Community Development Volunteer Programs in Caribbean

I volunteered with IVHQ for their Christmas program in Antigua, Guatemala. This was my first experience with IVHQ and I will definitely volunteer with them again. I stayed with a local family who were kind, thoughtful and made me feel right at home. The accommodations were modest but clean and comfortable. The Christmas program was a great experience because we had the opportunity to do a variety of activities including working with seniors and children, picking coffee beans, and a cultural immersion. I appreciate that IVHQ partners with local organizations on the ground.

This was honestly one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. The program was amazing! We got to do so many cultural activities, like learning traditional dances (the community was so good and super patient with us lol) and playing dominos almost every day. Dominos got intense but in a fun way, and everyone in the community was really welcoming. My favorite part was definitely the service work. We taught English to kids, which I was kind of nervous about at first, but it ended up being really fun and I actually felt like I was helping. We also worked on building a classroom for a local school, and seeing it come together was seriously awesome. It made me feel proud to be part of something that will stay there after we left. I made great friends, learned a ton, and had so many moments I’ll never forget. I totally recommend this program if you want a mix of fun, culture, and real community service. It was honestly life-changing!