Guatemala: Children Of The Maya Volunteer

With Its Stunning Landscape And Ancient Maya Culture, Guatemala Promises Adventure And The Opportunity To Make A Mark. Immerse yourself in indigenous culture, colorful Maya heritage and mountainous landscape. You’ll find warm local residents who are proud to share their ancient traditions. This program is based in Xela (pronounced “shay-lah”)—a local nickname for the vibrant town of Quetzaltenango—which is a hub for volunteer opportunities in education and children’s issues. With very little English spoken throughout the city, residents of Xela welcome volunteers to assist in their classrooms with teaching and school facility beautification.

Community Service:

Spend your days in Xela becoming fully plugged in to the local primary school and surrounding community, volunteering as an English teacher or helping refurbish the library, classrooms or other school facilities. You’ll have the opportunity to creatively develop and deliver lesson plans, play games with the children during recess and work with organizations committed to improving school grounds. As you spend time volunteering, you’ll also learn about social issues that affect Maya youth today.

Immersive Learning:

Learn about key issues unique Guatemala, such as access to quality education and the challenge of preserving indigenous culture in the modern world. You’ll hear from a guerilla fighter and an army officer who fought in the Civil War, who will give you different perspectives of Guatemala’s rich history. To truly immerse yourself in the culture here, meet a local shaman who will teach you about cosmology. Learn from master artisans about traditional arts such as weaving, and visit a chocolate museum and organic coffee plantation—complete with samples!

Adventure:

You’ll explore the famous archaeological ruins at Iximche, hike to Laguna Chicabal at the base of a volcano, and zipline against the backdrop of the region’s lush, mountainous landscape. To get a taste of city life, you’ll venture to Antigua, a colonial masterpiece that boasts gorgeous architecture, pastel alleys and cobblestone streets. For a weekend excursion you’ll spend a night at sacred Lake Atitlán and visit the bustling Chichicastenango market, the largest Maya craft market in the world.