Q: Could you give us a short background on Casa Xelaju:
A: Casa Xelajú (shay-la-Hoo') is a socially-responsible educational institute in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala promoting cross-cultural understanding through its Spanish, Quiche languages and cultural programs, social projects, internship program, volunteer work and travel services.
Q: What kind of daily life should prospective volunteers expect?
A: The volunteer will live with a Guatemala family. Families will provide to the volunteers three meals a day and immersion to the culture.
Q: What is the most important piece of advice you can offer future volunteers?
A: The experience of doing volunteer work will change the way you see things in your community or country.
Q: What is the biggest challenge while volunteering abroad?
A: Working in another culture with different cultural, social and economic values. Time is not very important as it is in the USA or other European Countries.
Q: On the flip side, what is the biggest reward?
A: The feel of provide some tools to the community to change in a positive way in which they can become self-suficient.
Q: Why should they pay to volunteer with Casa Xelaju? How is the money used?
A: It takes money to keep a full time person coordinating this position during the year. Besides that, we have to cover office expensives like telephone, internet, computers, rent, publicity, electricity and other items. $150.00 registration covers salary of the volunteer program director, office expensives, publicity, electricity, computers, e-mail. Volunteers pay $50 weekly which is used to cover homestay and donation to the organization.
Q: How does volunteering abroad fit into the bigger picture of aid and development?
A: People who do volunteer work usually come with good educational skills to share with people who, for reason of poverty, have not had access to education. When volunteer share his/her knowledge development takes places.
Q: Why should someone volunteer with Casa Xelaju?
A: Casa Xelaju is not interested in make money of this division but to link volunteers and small communities in Guatemala.
Q: How can someone get in contact with Casa Xelaju and learn more about your volunteer abroad opportunities?
A: All the information regarding this program can be find at casaxelaju.com
