 |
 |
 |
|
|
| |
HOME ABOUT COUNTRIES PROGRAMS COSTS SIGN-UP CONTACT | |
 |
Programs Locations
|
 |
Building Homes in Guatemala
Through this program, our volunteers help build formal houses for families in Guatemala who would never have the means to do so on their own. We have dozens of incredible volunteer projects around the world, but it is not often that volunteers can see the fruits of their efforts in just two weeks! Because that is all it takes to build a house from scratch through this program. During the construction period, you will share a dream come true with a Guatemalan family. Sharing time and hard work with the family, their children, the masons, fellow volunteers and the community is a truly unique experience. The program is based in the city of Antigua, about 45 minutes from Guatemala City. There are two ways to participate in this program: 1) Join as an individual (year-round) 2) Summer group trip from Aug 4-18 led by Cosmic Volunteers' Director Scott Burke.
Volunteer Program The houses are built by paid local masons and their assistants. At least one member of the beneficiary family also helps to build, usually the father or eldest son. Volunteers and the family member(s) work under the close supervision of the masons. For volunteers, the work consists of digging foundations, carrying materials including concrete block, sand and rocks, mixing concrete and generally helping the masons with As it takes two weeks to build a house from scratch, we strongly recommend staying at least two weeks so that you can experience the thrill and satisfaction of seeing the house completed for the Guatemalan family. However, staying just a week is still a worthwhile experience that allows you to make a huge contribution to the project. The construction sites vary considerably, although generally, volunteers work in Antigua and surrounding areas.
Requirements
Dates & Duration:
Program Fee:
Included in Program Fee
Not Included in Program Fee
Location of Program The host families for volunteers are located in Antigua (formerly "La Antigua Guatemala"). The locations of the house building projects are outside of Antigua, typically 30-45 minutes from the host family to the project site. Door-to-door transportation for volunteers is provided by the local Guatemalan construction staff. Antigua is a city of 35,000 in the central highlands of Guatemala. Antigua is known for its Spanish Baroque architecture, its ruins of colonial churches, and for being one of the most popular cities in the world for Spanish language study. The streets are cobblestone with very narrow sidewalks, often with window boxes protruding into the sidewalk. It is very easy and fairly quick to walk anywhere in town. Antigua is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Antigua, Guatemala View Guatemala in a larger map
Accommodations The program fee includes a home stay with a Guatemalan family, which includes your own room and all meals (except Sunday). The other option is a hotel, which ranges from $8 to $50+ per day (but does not include meals). As with all of our host countries, we strongly recommend staying with a host family. You will get an insider's view of the culture, the chance to practice Spanish, and have the opportunity make lifelong friendships (we have volunteers who have stayed in touch with their host families from around the world for 10 years!).
Meals Your host family will serve you three meals daily (except Sundays). Lunch is the biggest meal of the day, with dinner often being light (eggs, beans, salad, rice). Guatemalan food is not spicy like Mexican food and there isn’t too much variety in the local food. A typical local lunch or dinner will be chicken pepian with rice and maybe a vegetable like squash, beans with sausage and rice, or a bowl of beef soup with vegetables, all served with tortillas and maybe part of an avocado or some papaya. There are also bars, pizza, McDonald's, local fried chicken outlets, etc.
Is there an orientation? We provide a one-day introduction that takes place in Antigua. We will go over with you information on the culture, language, religion, volunteering and more. We will complement your orientation with a walking tour of Antigua in order to get your first real exposure to the culture.
Local Transportation Our staff will meet you at the airport in Guatemala City 24/7. We will then accompany you on all ground transportation during your trip. This includes airport pickup and drop-off, transfer to Antigua, daily commute to the volunteer job, and occasional night time activities. You will travel in taxis and on public buses.
To officially sign-up and reserve your spot in the program, please complete the following two steps:
The deposit guarantees your place and is fully refunded in the unlikely event that we cannot offer you a placement. The deposit of $250 USD counts toward the total balance of your program fee Please click for Payment Instructions
How far should you book in advance? Most volunteers book 3-12+ months before their program start date. However, we can sometimes arrange a program as close as two weeks before your arrival date.
Pre-Trip To Do List All items must be completed no later than 30 days before program start date.
Entry Requirements for Guatemala
Vaccinations For vaccinations and health care advice, we follow the Centers for Disease Control recommendations for Guatemala. Guatemala's Immigration Department does not require travelers to have any vaccinations. However because you will be on a construction site, we especially recommend that you are updated on your tetanus shot. The most common illnesses for travelers are from food and water (Travelers Diarrhea and Hepatitis A). Make sure that you are up-to-date with routine shots such as for measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT, polio, etc.).
Communications Phones: Internet:
Dress Code At the building site, we recommend khaki pants, short-sleeve t-shirts, closed-toe shoes, hat and sunscreen. No cleavage, short-shorts, or form-fitting clothes. Flip-flops or sandals are fine when not volunteering or on excursions.
Money Matters We recommend that you bring at least $100 USD (or equivalent) in cash from home, then exchange this at the airport in Guatemala City for Guatemala Quetzales (GTQ). Guatemala is largely a cash-based society, so expect to pay cash for everything. While some businesses do take credit cards, using them in many restaurants is risking theft. Some of the restaurants/shops also charge 4%-5% commissions. Never exchange foreign currency or withdraw from an ATM at night time due to security reasons. There are a number of banks in Antigua.
Safety Antigua and other cities in Guatemala are safe if you follow normal safety precautions:
Photos, Video, Electronics
Passport When flying, always carry your passport on your person and not your bags. Cargo pants with deep/secure pockets are a good place to hold the passport. Consider keeping your passport in a Ziploc baggie at all times, to protect it from sweat / dirt / humidity / spilled drinks -- both when flying and when in Guatemala. You do not need to carry your passport to your volunteer job each day, however you should carry a copy with you at all times. When you travel around the country, please carry your actual passport with you (again - on you person).
Is the program fee tax-deductible? Yes the program fees and all expenses related to your volunteer program, including airfare and the program fee, are tax-deductible for US taxpayers. The tax-deduction is also available to parents and donors who pay expenses on behalf of a volunteer. Please consult a tax professional regarding your individual tax situation. Cosmic Volunteers is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.
For further information please contact Scott Burke:
|
|
||||||
| HOME | ABOUT US | COUNTRIES | PROGRAMS | COSTS | SIGN-UP | FAQ | CONTACT | ||||||||||
| © Cosmic Volunteers | ||||||||||
