Involvement Volunteers International WHY we need you in Guatemala
- Guatemala has an extremely high poverty rate, estimated at 59.5% (23% of those live in extreme poverty).
- 8 out of 10 indigenous children are said to be suffering from chronic malnutrition.
- Income equality is very high in Guatemala, with a huge difference between rich and poor families.
- Guatemala is prone to natural disasters, such as hurricanes, flooding, earthquakes and landslides. This leaves the landscape and homes ruined and many people struggling.
- Deforestation and other environmental issues have become a big problem in the county.
HOW can you help?
- Take part in gift wrapping and giving
- Holiday parties at a special needs facility
- Art and craft activities with the kids and elderly
- Bring joy to deserving communities
WHAT you can do?
- Children’s holiday cookouts at the park
- Eco-sustainable agriculture conservation projects
- Community beautification projects
- Bringing the holiday spirit and putting a smile on peoples faces!
Why Involvement Volunteers International?
- Non Profit Organisation & Charity
- Over 34 Years Expertise Globally
- Low Program Fees - From US$295
- Excellent Safety Record, In-Country 24/7 Support & Emergency Assistance
- 1 Application Fee - Multiple Countries
PROJECT NAME: CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR HOLIDAY SPECIAL
LOCATION: ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA
START DATES: 22nd DEC 2024 & 29th DEC 2024
ACCOMMODATION: HOMESTAY (SHARED ROOMS)
MIN DURATION: ONE WEEK
MIN AGE: 16+
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Criminal background check required
Overview
Christmas and New Year brings about a season when we can reflect on our blessings, revel in the company of loved ones, and share happiness and gratitude, particularly with those who are less fortunate. That’s why we are running a special holiday program tailored for this time of year. This program offers volunteers the opportunity to convey warm wishes and spread festive cheer to communities and children in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru. 🎄
Volunteers have the flexibility to join us for either one or two weeks during the Holiday Season:
Christmas Week: Sunday, 22nd December 2024 – Saturday, 28th December 2024
New Year’s Week: Sunday, 29th December 2024 – Saturday, 4th January 2025
Throughout these week-long programs, volunteers will visit various projects each day.
Working together as a team, they will provide assistance as needed, participate in activities, and share quality time with the people at these projects during the holiday season. Volunteers will be assigned to either a morning or afternoon group, dedicating 3-4 hours per day to their service.
Volunteers will have the chance to visit a different project every day, including the following:
• Community beautification projects
• Children’s holiday parties
• Holiday parties for the elderly
• Children’s holiday cookouts at the park
• Holiday parties at a special needs facility
• Eco-sustainable agriculture conservation projects
• Mayan/Andean communities’ immersion
• And much more!
Please see daily schedule in the FAQ below.
Location
Projects are located in and around the city of Antigua, which was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. This is a popular tourist spot due to the pretty colonial buildings and ancient ruins. From the streets and rooftops, you can even see volcanoes towering over the city. Antigua’s Central Plaza has plenty of restaurants, shops, markets, and regular cultural events, making it an exciting city to call home.
Project Tasks
- Spread the merry to local residents who may be down on their luck
- Take part in community projects like crafts, gift giving and beautification projects
- Host parties for kids, the elderly and special needs residents
Food & Accommodation
The majority of volunteers stay with a pre-approved middle-class Guatemalan host family. You may choose from a shared or a private room. Shared rooms are between 1-3 other people (same gender & age group). You are provided with a key to the house and are free to come and go as you please, we ask you to respect the rules of the family. Our host families live in and around Antigua and are 10-25 minutes walking or by bus from the volunteer centre.
You can also choose to stay in a student residence room, hostel, hotel or apartment, all of which can be private or shared between single genders. Please note, for hostels, hotels and apartments, meals are not included.
Breakfast and dinner are provided 7 days a week* and will generally be of local cuisine. Corn, rice, beans, beef, pork, chicken, cheese, and tortillas form the basis of the typical local foods. Meat stews and soups are very popular also.
Photos below show a typical South American homestay and images of the volunteer centre.
Specialty
Projects
- Community Healthcare & Nutrition
- Cultural Immersion
- Community Construction
- Eco Farming & Agriculture
- Medical Clinic Internship
- *Christmas & New Year Holiday
-
1 Week - $525
-
2 Weeks - $835
-
3 Weeks - $1075
-
1 Month - $1370
-
2 Months - $2395
-
3 Months - $3395
- Private rooms cost additional $150 p/week
What's Included
-
Accommodation
-
Meals
-
Airport Pickup
-
Local Transportation
-
1 Day Orientation
-
24/7 In-Country Support
-
Project Materials & Equipment
-
Pre-departure Expert Advice
-
Preperation Tools & Checklists
-
Certificate of Completion
- Application fee is one off per person (unlimited placements)
- Click Here to convert the below prices to your local currency
- Discounts may apply if travelling in a pair or group!
- All credit card /international fees included in below pricing! 🙂
Testimonials...
FAQ
If you don’t mind giving up your winter (or summer, depending on where you’re coming from!) holiday and would like to spread the festive cheer, then yes! This is a varied program, where each day you will do something different. It focuses on different community groups such as kids, the elderly and special needs, so great if you want a bit of a ‘all-round’ project and to help in lots of different areas.
- Airport pick-up
- Host family accommodations
- Breakfast and dinner, 7 days/week
- 3-4 hours/day practical work, Monday-Friday
- Program and safety orientation
- Walking tour
- Official certificate of volunteer service
- Letter of recommendation
- Spanish language tutoring table
- Tandem Conversation Program
- Office-wide WiFi and computer lab
- Salsa dance classes
- Cooking classes
- Free coffee and tea and on-site snack bar
- Institute is open 7 days/week
- Emergency contact number 24/7
- Flights
- Medical insurance
- Daily transportation
- Travel and tours
- Transfer back to the airport
- Personal spending money
Each project will include a 1-day orientation to familiarise yourself with the local area, rules, safety advice and general information. Your host family will show you the best way to get to/from your accommodation to the volunteer centre. Orientation will include health and safety advice, do’s and don’ts, cultural norms, activities and tours you can do on weekends, and a short walking tour, showing you the local area. You are also able to take a free Spanish placement exam. On your first day the local coordinator will take you to the placement, where you will be introduced to everyone and shown around the project.
Our local team will pick you up from Guatemala City airport, on the Sunday before your project. Sunday night accommodation is included in the fees.
If you arrive outside the pickup times, you can book a private transfer for an extra fee.
If you want to book any extra nights before or after your program, you can do this for an extra fee.
Christmas Program
Sunday, December 22 2024 – Arrival & Orientation
TBD – Arrival, pick-up, transportation to housing
PM – Orientation
Monday, December 23 – Conservation Project
AM or PM – Eco-Agriculture
Support eco-sustainable agriculture volunteering next to local farmers.
Tuesday, December 24 – Community Beautification
AM or PM – Beautification Project
Paint, garden, work on light repairs or construction work.
Work varies depending on community needs.
Wednesday, December 25 – Christmas Day
Closed
Lots of local holiday festivities to enjoy independently.
Thursday, December 26 – Holiday Party for the Elderly
AM or PM – Local Nursing Home
Spread the Holiday Spirit at an elderly home by playing games, preparing a special holiday snack, dancing, and providing much needed company and conversation.
Friday, December 27 – Children’s Holiday Party
AM or PM – Working with Kids Project
Celebrate the holidays with underprivileged kids by bringing them food and gifts!
Saturday, December 28 – Departure
TBD – Departure
You can arrange airport drop-off for an additional charge at the client service desk.
New Year Program
Sunday, December 29 – Arrival & Orientation
TBD – Arrival, pick-up, transportation to housing
PM – Orientation
Monday, December 30 – Conservation Project
AM or PM – Eco-Agriculture
Support eco-sustainable agriculture volunteering next to local farmers.
Tuesday, December 31 – Community Beautification
AM or PM – Beautification Project
Paint, garden, work on light repairs or construction work.
Work varies depending on community needs.
Wednesday, January 1 – New Year’s Day
Closed
Lots of local holiday festivities to enjoy independently.
Thursday, January 2 – Holiday Party for the Elderly
AM or PM – Local Nursing Home
Spread the Holiday Spirit at an elderly home by playing
games, preparing a special holiday snack, dancing, and
providing much needed company and conversation.
Friday, January 3 – Children’s Holiday Party
AM or PM – Working with Kids Project
Celebrate the holidays with underprivileged kids by
bringing them food and gifts!
Saturday, January 4 – Departure
TBD – Departure
You can arrange airport drop-off for an additional charge
at the client service desk.
* Transportation to/from the institute to the project is included.
** Itineraries are subject to change based on field conditions.
There is so much to see and do around Antigua, including cultural events, tours and treks, and exploring the various markets. The local coordinators regularly post a monthly events calendar to let you know of the activities going on nearby. For more ideas on things to do in Guatemala…
Tikal Ruins
These Mayan ruins are set amidst the jungle of northern Guatemala and close to the borders between Belize and Mexico. The incredible ruins are a little hard to get to but have a spectacular backdrop. The ruins used to be one of the most influential cities in the Mayan empire.
Semuc Champey Pools
Another destination a little hard to get to (think long and windy bus ride) but definitely worth it for the incredibly blue pools of water you will find here, all surrounded by Guatemalan jungle. You can go swimming in the pools too!
Acitve Volcanoes
Pacaya, Santiaguito and Fuego are active volcanoes which visitors can climb up. These 3 are still active but Guatemala also has 37 volcanoes dotted around the country. If you love hiking, then make sure to try one of these treks for spectacular views.
Lake Atitlan
Lake Atitlan is a place where you can easily spend several days. This pretty lake has the backdrop of volcanoes and pretty wildflowers around the edge of the water. There are lots of small towns around the lake to explore, or you could simply relax by the sparling water or try SUP and kayaking.
Indian Nose Hike
This is a spectacular viewpoint which will only take around a 45 minutes climb. Situated close to San Pedro, this mountain is known for incredible sunrises, but we would recommend going with a tour group for this, for safety reasons.
Volunteers must:
- Be at least 16 years of age
- Those under 16 are welcome when there is a faculty leader, parent, or guardian present
- Have a valid CRB check working with children
Limited access to education and healthcare, poverty, illness, unemployment and illiteracy continuing problems in Guatemala. Guatemala is bordered by El Salvador and Honduras to the South, Belize to the East, and Mexico to the North. There is plenty for outdoor and nature lovers here, including tropical coastal beaches and lush jungles, mountains, rivers and volcanoes. Guatemala has a population of 14 million people, half of that being indigenous. You will see plenty of ancient Mayan traditions and customs still alive today.
The climate in Guatemala changes somewhat dramatically. In the lowlands there is a hot, tropical and humid climate year-round. The mountain regions are a lot cooler and can even fall below freezing in the cooler months. The climate in the popular tourist destinations in Guatemala, such as Antigua and Guatemala City, is temperate and a comfortable warm temperature.
May to October is the rainy season, which brings short rains usually in the afternoon. This can be a great time to visit, as the landscape are lush and green. The dry season is from March to May.
Guatemala has strong Mayan and Latin influences, with the main language being Spanish, as well as some Mayan languages. The indigenous people are known for their colourful clothing and textiles and Guatemalans love their sport (soccer in particular) and music. The designs of the clothing vary in patterns from which village you come from. Religion in Guatemala varies from Mayan spirituality, Catholicism, and Evangelical Christianity. Muslim and Jewish populations can be seen in Guatemala City as well. A lot of the festivals here are influenced by religion.
30 Years Non Profit Experience
IVI is an Australian charity & non profit organisation founded in 1989 and is one of the pioneers of overseas volunteering successfully placing over 20,000 volunteers globally.
Affordable Volunteer Travel
Safe & Responsible Projects
Work Experience & University Credits
Check out this amazing blog with step by step info on how to raise funds for your overseas volunteer experience to help maximize your impact abroad. Guide to Fundraising
Weekends & Extra Tours
