Overview
Volunteer on a community construction project in Honduras

Join with a short-term volunteer project in the ancient colonial town of Copán Ruinas in Honduras to work with nearby indigenous communities and help alleviate poverty by constructing energy-efficient stoves. Health problems relating to indoor air pollution from things like cooking stoves cause more deaths each year than either Malaria or AIDS, though doesn’t receive anywhere near the amount of international concern. An efficient stove of the manner installed here can add 10-15 years to the life expectancy of the family members inhabiting the house.

Learn Spanish while you are there, with 20 hours of lessons included, as well as a guided adventure to one of the local attractions. In just a week, you can make all the difference to an indigenous family.

View Film Footage, images, blogs, volunteer stories from the field, volunteer video diaries and more at the programs media centre

I totally had all my expectations blown away - if you want cultural immersion, go to Honduras

Mary Walker, 2006 Volunteer

What Difference Does This Project Make?

The stoves make a huge difference to families economically, as families only have to buy up to a third of the firewood they used to and spend less on medicines for chronic lung illnesses. They also make a difference environmentally and medically, as the deforestation of trees is essentially reduced by two-thirds per family and no smoke inhalation due to the chimney improves the health of the families greatly.

Highlights

Working side-by-side with indigenous communities, living with indigenous families, starting and finishing each chosen project, taking one-on-one Spanish classes, going on a guided tour of the world famous Copán Ruins, exploring your beautiful base of Copán.

Location

Volunteers live in Copan Ruinas, Honduras, a tiny colonial town close to the Copan Ruins (one of the more detailed Mayan ruins in the Americas). Located half an hour from the Guatemalan border and a few hours from the stunning Caribbean Bay islands of Roatan and Utila, Copan serves as an ideal base for exploring Central America. Project work will commence in the Chortí community of San Rafael, which is within a half hour pickup journey from the town.

Field Conditions

Volunteers live with local families in comfortable but basic accommodation, to have an enriching cultural experience and get the valuable opportunity to practice your Spanish! All accommodation provided is private, has washing facilities and includes three meals a day. Travel upgrades are available for this project, see dates and costs for more information.