Volunteer in Honduras

  Honduras

La Esperanza

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: Opportunities are available throughout the year

Description: GVN has opportunities for volunteers to become involved with a range of projects, including teaching, building, childcare, conservation and medical programs. Living with a Honduran family, and volunteering at projects in rural locations, volunteers will help a community in need while gaining a new perspective on life in Central America.

The volunteer opportunities are in the following areas:

* Building Program
* Teaching Program
* Medical Program
* Childcare Program
* Iguana Conservation Project

Building Project: Tasks on the building project include renovation, labouring, painting, decorating, making bricks, building walls, digging, and building wooden playgrounds. Volunteers will assist with cement mixing, sand sifting, cutting wood, and transporting building materials; there is little equipment and it is mostly manual work. The building projects are to help families build or improve their homes and schools, and the community decides which projects are in need of assistance. Be prepared to be very patient and flexible, and to get your hands and clothes very dirty.

Teaching Project: On the teaching project, volunteers can help with teaching English, sports or computers. There is no set curriculum for teaching English in rural areas, but past volunteers have left behind their notes, recommendations and teaching materials, both at the schools and with our partner organisation, so that volunteers will have a good idea where to start and to give some continuity to the teaching process. Bringing teaching aids is suggested, as well as leaving those behind for further use in schools. To participate in the teaching program, volunteers need to stay for at least one month.

Medical Program: This project allows volunteers with experience and/or qualifications in medicine to help at an under-funded rural hospital. The Gracias hospital continually struggles to meet demand within its meagre budget and is therefore in constant need of assistance.

Volunteers will participate in many of the roles associated with shadowing nurses and doctors, laboratory work, pre-natal, intensive care, physiotherapy and more. The level and scope of your involvement will be determined by your experience and knowledge. Volunteers on this project require at least an intermediate level of Spanish and all applications need to be accompanied with a copy of your CV (résumé).

Childcare Program: Volunteers will work at a state-run institution which aim is to take care of orphaned, sick, neglected and poor children of Honduras. Volunteer activities include feeding, playing, educating and cleaning the children. The children are aged from around 5-15 and are in need of love and attention and volunteers act as older siblings. In addition, we have an on going revitalisation project at the centre. With the continuous help from volunteers we are slowly but surely changing the building by painting and decorating the facilities which are run down due to lack of funds.

Iguana Conservation Project: Situated off the coast of Honduras on the Caribbean island of Utila, volunteers on this project will work at an Iguana Centre which is dedicated to the protection and breeding of the Utila Iguana. The centre's efforts are focused on understanding the natural history of Utila and the Iguana through different scientific research. Daily activities include feeding the iguanas and educating the local community and school groups about them and their environment. Volunteers will help with conducting guided tours, working on general maintenance of cages, feeding and cleaning the iguana enclosures, gardening, etc. There may also be the opportunity to get involved in research and data gathering as well as any special projects at the centre.

Qualifications:
For this program volunteers must be:
* at least 18 years of age
* Building - physically fit, be ready to work with locals and adapt to traditional building methods
* Teaching - be ready to work with locals and adapt to different teaching
methods, be self-motivated and able to work independently
* Medical - have a medical degree or be studying towards a degree in healthcare, have experience working in a clinical setting, be self-motivated and able to work independently, know at least intermediate Spanish
* Iguana - physically fit, be enthusiastic about working with animals
* know at least basic Spanish or be willing to learn prior to leaving

Cost in US$: See Website

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18 - 60

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi and South African Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Honduras Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 10-20

Application Process Involves:

• Other

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Global Volunteer Network's Mission Statement: The Global Volunteer Network (GVN) is a private, Non Government Organization (NGO) based in Wellington, New Zealand. Our incorporation number is WN/1194442. Our vision is to support the work of local community organizations in developing countries through the placement of international volunteers. We believe that local communities are in the best position to determine their needs, and we provide volunteers to help them achieve their goals.

Year Founded: 2000