Q: Could you give us a short background on Casa Guatemala:
A: Casa Guatemala is a non government organization, supported solely by private contribution and the work of the volunteers from abroad. Its main purpose is to raise, educate, and care for orphaned children, and children coming from families who live in a extreme poverty.
Casa Guatemala has built a CHILDREN VILLAGE in Rio Dulce Izabal in Guatemala, with the capacity to house 250 children, local staff and a group of 40 foreigner volunteers.
The CHILDREN VILLAGE also count with a school, clinic, park, a school farm.
It has created the right environment for the children to grow in a healthy home
Q: What kind of daily life should prospective volunteers expect?
A: A.. Volunteers perform a variety of duties at the Casa, these changes depending on the time of year (whether it is the school season or a time when construction projects can be done) as well as the number and type of volunteers. The two main functions of volunteers are to support the local staff in caring for the children and teaching in the school.
- Many volunteers work directly caring for the children - seeing that they do their daily chores, take care of their hygiene and basic needs and provide them with activities for learning and enjoyment.
- Other volunteers work in the school, teaching art classes, physical education or English, assisting in the pre-school class of 3 year olds, and doing reinforcement classes with the children who need extra help in certain subjects.
Volunteers are expected to work every day that they are at the Casa - the normal work schedule is to work every day for 3 weeks and then have 1 week free to travel. This is sometimes flexible, people work more than 3 weeks to have more than 1 week free, however these breaks need to be coordinated with the volunteer coordinator to ensure there are sufficient volunteers to care for the children.
Another expectation is that volunteers will work for one week (more if they would like) at the hotel, which helps provide funding for the project. This work involves waiting tables in the restaurant, working the reception or bar-tending. This is usually the first week that volunteers arrive and serves as a transition to the project.
B. The typical shift can be from 7 to 9 hours.
- The school day is from 7:30 to 11:00 and 1 to 4, so those who teach work these hours, with some time needed outside of this to plan lessons.
- Those who care for the children when they are not in school work the other hours: 5-7:30, 11-1 and 4-8.
- On the weekends, the time is scheduled differently, as there are not classes. The volunteers who care for the children split the day between themselves, and other volunteers plan and lead activities for the children from 10-12, 2-4 and 6-7:30.
C. Volunteers are asked to commit a minimum of six months to the project and are welcome to stay as long as they want to continue working.
D. Volunteers live in volunteer houses. At any one time, there are 20-40 volunteers. The houses have clean drinking water, showers and flushing toilets. The houses do not have electricity. The living is dorm style, with rooms of bunk beds and two to four people per room. Almost all volunteers use mosquito nets to keep the mosquitoes and other critters away. The volunteer houses do not have electricity, although the children's rooms, classrooms and offices have electricity during the day from a generator.
Food is cooked by the cooks of Casa Guatemala for all children, volunteers and staff. They are provided 3 meals and 1 or 2 snacks each day. The food is often rice, beans, eggs and tortillas, but usually includes vegetables in at least one meal and sometimes two meals each day. Meat is served about two to four times a week and the cooks usually make something without meat for those who are vegetarians (note: it is difficult to be a strict vegetarian anywhere in central America). The volunteer houses also have gas stoves, so volunteers can cook for themselves.
The Casa is located about 15 minutes by boat from the town of Rio Dulce. Volunteers have two opportunities to go into town for the night each week. One of these trips is provided at the cost of the project, it is free on Wednesday nights for volunteers to go to town. On Saturday nights, the volunteers can go into town, but have to pay about a dollar to help minimize the cost of the trip.
E. Volunteers are expected to make a $180 donation to the project. This donation entitles them to volunteer for as long as they would like and to return at any point in the future, it is a non returnable and no transferable contribution.
F. When you decide to stay over night at the hotel, you will be charge Q10 ($1,00) per bed in a dormitory type room, renting sheets is an additional cost of Q2,00, the drinks and the food you order in the hotel has a special discount.
The hotel has a laundry service, when the laundry equipment is working, you are welcome to use the service, you give your clothing to the reception and you will be getting a special discount.
G. The main airport is in the capital, Guatemala City. Most volunteers arrange for their own transportation from the capital, which is fairly easy as there are a number of buses between Guatemala City and Rio Dulce. The cost of the bus is normally about $5. The bus ride takes from 4 to 6 hours depending on the time of day and how often the bus stops. There are express buses or shuttles which can be arranged but are slightly more expensive. Once in Rio Dulce, the volunteers go to the hotel, where they meet Raquel o Fernando, they will help them determine if they will work their first week in the hotel. ! When working in the hotel, they can visit the children at Casa Guatemala in their off hours, based on the boat schedule. The children's village is about a 15 minute boat ride from the town of Rio Dulce
Q: What is the most important piece of advice you can offer future volunteers?
A: Be patient, understanding, tolerant, and learn to handle the frustration.
Q: What is the biggest challenge while volunteering abroad?
A: Understand the why, and how we do things, and how we live our lives.
Q: On the flip side, what is the biggest reward?
A: Have gain the experience in living in a new culture, have seen the struggle of our survival and understand, with all the odds how we developed.
Q: Why should they pay to volunteer with Casa Guatemala? How is the money used?
A: Volunteers stay with the organization for six months minimum, the money they pay is to help to cover the cost of their stay in the organization.
Q: How does volunteering abroad fit into the bigger picture of aid and development?
A: Volunteers do their job in a different way than locals, and It is much easier for locals to learn while they work together. Locals apply the new concepts to their daily and family life.
Q: Why should someone volunteer with Casa Guatemala?
A: To be part of a team in charge to raise, educate and care for 250 children.
Q: How can someone get in contact with Casa Guatemala and learn more about your volunteer abroad opportunities?
A: Visiting casa-guatemala.org
Q: Do you have any advice on funding a volunteer experience abroad?
A: No
