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Central America Volunteer Projects |
 Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:00 am |
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| Hey,
I know this is probably more suited for the Volunteer section however noone seems to be writing in there so i thought my post might go unanswered! I am doing some traveling in south america, central america then mexico this summer and would really like to do some volunteer work whilst i am out there. I think it would probably fit in best if i could do something in Central america or Mexico. Has anyone done any work out there that they can recommend, my Spanish is limited but i am trying to learn as much as i can before i fly out! I have done some research on the internet but everywhere seems to be charging loads and one i cant afford it and two i believe most of these companies are just middle men so the charities wouldnt see much of my $1000's. Does anybody have any recommendations of projects? i really wanted to do some humanitarian work but with limited Spanish i cant find anywhere cheap! Thanks A. |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 80 Posts |
| Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:27 pm |
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| I volunteered last year at ARCAS in the Peten, Guatemala, an animal rescue center close to Tikal. It's not expensive, great animals, good group of volunteers, great location outside of Flores. You don't have to know much spanish, most of the volunteers are english speaking and the manager speaks english. http://www.arcasguatemala.com/en/arcas.htm | |
| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 9 Posts |
| Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:40 pm |
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| Thanks,
Out of interest how did you come across that organisation? A. |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 80 Posts |
| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 4:28 pm |
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| I heard about it years ago while traveling to Tikal, and finally decided to do it.
I guess they should get their information out there better, doesn't seem like everyone knows about it. I would expect it to come up when you google 'animal rescue guatemala'? But they say they get plenty of volunteers, from all over. There were 15 volunteers there when I was there. |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 9 Posts |
| Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 5:49 pm |
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| Hiya,
I went travelling last year and spent 3 months in guatemala volunteering with a charity called GVI, I would definately definately recommend them, they have loads of different projects all across central and south america but the 1 I did was teaching in a school that they built in a town called Itzapa near Antigua. you don't need to know spanish before you go because you do a weeks intensive course when you get there and after that you teach spanish in the schools, if you're looking to improve your spanish its a really awesome way to do it. The kids you teach and the family you live with dont speak any english and so you have no choice but to speak spanish with them!! I didnt know any spanish before I went and learnt so much by the end!! The project is expensive, they have the prices on their website gvi.co.uk but the good thing about their projects is that u can see directly where the money goes, except for sundays all of your food and accomodation is included (the families dont cook for u on a sunday) and the money paid by the volunteers is what helps to fund the projects which is why you have to pay, included in your payment is scholarships for the children to go to local shools to gain qualifications (as the government hasn't yet certified the school) and if the kids decide to go to college afterwards GVI pays for them to do it, at the moment there are a few that are in college studying to be teachers and the plan is that when they've graduated they'll come back and teach in the school which obviously makes the project more sustainable. There are loads of other things that your money goes towards but those are just examples 
There's a write up of each of their projects on their site, i dont know what kind of budget or time scale you have but if you can do it then this would be really worthwhile!!! It really gives you a chance to build relationships with indigenous people that you would never be able to do if you were just travelling around, I didnt just know each of the kids I also knew their brothers, sisters, cousins and parents and really had some kind of an insight into the lives that they live. Also if you weren't interested in teaching or didnt have the time they also have stove projects that just last a week and all of that is on their site as well
I'm going back again this summer to intern for 3 months in their school in honduras, anyway i hope that was useful!!! good luck sorting things out |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 1 Posts |
| Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 12:53 pm |
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| Hola Ajturner! ''
I am thinking about doing a volunteering project in Central-South America, possibly involving drama and children. Where did you go at the end? My Spanish is not great, but I am Italian so it is no so difficult for me to understand. Any suggestion is welcome!! Thanks Tania |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 17 Posts |
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