Overview
Volunteer in an orphanage in Honduras

Volunteers joining this program will typically be working with children and orphans aged between 4 and 6. Volunteer’s time will be divided between GVI’s supported school with indigenous children and three afternoons a week in the local orphanage in Copán. These children may never have attended school before and will need help mastering all the classroom basics, such as holding a pencil, drawing lines, their first letters and numbers etc. Working with young children is an immensely rewarding experience and although often challenging, every day is full of fun and laughter. Classes are fairly informal, fun and interactive with lots of different activities for them to master. Please note that due to project dynamics volunteers may be required to assist in other classes with the older children from time to time.

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To work in the community in the morning and the orphanage in the afternoon is the best way to experience two different ways of life in rural Honduras

Harry Smith

What Difference Does This Project Make?

With just one or two teachers per school, the volunteers’ teaching presence allows the children more opportunity to receive help in their education. The younger children are often just included with other grades, so having a volunteer dedicated to them at an early stage in their education is a big benefit. A substantial part of the fee goes towards the day-to-day running costs of the projects themselves throughout the year, including daily transport, food subsidies for the school meals and fruit for the children (sometimes their only meal of the day), educational materials for classes, painting and maintenance and the GVI Secondary School.

Highlights

Living with a host family in Copán, learning Spanish (optional), visiting the ancient Copán ruins, working with indigenous children, working in an orphanage three days a week, take adventure side trips, optional cultural workshops and excursions, amazing community interaction.

Location

Volunteers live in Copán Ruinas, Honduras, a tiny colonial town close to the Copán Ruins, which is one of the more detailed Mayan ruins in the Americas. Located half an hour from the Guatemalan border and a few hours from the stunning Caribbean Bay islands of Roatan and Utila, Copán serves as an ideal base for exploring Central America. Project work will commence in the Chortí community of San Rafael, which is within a half-hour pickup journey from the town. The orphanage is located in Copán.

Field Conditions

Living with local families in comfortable but basic accommodation enriches the volunteers’ cultural experiences and gives them the valuable opportunity to practice their Spanish! All accommodation provided is private, has washing facilities and includes three meals a day.