The program
This wonderful project was created with the goal of helping to improve the English speaking abilities of the residents of Guatemala. English is becoming increasingly important in Latin America to securing employment. An ability to speak English is hugely beneficial to youth, allowing them to pursue further education opportunities and to seek employment where English is an advantage, such as the tourism sector. Working as a volunteer teacher means you can help many low income children learn a tool that is vital to their future success. Volunteers enrolling in the Teaching and Assisting in Schools program in Guatemala will meet lots of great children and teenagers eager to improve their English and learn new skills. Volunteers will assist teachers in their subject of choice, and will have the opportunity to handle a class of their own in various levels and age groups. Volunteers will either work in the morning or afternoon depending on which school, subject and classes they are assigned. Volunteering on this project will truly make a difference to the lives of children facing a bleak future. By helping these children improve their English skills, a whole new world can open up for them.
Goals of this Project:
Volunteers play an essential role in the ongoing viability of this program. Without volunteers to offer their skills and time, the program would be unstainable. Through the help of international volunteers, many of the most marginalised children in poverty-stricken Guatemala now have hope for a brighter future. This projects requires volunteers to be enthusiastic and have at least a conversational level knowledge of Spanish in order to be able to effectively communicate and teach the children. If volunteers do not have a working Spanish level, they can opt to take Spanish classes prior to their placement, or in conjunction with their time in the project. Volunteers will be working in rural schools or after school programs, where they will be part of a team of teachers.
Volunteers will contribute in a number of ways and can expect to undertake the following tasks:
A volunteer’s work day on this project will generally last between 4 and 6 hours and while we ask all volunteers to be flexible in this regard, a typical daily schedule is likely to go something like this:
7:00am Breakfast with host family
8:00am Walk or bus to project site
8:30am Pre-start meeting with project supervisor
9:00am VOLUNTEERING DUTIES
A tea break and lunch break will be fitted in during the day, but often the timing of breaks will change based on the needs of the local staff and number of volunteers on hand.
1:00pm VOLUNTEERING DUTIES
4:00pm Debrief with project supervisor
4:30pm Walk or bus back to home stay
6:00pm Dinner with host family
Evenings Free time to relax or explore the sights and sounds of this beautiful region!
Upon your arrival in Guatemala, you will collected at the airport (or bus station) by a member of the local project team and taken to your accommodation. Here you will be welcomed by your host family and settled into your new surroundings.
On Monday morning you will be collected and taken to the local team offices where you will receive a full project and safety orientation. A representative from the local team will fill you in on local and regional customs, traveling, rules and recommendations, and of course, what to expect from your volunteering experience. This is a great opportunity to get to know your hosts, meet your fellow volunteers, and ask any last questions you may have. You will then be taken to your projects site where you will be introduced to the onsite project team, ready to start work. Easy!
Volunteers in Guatemala will stay with a local Guatemalan family which is a great way to be immersed in the culture. All families have been fully vetted by our local team and have experience hosting international volunteers. The home-stays are in safe neighborhoods, and are within a 15 to 25-minute walk or 5 to 10-minute bus ride from the project sites. All families have been fully vetted by our local team and have extensive experience hosting international volunteers. Depending on the time of year it may be necessary to share a room with other volunteers, but private rooms are often available upon request (additional fees may apply). Volunteers will be provided access to a shared bathroom. Host families are often happy to wash clothes for volunteers for a small fee to cover the additional electricity, though mostly volunteers will use a local laundromat. Wifi is available at most host family houses, however we ask volunteers to remember access to this service is a privilege and may be limited at times. A multitude of internet cafes are available throughout Antigua.
Education & Teaching Support
Assist local teacher and work towards improving the children's English skills. You can also provide the possibility for better pronunciation and great cultural-exchange.
$281/week
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