Volunteer with children and youth in Guatemala

Name: Volunteer with children and youth in Guatemala
Brand: Safe Passage/Camino Seguro
SKU: 232064
Rating: 4.82 (11 reviews)

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4.82 Rating

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Location

Guatemala
- Guatemala City

Length

12 weeks

Project Types

Community Development Family Service Learning Social Services Sports Youth Education Teaching ESL Computer Literacy Health Education Health Sexual Health Psychology Professional Development +5

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Program Details

Language

Spanish

Age Min.

Timeframe

Year Round

Housing

Host Family

Groups

Small Group (1-15)

Travel Type

Budget Family Older Travelers Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price

540

Price Details

Three months volunteering for just $540!

So much is included in our volunteer program so all you need to think about is your impact in the community:
- pre-departure information and support,
- background check,
- airport pick up,
- uniform,
- induction and tour of the community,
- safe, secure, supportive working environment,
- onsite health clinic,
- support from our department directors,
- 24/7 support from the volunteer office,
- 3 cultural activities, monthly support meetings,
- transport to and from the project,
- certificate and recommendation letter on completion,
- Presidential Volunteer Service Award (US only).

What's Included

Activities Airport Transfers Equipment Transportation

What's Not Included

Accommodation Airfare Meals Travel Insurance

Last Updated: Apr 19, 2023

Last Reviewed: Jun 12, 2023

Wish List

3 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

For as little as $4 a day for the first six months and completely free thereafter, you can volunteer with children and youth in Guatemala. Our volunteers are an integral part of our program; a key element of our plan. Without volunteers, our program is not complete.

Our volunteers are caring people who dedicate time to educating and nurturing our students. They are responsible, kind people who, through their care and attention, help develop these young people whilst having an adventure of a lifetime.

Safe Passage is a 501(c)(3) organization working in Guatemala City to bring hope, education, and opportunity to the children and families living and working in extreme poverty around the City's garbage dump. A Guatemalan-led learning community of educators, volunteers, and administrators transforming lives by providing an excellent education, a higher quality of life, and pathways to a job with dignity so they can achieve a better future for themselves and their families.

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Video and Photos

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Program Highlights

You can join the program on Mondays throughout the month.
You will have the opportunity to work with an incredibly resilient population whilst gaining professional experience.
You will work as part of a Guatemalan team, fully integrated into a professional academic environment.
You will experience the beautiful culture, traditions and languages of Guatemala.
You will have a strong support team around you, 24 hours a day.

Program Impact

Being an integral part of a long-term, sustainble, education and integrated health program supporting 600+ children and youth and their families get a better start in life. Your volunteer role is designed as part of the organisation's strategy, your role is built to have impact in the lives of the people you work with.

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Program Reviews

4.82 Rating

based on 11 reviews

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Rating Spread Volunteer

5 rating 81.82%
4 rating 18.18%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Impact 4.85
Support 4.9
Fun 4.9
Value 4.9
Safety 4.65

Good for Solo Travelers, Students, Building your resume

Showing 9 - 11 of 11 reviews

I had an amazing time working with Safe Passage in Guatemala city. The program allowed me to improve on my skills in the areas that I was particularly interested in, as well as create beautiful connections with the staff and community members involved. The community that Safe Passage works with is a very challenging environment, and the volunteer program provides so much support that I felt safe and encouraged the entire time. Donnica was an incredible influence on my time there, she provides such positive and supportive energy, I couldn't have has such a wonderful experience without her.
I would highly recommend this program to anyone interested in a challenge where they can provide immediate impact and be involved in a real community.

Safe Passage has given more to me than I have given to them. I first came to Safe Passage in January 2017 thinking I would only be there for six months. Almost two years later, I am still in Guatemala, working with Camino Seguro, living a life I never imagined in the best way. In this time, I have gained so much knowledge about the resilience of the community where I work and the abilities of myself as an individual. The staff and volunteer here are so fun and supportive, and the students that I work with as an English tutor ensure that no day is ever boring. It truly is an experience that has helped me grow in a plethora of ways.

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This volunteership has introduced me to a world so different from the one I grew up in. The Basurero in Guatemala City represents a humanitarian crisis, and volunteering here has brought me in direct contact with the parents and children of the local community. In working with them as a maths tutor and primary classroom assistant, I have learned how much can be achieved when we put our heads together, and how the human spirit will fight whatever odds. The volunteer team and staff are a collection of caring, gritty individuals who have been a pleasure to work alongside. I feel like a much stronger, experienced person as a result of my time here.

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

In my junior year in high school, I participated in a Support Team with my school to work with Safe Passage for a week. During our time there, we spoke with the executive director and several program coordinators and gained incredible insight into the organization and its objectives. Inspired by the message and the laughter and resilience of the students, I returned after graduating from high school for 6 months as part of my gap year.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

I received a pamphlet and a handbook prior to my arrival, and the volunteer director aided with finding a homestay. However, all the expenses were from my own savings, as I was not going in affiliation with any school or college. It helped that I had prior experience with the country and the program from my visit with the support team, but the volunteer director was incredibly helpful with any questions I had.

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Try to come in with an open mind and be adaptable to any changes in scheduling or roles at the organization. Safe Passage is constantly growing according to the different needs of its students and the community, so be flexible to whatever adjustments that might be made during your time there. Also, patience is an incredible asset, especially when working with kids.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

On an average day, a volunteer wakes up at around 6 am to get ready for the 7 am bus for work. Depending on which age group the volunteer works with, they will go to their respective buildings and work from 9 am arrival to 4 pm, with lunch sometime between 11:30 am to 1 pm.

In terms of the work itself, it depends on the age of the children. In the Jardin, volunteers assist teachers with taking care of the 3-6 year olds. In the Colegio, volunteers assist teachers in their classroom with maintaining order and helping students with their work. In the CRE, volunteers tutor/teach students in a variety of subjects from English to Chemistry. Then, at 4 pm, volunteers all return to Antigua from the capital on the volunteer bus.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear before going abroad was living on my own, especially as I was only 18-year old when I first arrived in Guatemala. I had experience with living away from my parents because I had attended a boarding school; however, I had never been in a situation where I had to shop for groceries, cook for myself every day, pay rent, and fix shower heads on my own. After breaking a blender and eating hardboiled eggs everyday for a month, I adapted to the situation and learned how to do many things for myself, mainly cooking unburnt, flavorful food.

About Safe Passage/Camino Seguro

Safe Passage is a U.S. registered 501(c)(3) non-governmental organization. Established in Guatemala City in 1999, we are a Pre-K through 9th grade school that is fully accredited by the Guatemalan Ministry of Education. We provide comprehensive and integrated programs that foster hope, good health, educational achievement, self-sufficiency, self...