Volunteer Programs in El Salvador
Roughly the size of Massachusetts, El Salvador is a small country with a lot of big things going on, providing a number of opportunities to volunteer in El Salvador. Juxtaposed with its scenic landscape of over 300 rivers, El Salvador is currently experiencing a number of social problems, which unfortunately includes gang violence. Since the end of the Salvadoran Civil War in 1992, there have been many periods of fluctuating violence throughout the country. Although this has detracted from the influx of international tourists, it acts as a call to action for those looking to volunteer abroad in El Salvador, especially those interested in social welfare projects.

7 Volunteer Programs in El Salvador

GoEco - Top Volunteer Organization
GoEco - Top Rated & Award Winning Volunteer Programs Abroad
GoEco is one of the world’s top volunteer organizations, with awa...

Volunteer World
Volunteer World: Best Volunteer Abroad Programs Worldwide
Looking to apply your talent and expertise to a good cause? Find ...
See All 2 Programs
The Fuller Center for Housing
Global Builders - El Salvador: Build Alongside Locals
A Global Builders trip to El Salvador gives the opportunity to he...

Fundación La Niñez Primero
Volunteer Abroad with Fundacion La Niñez Primero
Choose between 2 volunteer program activities: Hospital Playgrou...

Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos
Volunteer in Latin America for a Year with NPH
Volunteers are accepted for specific roles in NPH service countri...

Habitat for Humanity International
Volunteer Abroad with Habitat for Humanity's Global Village
Embark on a transformative journey with Habitat for Humanity’s Gl...
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A Guide to Volunteering Abroad in El Salvador
Locations
There are two main mountain ranges in El Salvador that comprise about 85 percent of the country, which meet in the middle to create a central plateau. The central plateau is where the capital city of San Salvador is located, along with its neighboring cities. The remainder of the country is referred to as the Pacific lowlands. There are a handful of major towns and cities across the country, so it is possible to volunteer in El Salvador in a number of locations.
San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, is also the largest city in the country and provides the largest number of volunteer opportunities. The most common types of volunteer placements in San Salvador include public schools, family shelters, and orphanages. Volunteering in San Salvador is the best way for volunteers to positively affect communities in the most significant way, based on the sheer number of people living within the city. The city of San Salvador is small geographically, roughly 28 square miles, but it is dense, with a population of over 570,000 people.
Santa Ana is the nation’s second largest city, and is home to many teaching volunteer opportunities. Santa Ana is much more spread out than San Salvador, but has a much smaller population. The city is surrounded by a number of mountain ranges that give way to more rural areas. The top industries in the city are retail and manufacturing, specifically the processing of coffee beans. Santa Ana is in close proximity to some national parks and small rural towns, allowing volunteers to get the best of both an urban and rural environment.
There are also many opportunities to volunteer in the rural areas of El Salvador. These towns are typically fairly spread out from one another, and located within mountainous regions, making for a very secluded volunteer experience. Placements, such as farming and agriculture, not typically found in the cities are more commonly available in rural areas, but programs run on a much smaller scale. Volunteering in El Salvador’s rural areas will give volunteers the chance to create more personal relationships with locals and immerse more fully in a local community.
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