Volunteer Programs in Guatemala City, Guatemala

Affectionately termed “Guate”, Guatemala’s capital city is filled with colorful surprises for visiting volunteers. Sure, she’s rough around the edges, but Guatemala City is also the heartland of Mayan cultural heritage and the country’s burgeoning art scene. New pedestrian areas pop up every year, transforming old industrial zones into lively destinations. Haggle over handicrafts in the underground Mercado Central, cool off in the lush Jardin Botanico, or wander out to active volcano Mt. Pacaya. Whether you’re an adventure seeker with altruistic intentions or an altruist with a lust for adventure, volunteering in Guatemala City doesn’t disappoint.

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1 Volunteer Programs in Guatemala City, Guatemala

Unidas Para Vivir Mejor

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Volunteer at Unidas Para Vivir Mejor

Volunteer with UPAVIM and support our mission to empower the women of La Esperanza, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Guatemala City. Contribute to initiatives that promote economic opportunities, enabling these women to provide for their families’ needs. You also help improve the quality of life for the entire community. Over the past 33 years, UPAVIM has grown from a small baby-weighing program to a women's cooperative employing over 100 local women and making handmade fairtrade crafts sold around the world. The proceeds from these crafts pay the women's salaries, as well as fund UPAVIM's community health clinic and school. The school offers a daycare, pre-school, and elementary school (K-6th grade). UPAVIM also manages the first public library in the neighborhood. Here, we offer free English classes and tutoring for all ages. We operate a bakery and a soy factory to provide the community with fresh and affordable goods. Are you interested in volunteering in Guatemala? Inquire today to get more information.

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A Guide to Volunteering Abroad in Guatemala City

Ways to Volunteer in Guatemala City

Guatemala is one of the least developed countries in the region, with high poverty rates and limited infrastructure, so there are always plenty of projects to keep volunteers busy in the capital. From educational programs for at-risk youth to animal welfare efforts, get ready to dive into a meaningful project during your time in Guatemala City.

Popular causes and volunteer projects. One of the most critical sectors where volunteer support is needed is public health. Hospitals and clinics in low-income neighborhoods and shantytowns surrounding the city are consistently underfunded and understaffed. Education is another popular field for volunteers to contribute in Guatemala City. Want to help write lesson plans that engage students, assist in the classroom, or lead extra-curricular activities? Help put the COOL in sChOOL for a cohort of Guatemalan young people! Quality English teaching is in particularly high demand, as limited educational resources make native-speaking educators unaffordable in public schools and low-income areas.

Volunteers who want to work outside with Mother Nature will enjoy environmental conservation programs near Guatemala City. Join ongoing reforestration efforts, participate in marine research, or protect local wildlife by clearing pollutants out of their habitats. If you’ve ever been called a “tree hugger” or been admired for your green thumb, volunteering on an environmental conservation project in Guatemala City is right up your alley.

Consider the length of time. Programs range anywhere from one or two weeks to multiple years and everywhere in between. Choosing how long to stay depends on your availability, local project durations, and program type. A beach clean-up could use extra hands on deck just for the day, but many educational and research programs need volunteers to commit to at least one month.

Do I need to speak Spanish? Volunteers can get away with not speaking Spanish, but la capacidad para conversar (conversational proficiency) will take you far. Though about 40 percent of Guatemalans speak indigenous languages, being able to communicate in Spanish is an undeniable asset when volunteering in Guatemala City, from coordinating with local project participants to ordering buñuelos at lunch.

Latest Program Reviews

Volunteering at Puesto de Salud and Centro de Salud

March 01, 2016by: Aylin - Munchen

Program: Customized Travel Plans in Guatemala

In General my volunteering experience was very good. My tasks were the vaccinations of adults and children, the control of children’s growth, and the supply of vitamins and medicines. I liked the personal contact with the patients and the nurses since that offered me the opportunity to improve my Spanish greatly! In Centro de Salud, the language barrier was difficult sometimes, but already after a few days that wasn’t a problem anymore! The support provided by Do Guatemala was very, very, very, very good!  The offerings for activities to fill my free time were great, the planning of my time in Antigua after Xela worked perfectly and fast, and I could contact the staff at any time! The time in the family Do Guatemala arranged for me was one of the greatest experiences I had in my time here. The meals were always great and my host mom always cooked something extra (vegetarian) for me to make sure I was satisfied. One thing I will never forget is when my host mom said: “My house is not a hotel or a restaurant, but we are a family living and spending time together.” I had two great months here and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to do adventures and experience new things you could normally not dream of! I would advise everyone to be open minded and you will have the time of your life! Thank you!

Volunteering, travelling and Spanish lessons

March 01, 2016by: Einar - Colorado

Program: Customized Travel Plans in Guatemala

My experience in Guatemala was great! I got to see the whole country and visit beautiful places! I had a wonderful host family, and volunteering was unforgettable. The different projects I did were all very interesting and I met very nice people! Transportation to and from the projects or while travelling was sometimes a bit confusing, but Do Guatemala was always very helpful. They were always available and did a good job in providing me with what I needed! The language classes were very useful as well, and the cafeteria in which I had the private lessons was very nice, as I could order drinks and food during the lesson! The teacher was very friendly and this made the classes a lot of fun! My favorite memory of the trip was when I went to the Mayan ruins of Tikal! What an amazing place! Also, the guest family I stayed at was perfect! Do Guatemala helped me switch to another family without any problem, as I could then be in the same family as my brother. To future visitors of Guatemala I would say: Go out end experience! Especially the markets were very cool!