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Global Routes High School Volunteer Program in Belize
Global Routes High School Volunteer Program in Belize
Global Routes
Global Routes
5 · 1 review
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Global Routes

 5 · 1 review
Location
  • Belize
Length
2 - 4 weeks
Program Categories
Adventure Travel Cultural Immersion Internships Service Learning Volunteer Abroad
Need-based funding, General grants/scholarships, Payment plans
Health & Safety
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Program Details

Timeframe
Summer
Housing
Host Family Hotel Lodge
Language
English
Age Max
19

Pricing

Price Details
Tuition includes all costs with the exception of flights and personal spending money.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Meals Transportation
What's Not Included
Airfare Travel Insurance
Aug 25, 2014
Wish List
0 travelers are looking at this program

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to help you plan with confidence.

About Program

Belize is the gem of Central America and this program is an incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in culture and community service!

Spend your first few days getting to know your group and exploring Mayan ruins before heading into a rural community for a ten-day homestay. Here, with your fellow group members, you will work side-by-side with your host community constructing a community building. Evenings are spent cooking dinner with your host family, playing with your host brothers and sisters and settling into the rhythms of community life.

After a farewell celebration your group heads to the Caribbean Cayes, where you will relax and enjoy the world-renowned snorkeling.

This program is currently not being promoted on Go Overseas by its provider. Check with Global Routes for the most up-to-date information regarding the status of this program.

Program Highlights

  • Snorkeling
  • Community Service
  • Mayan History
  • Jungle
  • Homestay

Video and Photos

Volunteers in Belize
Snorkeling in Caye Caulker
Painting in Belize

Diversity & Inclusion 💙

We recognize that we are a long way from the diversity we aim for within our students, staff, and partners. We want and need more diversity to truly become the organization we would like to be. We recognize that this will not happen overnight or without dedicating time, attention, and resources. To that end, we have created a strategic plan to address our current shortfalls and to make significant improvements, which you can see on our Diversity & Inclusion page.
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At Carpe Diem, each applicant reads through our extensive Essential Eligibility Criteria prior to enrollment. This criteria allows applicants to determine if the organization is an appropriate fit for their gap semester/year goals and their individual needs. During the interview and application process, we have honest and direct conversations with students and families about the support that our staff is able to provide throughout the program experience. We are committed to creating a culture of acceptance and support. To that end, our Overseas Educators and local leaders are selected for their skill in group facilitation and promoting inclusive group dynamics.
At Carpe Diem, each applicant reads through our extensive Essential Eligibility Criteria prior to enrollment. This criteria allows applicants to determine if the organization is an appropriate fit for their gap semester/year goals and their individual needs. We have honest and open conversations with applicants about our ability to support individual needs on each program, with the ultimate goal of a healthy and successful experience for all students. In the past, we have worked with students with severe allergies, diabetes, chronic injuries, and mental health diagnoses. We know each student's journey is individual and we work with families to support these individual needs where possible to help determine if the program is a good fit for their gap semester goals.

Impact 🌎

Global Routes - and our sister organization, Carpe Diem Education - is committed to maximizing the net positive impact while minimizing the carbon footprint of every program. In our office, on our programs, and through our carbon offset match, our programs are geared toward environmental education to empower future leaders to move their communities to take action. During our programs, students learn more about their impact as individuals and a travel community - then take a solution-oriented lens to tackling key issues. We also contribute to and amplify the voices of organizations and partners who focus on permaculture, natural building, and sustainable solutions.
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Global Routes - and our sister organization, Carpe Diem Education - is designed to connect to our local communities and provide reciprocal exchange and engagement. Through engaging in experiential education, community engagement, and intercultural exchange, our students develop enhanced perspectives, deeper cultural understanding, and a profound sense of self-discovery and personal growth. We work with vetted local providers to build their businesses as they provide value to our students and programming. With our homestay families, we ensure we minimize our footprint by regularly rotating the communities we work with and evaluating our social impact alongside their community leaders.

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Program Reviews

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Sija
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

It Was Life-Changing

Aug 25, 2014

I think the program was set up excellently. We started by staying in a hostel with the group called Clarissa Falls. This allowed everyone to create relationships with one another. Then we traveled to the village of El Progresso and each one of us was paired with another student. The two of us were then each given a host family which made me a lot less nervous since I wouldn't be alone. I know I personally grew extremely close to my host family during the stay and living the way they did changed my views on many things. I believe I have become a wiser, stronger, more independent person from this program. Plus, after the host family stay we were able to experience the more touristy parts of Belize and got to go snorkeling. It was all in all an incredible experience and I highly recommend it.

123 people found this review helpful.
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Community Questions

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Della Duncan

Program
Global Routes High School Volunteer Program in Belize
Job Title
International Program Leader

What position do you hold at Global Routes? What has been your career path so far?

Della Duncan Global Routes International Program Leader

Della: I was a Global Routes program leader for the Belize program this past summer. My career path has all been in the field of "out of the classroom education."

I have worked as a violence prevention coordinator, a residential programs leader, and a leadership games and activities facilitator.

My career interests are in the areas of education, empowerment, cross cultural communication, and leadership and working with Global Routes has been wonderful, because it has allowed me to explore all of these areas at the same time.

Did you volunteer abroad? If so, where and what inspired you to go?

Della: I took a gap year between high school and college to study abroad in Sweden and then in college, I was able to study abroad in both Mexico and Cuba.

I was inspired to live abroad for many reasons, but primarily, I wanted to learn new languages, gain new perspectives, and make long-lasting friends around the world.

What is your favorite aspect of Global Routes' programs?

Della: One of my favorite aspects of Global Routes programs is how local leaders in the host countries are partners in the home stay experiences and service projects.

This ensures that local communities are involved and that the projects truly benefit those they are mean to serve.

What's the best story you've heard of a volunteer's experience with Global Routes?

Della: Right before my group came to Belize this summer, one host family had a visit from a former Global Routes volunteer and her father.

Even though the student's program was several years ago, the connection she had to the community was so strong that she kept in touch and decided to spend her summer with her father teaching at the local school.

Any tips for someone considering their first volunteer trip abroad?

Della: Be kind and gentle to yourself throughout the process and articulate what you need to those around you so they can know how you would like support, your team believes in you and wants you to have fun and achieve your goals!

About Global Routes

Be more than a tourist with Global Routes. Global Routes seeks to foster personal development in our students through cross-cultural experiences that encourage them to step outside of their boundaries and open their hearts and minds to new and diverse people, cultures and ideas. Service to the global community, cultural immersion and adventure...

  • Go Overseas Award

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