TEACHING

You have a big heart for children and young people, want to enrich their everyday life and accompany them on their way to a regulated and self-determined life? Then our teaching project in the beautiful city of Antigua is just right for you. Our partner organization has set itself the task of building schools around the city of Antigua and thus giving children and young people from the surrounding villages a real chance at education. The organization was founded back in 2006 by three Dutch people who themselves came to Guatemala as young people and did volunteer work there. They were confronted with the poverty of many families, which led them to the decision to help the many children who can not go to school .

Many Guatemalan families have more than 4 children, due to poverty, they often can not provide the necessary financial and time expenditure of a school education for their children unfortunately. In addition, there is a lack of schools and teachers, so not all children have the priviledge to go to school.  It was immediately clear to the founders of the project that only a good education can improve the future of the children and Guatemala. Through the support of donations and volunteers from all over the world, three schools have already been built in recent years. 500 children and young people therefore have the opportunity to attend school every day and are given the chance of a better future. The schools put particularly great emphasis on a comprehensive and promising education and the English lessons have a high priority. English is not taught at all in most public schools, but the young people can use it to get better jobs later.

Schools not only offer traditional instruction in all relevant subjects such as Spanish, English and mathematics, but also teach students how to use the computer. In an increasingly digital world, the necessary knowledge in this area is essential. At home, families often do not have access to the Internet and do not have a computer. During the breaks, the students can exercise. In addition, they receive psychological support if necessary, attention, love and recognition. The schools also rely on cooperation with social workers, who support the families in matters of education. In addition, the kids are provided with all the materials they need free of charge: school supplies, books, pencils, as well as snacks and lunch.

The schools live on donations and the commitment of many volunteers from all over the world. Be a part of this great project, get a taste of the daily life of a teacher and improve your Spanish language skills at the same time. You will be immersed in a different world and make a lasting difference in the lives of children. During your time at the school you will make friends and new contacts and have a lot to do with the locals.  An unforgettable time with many exciting experiences awaits you.

The volunteers’ help is especially needed in the pre-school classes. In Guatemala, kindergarten children ages 4-6 receive instruction before entering elementary school. The schools teach the little ones half of the day in Spanish and the other half in English. Classes are held from 7:30 am to 12 pm. Thereby you assist the English teachers in teaching, for example doing handicrafts, painting or working on worksheets. You will often sing songs together in English to playfully teach the children the vocabulary for body parts, colors or animals. You can play games with them or read simple books. Each class has about 25 school children, which means there is a lot of colorful play. Afterwards, you will help the teachers to put the classroom back in order and prepare the materials for the next lesson. If you want to take the initiative, you are welcome to teach English or give a presentation about your origin and culture.

In the morning, the children have a 1 hour break, here you will supervise them while playing in the schoolyard and serve as their contact person. Help the little ones wash their hands and eat their snacks before going back to class.

Do you already have a solid knowledge of Spanish? If so, you can also interact a lot with the teachers and help plan and prepare lessons.

In the afternoon there is also an After-School Program, here you can offer different workshops depending on your skills and interests. Your creativity is needed! How you design the workshops is up to you. Whether group games, crafts, dancing or handicrafts, the main thing is to have fun! Or are you more of a sportsman? Then you can help shape the after-school sports program. Soccer is the most popular sport among Guatemalans, but other sports activities are also popular.

Antigua is the former capital and our favorite city in Guatemala and makes the heart of every traveler beat faster. Because the positive atmosphere of this city is unique. Antigua is beautiful and impressive in many ways. Be enchanted by colorful houses, cobblestone streets and many small stores, restaurants and cafes. Antigua is a magnet for young people from all over the world, and many who have traveled here have stayed. The surrounding volcanoes offer a spectacular view and invite you to climb them. In the surroundings of Antigua you will find many coffee and organic farms to visit. The owners of the countless restaurants, cafes, bars and hostels come from all over the world, so it is accordingly international. In the bars you will hear 1,000 different languages and quickly you will have made new friends all over the globe.

Besides the work in the project, Antigua offers many possibilities for a colorful leisure time. Climbing the surrounding volcanoes is an experience you will probably never forget. Equally worthwhile is a weekend trip to Lake Atitlan.

For more information about Antigua, see here.

You don’t need any special qualifications to work at the school. Of course, you should enjoy working with children and young people, like to deal with them and want to make new contacts and friends. You will work a lot with locals. You should be open-minded and motivated to get to know a new culture and everything that goes with it. The work at the school will improve your Spanish skills in a fun way and will also have a positive impact on your life. A wonderful experience that you will remember for a long time.

The national language in Guatemala is Spanish. You will be around a lot of locals who don’t know English. A basic knowledge of Spanish is definitely an advantage. If you do not have any knowledge of Spanish at the moment, we recommend that you take a language course in Antigua, which we will gladly organize for you. You can take the language course before or during your time at the school.

You can choose whether you would prefer to stay in a guesthouse or with a Guatemalan host family.

Our guesthouse is located on the outskirts of Antigua. Here you can choose to stay in a shared room with other participants and guests or in a single room. The shared rooms have a private bathroom, up to four single beds and a desk. The single room shares the bathroom with two other people; it is located in the hallway right next to the room.

The guesthouse has a nice common area and a kitchen where the volunteers enjoy cooking together.

The center of Antigua can be reached in a few minutes on foot. There are many restaurants, bars and cafes in the area.

Our host families are personally selected by us. You live in a single room with the family and usually share a bathroom. Meals can be booked for a small additional charge. All host families live in Antigua.

Prices:

Single room:

• 1st month in starter package: 1.400,00 €
• Extension month: 620,00 €
• As 2nd or 3rd program: 1.150,00 €

Shared room:

• 1st month in starter package: 1.270,00 €
• Extension month: 490,00 €
• As 2nd or 3rd program: 1.020,00 €

Host family:

• 1st month in starter package: 1.560,00 €
• Extension month: 780,00 €
• As 2nd or 3rd program: 1.310,00 €

Services:

Find out more about our services here.