Description

At Cultural Embrace we specialize in connecting individuals with international experiences. This Spring, join us on a pre-planned Service & Cultural Trip to Guatemala! Cultural Embrace wants you to be more than a tourist; we want you to fully interact with the local culture and communities you are visiting!

Choose from Medical, Environmental, Teaching, or Construction Volunteer Projects.

Volunteer projects include: Teach, tutor, and play with children in low-income daycare community centers. Work with street children, handicap & disabled children, and troubled teens. Work in hospice, local hospital/health centers, pharmacies and nursing homes. Help build and maintain gardens and yards in at-need community centers. Contribute to building, fixing, and painting for at-need construction projects in schools and community centers. Groups may work together on one project or be divided into teams to work on different service projects- based on group size, skills, and Spanish language knowledge.

Note: minimum 6 people per trip

Highlights

What's Included:
* Accommodations, lodging with host families; hotel or apartment stay available for additional fee
* Meals (B/L/D: breakfast, lunch, dinner)
* CE Staff Trip Leader
* Local Ground Transportation & Transfers Excursions
* Service & Cultural Activities as per itinerary
* Travel insurance
* Pre-departure & Local Support
* Local English Speaking Guides
* 24-hour emergency contact numbers

Itinerary

Day 1: Saturday (D)
Meet and greet with your local English-speaking guide and driver outside of Guatemala City's airport's customs. Transfer to Antigua--dinner and overnight at host family's home.

Day 2: Sunday (B, L)
Depart Antigua ~6am. 7am breakfast and rest stop at Tecpan. 10am arrive at Panajachel. 10:30am boat tour of Santiago Atitlan. 1:30pm Return back to Panajachel. 2:00pm Lunch at Panajachel. 3:30pm Depart for Antigua. 6:00pm Return back to Antigua. Evening at leisure and overnight at host family.

Day 3: Monday (B,L,D)
Breakfast with host family. 8am-12pm: Service Project. Boxed lunch from host family. Afternoon: Service Project & tortilla making. Overnight with dinner at host family's home.

Day 4: Tuesday (B, L, D)
Breakfast with host family. 8am-12pm: Service Project. Boxed lunch from host family. Afternoon: Service Project & visit coffee plantation via bike. Overnight with dinner at host family's home.

Day 5: Wednesday (B, L, D)
Breakfast with host family. 8am-12pm: Service Project. Boxed lunch from host family. Afternoon: Service Project & visit an eco-park. Overnight with dinner at host family's home.

Day 6: Thursday (B, L,D)
Breakfast with host family. 8am-12pm: Service Project. Boxed lunch from host family. Afternoon: Service Project & Salsa dance lesson. Overnight with dinner at host family's home.

Day 7: Friday (B, L, D)
Breakfast with host family. Service Project in Antigua. Transfer and hike Volcano Pacaya with boxed lunch. Overnight group dinner buffet.

Day 8: Saturday (B)
Breakfast with host family. Transfer to airport for flight back to the States.

Travel Types

• Homestay
• Student Tours
• Tours
• Volunteering

Qualifications

* You must be at least 18 years of age. Or, if younger than 18, you must have parental or guardian consent.
* Dedication to the full week commitment
* Enjoy providing a service and working with others in a challenging environment.
* Open to foreign cultures
* High level of responsibility

Languages

• English
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

USD 1,160 for the first week; USD 215 each addtional week

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Age Range

18-80

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Essay
• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Letters of Reference
• Other
• Phone/Video Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Resume
• Transcript
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

2 weeks-1 year

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Cultural Embrace's Mission Statement

Our mission is to encourage people to recognize and appreciate cultural diversity. We believe that visiting a place firsthand allows one to truly experience the authenticity of a culture and develop his/her own impressions. Our goals are to provide quality service and opportunities for people to explore their world and enlighten their eyes, mind and heart. Traveling is a reciprocated flow of communication and interaction between people...the more you seek, the more you learn. "Discover the Similarities - Share the Differences"