Teach English in La Esperanza, Honduras

  Honduras

La Esperanza

Length of Position: 4-8 Weeks
Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks and 5-8 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: multiple dates year round

Description: Honduras beauty makes the relatively few people who cross its borders every year a very pleasant surprise. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth though just pack your bags before they realise their mistake. The relaxed pace, rugged beauty and even smaller number of foreign visitors make the Western Highlands especially attractive to travellers. Working closely with Save the Children Honduras, if you sign up on this project you'll be helping disadvantaged children in the region by preparing and delivering English lessons. Outside of class, there are ample opportunities to play sports or lead the children in arts and crafts amongst other things.

*Project details:
Working in one of three regions of Honduras, we work with schools of all different sizes and focus.

In and around La Esperanza, approximately 3 hours west of the Capital Tegucigalpa, you will work in very rural and under resourced schools which have all been set up with the aid of a well known NGO.

If based in the Choluteca region on the southern coast you work in a fairly rural and poor part of Honduras. Your help and support in teaching the children of this region will be invaluable and provide them with an opportunity to learn that they otherwise would not get.

We also work with three government funded schools in Tegucigalpa. One is a secondary school with a strong musical emphasis. It is attended by children interested in arts and music, most of whom are musically gifted. The other two are primary / secondary schools which have been set up to provide education for children from poor backgrounds. These schools all have between 180-500 pupils.

*Why the project needs volunteers:
As Honduras is a poor country schools there often lack the resources to hire English teachers. Therefore any assistance volunteers can provide is greatly appreciated! You will be working with children who live off very low incomes. Without outside help many of them could not afford an education. Volunteers are essential for their enthusiasm, English skills and ability to make a real difference to the lives of underprivileged children.

In La Esperanza you will be working with the indigenous Lenca people who live in small communities and who live off very low incomes. Without outside help many of them could not afford an education. Volunteers are essential for their enthusiasm, English skills and ability to make a real difference to the lives of underprivileged children.

Find out more about i-to-i, watch their short video here: http://video.i-to-i.com/site-videos/video.html

Highlights:
* Getting to know this little visited but fascinating country
* Making a real difference to the lives of your students
* Learning Spanish - a great way to make friends in the community

The project is based in La Esperanza- a fairly small town with a population of roughly 13,000 people and is located around 3-4 hours by bus from the Capital Tegucigalpa, historically famous for being the centre for trading in vegetable produce, due to its location being in the Highlands of Honduras the cooler climate is perfect for the cultivation of vegetables such as the potato. The vibrant market town La Esperanza is home predominantly to the indigenous Lenca people, and is situated in the middle of some of the most breathtaking mountainous countryside Honduras has to offer. You will also find that La Esperanza is wonderfully near many of the tourist attractions that are located in Honduras from the Mayan Ruins to the beautiful Lake Yojoa are all in close enough range for a well deserved weekend break from volunteering.

Tegucigalpa (pop approx 1.5 million), or "Tegus" as it's more affectionately referred to by the locals, is a very charismatic city with a wonderful mixture of old colonial buildings and streets and the new modern business district. Situated at around 3,000 feet above sea level in the midst of a valley means that the climate in Tegucigalpa is somewhat cooler and more pleasant than you would find elsewhere in the country. It is a bustling, noisy city that became the capital of Honduras in 1880. The name Tegucigalpa means "silver hill" in the original local Nahuatl dialect. Tegucigalpa gives you the perfect base to soak in the city life and see the sights. And travelling at the weekends around Honduras couldn't be easier as you will have access to all the main bus and airline companies if you wish to go a little further a field.

Qualifications: What kind of skills you need to go on this project:
You should have basic conversational Spanish for this project, but we recommend you learn as much as you can before your trip as it will definitely be useful.

You should also be a confident communicator, patient, organised and enjoy working with children. It helps if you are determined and can think on your feet as the children will be lively!

Those working in the music school will have a musical background and be willing to help out in various music lessons as well as some English classes.

Your role as a volunteer:
Typical activities include teaching English, playing with the children and getting involved with arts / sports tuition.

If you are placed at the music school you will be teaching English and you can also assist other teachers in music lessons.

Cost in US$: USD 1975.00 for 4 weeks, USD 300.00 for every week thereafter

* Accommodation: Shared room in homestay
* Food: Breakfast and dinner
* Airport Pickup: Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you're arriving early!
* Training: In-country orientation and Online TEFL course
* Support: Pre-departure helpdesk, Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support

When you go on an i-to-i Volunteer Placement we want you to have the best possible time abroad, so we include these important services.

Before you go, we prepare you with:
- detailed information on your project and country
- fundraising advice and support
- visa instructions and forms
- vaccination and inoculation recommendations
- advice on health, safety and culture shock
- contact details to pass along to those at home

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: If you are interested in immersing yourself in another culture while giving your time to a worthy cause, then you are a typical i-to-i volunteer. We invite you to join the i-to-i community of dedicated volunteers aged 18-80 who are working on community development, building, teaching, and conservation projects across the globe. Together, we make a lasting impact that changes lives and helps preserve the planet through hundreds of worthwhile projects around the world.

Age Range: 18-80

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian and European Participants.

Application Process Involves:

• Phone Interview

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Year Founded: 1994