2-Week Summer Break Program in Guatemala

Dates for 2009:

• June 7 to June 20
• June 28 to Jul 11
• July 19 to August 1
• August 9 to August 22

Program Fee: $1,395 (extra week $495)

Country
Guatemala is a developing country of 13 million in Central America. In the past the country has experienced its share of instability, but travelers continue to enjoy the Mayan ruins, tropical forests and ecosystems, and colorful markets. Spanish is the official language in Guatemala. Most people are either Roman Catholic or Protestant.

Location
The 2-Week Winter Break in Guatemala is based in the town of San Andres. San Andres is a quiet small town of about 4,000 located on the northern shore of Lake Peten-Itza in the northern most department (region) in Guatemala, El Peten. San Andres is definitely off the "tourist" beat, and is one of the best places for "self-immersion" into rural Latin American culture.
Map of Guatemala

Volunteer Projects
Your volunteer work will involve a combination of teaching conversational English to young school children as well as physical labor at an ecology park. At school, you will help the full-time teachers with the children's lessons. At the ecology park, you will assist with building and maintaning trails, gardens, botanical gardens, agricultural areas, a butterfly garden and working on small animal projects.

Included in Program Fee
   • All Food
   • All Accommodations
   • Airport Pickup/Dropoff
   • In-Country Transportation
   • In-Country Orientation
   • Volunteer Project
   • Cultural Excursions
   • 24 Hr Support in Guatemala and Philadelphia
   • Insurance
   • T-Shirt
   • Certificate / Letter

Not Included in Program Fee
   • Airfare
   • Vaccinations
   • Internet
   • Phone Calls
   • Extra Sightseeing

Accommodations and Meals
Accommodations are with local Guatemalan families, who speak Spanish primarily and will provide you with a room, all meals, include you in family activities, and generally help you adjust to and learn about their culture and country. Volunteers will stay 2-3 per family. Breakfast usually contains cereal, oatmeal, fruit, bread, coffee, beans, eggs, in some combinations. Lunch is typically the largest meal of the day, which usually contains eggs, beans, chicken, beef, rice, soup, tortillas, salad, vegetables, in some combinations. Dinner is typically a quick meal, consisting of beans, rice, eggs, and tortillas. Most meals are vegetarian, as families usually eat meat 2-3 times a week.

Local Transportation
Cosmic Volunteers staff will meet you at the airport in Guatemala City, transport you to the project location in San Andres by bus (8 hours), and return with you by bus to Guatemala City at the end of the program. Daily transport during the program in San Andres will be by walking.

Requirements
   • Minimum Age: 16
   • All Nationals are Eligible

Get a Free Trip
For group leaders: Recruit a group of 10 volunteers and we will waive your Program Fee and pay for your airfare.