days are long, leaving Antigua early in the morning and returning around 5pm.
Based in the beautiful town of Antigua, you will live a with a local host family in a comfortable and private, but basic setting, allowing you the opportunity to develop your own relationship with your family and practice your Spanish. Antigua itself is a small but bustling town with access to internet, shops and restaurants.
Program Details
Phoenix has worked with two indigenous communities since 2003, with the main aims to focus on literacy and educational reinforcement for the children of both communities, and to improve the overall standard of education in order to address a lack of knowledge in areas like basic hygiene and nutrition.
As a long term volunteer you will provide valuable assistance in the school and more importantly, continuity throughout the academic year. We track every child’s progress, so you will be able to see the direct effect you have had in their development.
Phoenix projects are based on a 25 year sustainable cycle where through the education provided, it is hoped the children will eventually have the means to afford education for their own families in the future.
Volunteer Testimonials
I credit GVI with putting me in an environment where I could experience Guatemala in a way that would not have been possible if I had just been travelling as a tourist. My time volunteering as a first grade teacher also heightened my pre-existing interests in education, and the community projects that I took part in through GVI drove home the importance of volunteer work that creates sustainable benefits for the communities involved.
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Program Details
Build Your Program
What's Included
- Pre-departure support and discounted services
- 24-hour emergency phone
- Airport pick-up (unless otherwise stated)
- Arrival orientation
- Long term experienced staff
- Safe and basic accommodations (usually shared)
- All meals (unless otherwise stated in field manuals)
- Welcome meeting
- Location orientation
- All necessary project training by experienced staff
- All necessary project equipment and materials
- 24-hour in-country support
- 2 weeks off every 3 months to enjoy the rest of what Guatemala has to offer. You will need to liaise with the project manager to organize time off
- Lunch
What's Not Included
- Flights
- Medical and travel insurance
- Visa costs
- Personal kit
- Additional drinks and gratuities
- Extra local excursions
- International and domestic airport taxes
- Meals on Sundays
