Description

Our partner organization in Alotenango focuses on education for children and adults. They provide homework help as well as recreational and educational activities for children and teach them about nutrition, personal hygiene and environmental protection.

The organization also assists adults with lectures about nutrition and teaches them professional skills like sewing or gardening.

Volunteers are needed to assist the teachers with their work with children and adults alike. Particularly welcome are volunteers who can teach English and computer skills.

Alotenango is a town of about 16,000 inhabitants in Guatemala's central highlands, approximately 10 km (6 miles) from Antigua.

Roughly 70 percent of the town's inhabitants are indigenous. The local economy is mostly based on agriculture and 35 percent of the population is estimated to be illiterate.

Many families in Alotenango live below the poverty line and particularly the children suffer from poor living conditions and lack of adequate education and healthcare.

Highlights

- Program Length: From 1 up to 24 weeks
- Program Date: January thru November, flexible start & end date
- Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, from 3 to 8 hours per day
- Accommodations: Homestay (Alotenango or Antigua)
- Transportation: Varies; 20 Minute walk or short bus ride, volunteer pays for the transportation
- Meals: Yes, 3 meals a day Mon-Fri / 2 meals Saturday / no meals on Sundays
- Requirements: 18+ years, high intermediate Spanish knowledge

* To be successful volunteering with a local NGO you need to be able to motivate yourself. Regardless of the country and program, to get the most out of your time abroad you need to quickly get to know the placement.

Find out where you can be of the most help and jump right in. Sometimes you might be the only person working on your particular project. You will have to decide what to do and how to do it. While our ABV Directors and local staff are a great resource for getting ideas and talking about your plans, you shouldn't be surprised when they leave the big decisions up to you. Successful ABV Volunteers all have one thing in common: they take advantage of this freedom to design really excellent projects or manage

Qualifications

* Proactive - Jump in and maintain a positive attitude.
* Patient - Life in your host country moves slower than one might be used to. Relax and enjoy the slow pace. Remember, not everything is as organized and predictable as life in the US or UK.
* Flexible - Plans change, roads get flooded, and electricity goes out. Realize that not everything goes as planned, but good intention is always there.
* Considerate - Respect those around you and be a reliable worker at the program site. Tell your host family if you will be late. Advise the Project Coordinator if you are sick and can not work.
* Respectful - Remember that the local people you are working with, side by side, do so with little or no salary. They do this work because they believe in it. There are times when you may not agree with or understand the organizations decisions or direction. Although your suggestions are always welcome, your faith, respect and consideration for their long term work and commitment is appreciated.
* Friendly - In order to truly help someone you must get to know them. Do not be afraid to make friends with the local people. Smile, wave and see how fast you are welcomed into the community.
* Tolerant - The food, the culture, the smells and the sounds will be unfamiliar to you at first. We recommend that you dive in and experience life head-on. You will be surprised at how quickly you will adapt.

Languages

• English
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

895 - Check Our Website for updates

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

- Pre-departure Orientation Guide. Includes detailed travel, safety & cultural information and many tips that will make your trip planning easier.
- Detailed Fundraising Guide that will help you raise the funds needed to travel, as well as provide donations to the project. Ask us about a Widget
- Accommodations: Home stay, shared volunteer residence, guesthouses. Safe, clean, comfortable local housing, inspected by our local coordinators.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Special meals at request.
- Airport meet and greet by our ABV project coordinator (At any time, any day!)
- First night hotel accommodation *some programs
- Guidance and support of a local project coordinator, 24/7 in case of emergency
- Orientation/city briefing on arrival by our ABV project coordinator.
- Placement in a quality project, allowing you to maximize your time and efforts in a good cause.
- Transportation to project site with our ABV project coordinator. Includes introduction to local staff and community members with whom you will be working with.
- Volunteer Program: Half day (4 hours only) Spanish refresher Lesson. Part of volunteer orientation on arrival. (*Some countries)
- Departure transfer by our ABV project coordinator.
- A Feedback page on our ABV website with pictures of your trip.
- The Presidents Volunteer Service Award lapel pin (Bronze, Silver or Gold)
- Personalized Presidents Volunteer Service Award certificate of achievement.
- Letter of completion from A Broader View Volunteers Corp -- By request, A Letter of Recommendation provided by the local organization detailing the activities developed by the volunteer during his or her stay.
- Language and Immersion Programs: include 20 hours a week of Spanish Lessons. Refer to the specific country/city page for more details and cost (this is not included in the general volunteer program). Make sure we offer this program in that country.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Age Range

18 to 65

This Program is open to

American, Australian, Canadian, European and Kiwi Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Resume
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

24-48 hours

A Broader View Volunteers Corp's Mission Statement

Decided to create an affordable, safe and worthy program so that anyone who wished to travel and volunteer - could easily afford to do so.

Year Founded

2007