Great way to volunteer/contribute/learn all at the same time!

Ratings
Overall
5
Impact: 5
Support: 5
Fun: 5
Value: 5
Safety: 5
Review

I have just returned from a year (July 2010-August 2011) at NPH Honduras. The experience was very challenging in many ways, and I grew from the experience in more ways that I'm aware of! I was an English Teacher in the middle school (the Centro Vocacional): as someone who is interested in becoming a teacher, it gave me the opportunity to teach in my own classroom, plan my own lessons, etc. I also had the fun challenge of classroom management, which wasn't always easy but was by far the most valuable part of my experience.

One of the best parts of this program is that you have a real job -which offers the practical feeling of accomplishing positive work- but you also spend a lot of time with the kids, which immerses you in their lives. In this way, the NPH Volunteer experiences gave me the "international volunteer experience" I had been expecting, but also challenged me to grow in my ideas and openness as a person. The kids at NPH are full of life and energy and love (even if it's hidden sometimes), and if you go into the experience willing to offer love and openness, then it can be an amazing experience! Getting to share in their lives is both humbling and inspiring.

Two additional notes: 1) the stipend offered at NPH Honduras makes this program one of the most feasible economically. I needed a program that would allow me to at least break even at the end. Thanks to the stipend, I was able to cover all my expenses in Honduras (as long as you keep to the goal of 'living simply'), and even save some Lempiras for travelling during and at the end of my trip.

2) I was a little apprehensive about what the religious situation would be like at NPH, since it is a Catholic organization and I'm a Jewish kid from New York- but in the end there was definitely zero problem. In fact, I learned a lot about religion, spirituality, and reflection from my time in Honduras (not to mention the interesting connections between Central American Catholicism and grassroots organizing, which I didn't know anything about before).

Would you recommend this program?
Yes, I would