GoAbroad.com

Description

Our program in Central America covers Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica over the course of three months. University credit is available for a minor fee and while approximately 2/3 of our students choose to take this program for credit, many opt out in favor of a purely deep and enlightening experience. Our groups are smaller groups of no more than 12 students in order to not erode any efforts of cultural integration.

Actual volunteering takes the form of; construction in a remote village in the lowlands; environmental volunteerism in the Peten region; construction and environmental volunteerism in remote communities of the Alta Verapaz region of Guatemala; volunteering with sea turtles in Costa Rica, and sustainable building/alternative material development in Nicaragua. Our programs also incorporate 4 weeks of dedicated one-on-one Spanish classes early in the program complete with individual homestays, and typically finish SCUBA diving off the coast of Honduras in Roatan.

Students can expect to be pushed by our staff when there are appropriate growth opportunities.

Please note, our programs are not for adjudicated or troubled youth and carry an ethic of drug and alcohol-free volunteering. We find this helps clarify our intention in volunteering abroad while simultaneously providing a safer environment to learn in.

Qualifications

Most students come with some background in Spanish, and while helpful, this is not necessary. Please, however, do come ready to push your boundaries and grow with your traveling community.

Type of Programs

• Adventure Travel
• Community Service / Volunteerism
• Cultural Exploration
• High School Study Abroad
• Language Immersion

Languages

• Spanish

Languages Used as a Medium of Teaching

• English
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

7,900

Cost Includes:

• Excursions
• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Language instruction
• Living stipend
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Registration fees
• Travel while in host country
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Cost Include Description:

Portland State University College Credit is an additional USD 900. Airfare is not included but typically runs an additional USD 1,100.

Credit Available

yes

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

Most of our students are 19 years old and taking part in a traditional GAP Year. We do, however, regularly have students that are 17 and up to 24.

Age Range

17 - 27

This Program is open to

American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Dormitory
• Group living
• Home-stays
• Independent living
• Other

Participants Travel

in Groups

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of Maximum of 12

Scholarships are Available

please inquire for more information

Application Process Involves

• Essay
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Other
• Phone Interview
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

2 business days

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad

Year Founded

1997