Volunteer
Colegio Mesoamericano is a small school located in the highlands of Patzicía, Guatemala. We have about 250 students ranging from 4 to 18 years of age. The majority of our students are of Mayan descent coming from tremendously poor socio-economic conditions. If we can teach our students English more opportunities will open up to them. With these skills our students will be better prepared to find jobs, or even enter into the university. Ultimately they will be able to get out of proverty.
In order to run an effective English program we are in need of volunteer teachers. If you or someone you know has the desire to serve, and has the desire to leave their footprints in this part of the world, please let us know.
Frequently Asked Questions
Be sure to read:
- How old do I need to be?
- Volunteers should be 18 years old or older, and in good health.
- Do you accept married couples?
- Some of our best volunteers have been married couples. We also accept and welcome families.
- Do you accept grandparents?
- Some of our best volunteers have been grandparents. There is no age limit, just the ability to serve, love, and teach.
- If I have a medical problem can I be a volunteer?
- Yes, you just need to keep in mind your limitations and recognize that the medical facilities here are different. Given these limitations, we don’t advise people with serious medical limitations to serve here.
- How long can I serve?
- Ideally we would love to have volunteers serve for a year, but we understand you have other commitments so we accept volunteers for as long as they can serve, be that three months, a semester, or more.
- How much will it cost?
- It costs about $300 - $350 a month. $100 pays for housing. The rest you will need for meals, toiletries, and personal items. Volunteers are responsible for their airfare and the cost of getting to and from the airport (we arrange the transport to and from the airport for you. Please be aware that if you plan on doing a lot of travelling on your days off, you need to plan for that.
- Can I buy a phone there?
- Phones are cheap here. They cost about Q100 (less than $15) and normally come with anywhere from 100-300 free minutes.
- Is it safe?
- Guatemala is generally a safe place, and we provide guidelines to help you avoid unnecessary risks. We house volunteers with Guatemalan families in safe areas of the town. We have had a few small robberies to date, but nothing more serious.
- Do I need to know Spanish?
- No, you do not need to speak Spanish, although it is an advantage in a Spanish speaking country.
- Can I learn Spanish?
- Yes. There are many people willing to tutor for a small fee.
- Is there a school uniform?
- Yes, we do have a school uniform. Our colors are blue or black pants or skirt; white, corinto, or blue shirts; black shoes; blue or corinto sweaters or vests.
- Do I need to be a teacher?
- No. All you need is the desire to serve.
- Will the children love me?
- Yes, they will love you. The children want to learn English, and always love the volunteers! You will make friends to last a lifetime.
If you have any other questions, please contact us.