Volunteering In Guatemala

Going to a developing country to give back through the act of volunteering has become popular in the last few years. There are thousands upon thousands of charities and non-government organizations that need an extra pair of hands. For many students on break from school, office workers on sabbatical and the retired, taking part in an experience like this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and countries like Guatemala rely on their help.

Guatemala has a plethora of volunteer opportunities, so here are a few reliable organizations where you can lend a hand.

Aimed toward helping the small communities of Guatemala, a small, yet hard-hitting NGO merged named SERniña. SERniña is an organization that works with young girls to empower them to reach their full potential in life and become strong, powerful women. Danielle, the founder, is always looking for help, but apart from being passionate about the cause, you must be fluent in Spanish.

In the hills above the famous colonial town of Antigua, Guatemala, lies an indigenous pueblo known as El Hato. The town has one school provided by the Ministry of Education, and it is lacking in resources due to an ineffective and corrupt government. Luckily, an NGO known as Las Manos de Christine (The Hands of Christine) was set up to support the school. The NGO is always looking for volunteers to help with classes with the children. A good knowledge of Spanish isn’t mandatory here, but certainly goes a long way.

The final NGO worth noting is AWARE (Animal Welfare Association – Rescue & Education), founded in 1998 with the aim of reducing the suffering of domestic animals in Guatemala. AWARE rescues abandoned, unwanted, injured and sick dogs and cats.