Overview
Volunteer on a community construction project in Guatemala

Volunteering with GVI on this short-term community project will help you to improve the standard of living for indigenous communities situated near Antigua, Guatemala. Assist in building energy-efficient stoves to help families below the poverty line improve their living conditions. Indoor air pollution is responsible for more deaths each year than either Malaria or AIDS, and a cleaner, more energy-efficient stove can add literally decades onto the life-expectancy of a house’s occupants.

In just a week, you can help to vastly improve one family’s situation, with both your physical and your financial contribution. You can also learn Spanish while you are there as well, with 20 hours of one-on-one Spanish lessons included, and go on a half-day adventure biking, rock-climbing or hiking.

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

To be able to improve my Spanish, whilst actually improving the lives of one family by physically providing them with an essential part of everyday life is hugely rewarding, especially as I only had one week

Rachel Besbrode, 2008 Volunteer

What Difference Does This Project Make?

From an economical standpoint with the stoves, the families will only have to collect or buy up to a third of the firewood they used to, and spend less on medicines for chronic lung illnesses. Environmentally, the deforestation of trees is essentially reduced by two-thirds per family. Medically, with no smoke inhalation due to the chimney, the health of the families is greatly improved.

Highlights

Working side-by-side with indigenous families and in indigenous communities; starting and finishing each chosen project within one week; one-on-on Spanish classes; an adventure trip which includes a volcano hike or mountain bike ride; and being based in Antigua.

Location

Guatemala is one of the jewels of Central America, packed with ancient ruins, active volcanoes and intriguing Mayan culture. Volunteers live in the beautiful old Spanish colonial town of Antigua. Project work is carried out in communities all within a one hour journey from the town.

Field Conditions

Living with local families in Antigua in comfortable but semi-basic accommodation allows for an enriching cultural experience and the valuable opportunity to practice your Spanish! All accommodation provided is private and includes three meals a day (apart from Sundays). Lunch is eaten in the communities with a local family during the week. Travel upgrades are available on this project, see dates and costs for more information.