Volunteer (free) with children in a domestic violence shelter

Work with the children of the Nuevos Horizontes home, Guatemala's first shelter for women & children escaping domestic violence.

Volunteers devise and organize fun, educational and creative activities for the children who live in the shelter as well as after school activities for those who attend school during the day. Volunteers can also help organize excursions for the children, many of whom have few opportunities to leave the shelter. Assistance is also needed for vital fundraising events in the local area.

It's sometimes challenging working with the children but ultimately rewarding, as although they may have experienced great difficulties in their lives, the children are excited by the new experiences our volunteers can offer them.

No specific experience is needed but experience working with children is an advantage. Volunteers should be independent, enthusiastic and hardworking. Basic Spanish is an advantage but this program can easily be combined with Spanish study in one of the town's many schools.

A minimum 6 week commitment is required and volunteers work in the shelter 3 days a week (morning or afternoon), or more if you want! This can also be combined with volunteering in the Nuevos Horizontes day care center for children of working mothers.

There are no fees for this program and volunteers have the support of two volunteer coordinators.

Quetzaltengo (Xela) is a colonial city located in the mountains of the Western Highlands, about 4-5 hours from Guatemala city. There are many opportunities to improve your language skills in the many Spanish schools and classes, accommodation and food are all very reasonable. There are also opportunities to hike nearby volcanoes, visit indigenous communities or mountains and lakes in the highlands. The Atlantic coast is less than 2 hours away.