Casa Guatemala seeks to provide a safe home, love and nurturing, proper health care and a well-rounded education to the children of Guatemala who are abused, abandoned, malnourished, or living in extreme poverty. We strive to equip the children in our care with the skills and education needed to become upstanding, empowered citizens in their community and to become fully self-sustained through the businesses that they run which provide financial support and meaningful job training for the older children.

Casa Guatemala’s Children’s Village has been providing a safe space for children to live and receive quality education since 1977. Originally started as an orphanage to provide refuge for children left abandoned, abused and malnourished by the brutal civil war, Casa Guatemala now provides a safe space for children from neighboring villages to receive quality care and education from teachers and volunteers from all over the world! Situated in 100 acres of tropical jungle in Rio Dulce, Izabal, Guatemala, it provides a unique and rich volunteer opportunity for those interested in providing well-rounded child care and education. In addition to having a school, Casa Guatemala’s Clinic serves to provide free healthcare to the children as well as the neighboring indigenous communities who often lack health services.

Volunteer Options

Long term volunteer:

As a long term volunteer you are covering one of the most essential positions at Casa Guatemala. Working alongside Guatemalan people, you are responsible for performing all daily tasks with children when they are not in school (January to November) and summer school (November to January). This is a task that requires great deal of responsibility and care for the children. On the weekends you are also required to organize and perform fun activities with the children.

With other volunteers from all over the world, you are living on site in the volunteer house. Here, you have the opportunity to share your experiences and culture with like-minded people.

Requirements:

- Be at least 24 years old

-Have at least a basic grasp of conversational Spanish.

- Minimum of 3 months commitment

- In order to help with the program operational cost, a one-time, non-refundable, tax deductible fee of $300 US is required.

- Flexibility and the ability to adapt to a new environment

Short term volunteer:

Our short term volunteer program is a great opportunity for those backpacking or passing through to experience our Children’s Village from the comfort of our Backpacker’s Hotel. A required fee of $300 US/week includes accommodation, transportation to and from the school, and meals. It also serves as a major funding source for the school and 210 plus children that it serves. Duties will depend on the need at the time of your stay.