El Nahual Community Education Center

  Guatemala

Quetzaltenango

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months, 7-12 months, 1-2 years and over 2 years
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: All year round

Description: El Nahual is an educational community center funded by its non-profit Spanish school for foreigners. Located in the western highland city of Quetzaltenango, El Nahual provides free educational programs to some of the poorest communities in the area.

We seek motivated students who desire both an intensive Spanish immersion experience and the opportunity to impact some of the poorest communities of Quetzaltenango. Helping to develop our educational programs is interesting, rewarding and challenging work!

Conscious of the many social problems that face the people of Guatemala, we started a school that would use all its profits to give back to the community. The Spanish school is composed of a team of professional teachers with years of experience in teaching Spanish to foreign students.

Students study Spanish 4 hours a day, 5 days a week and volunteer in our educational social service programs in their free time (10-15 hours a week). El Nahual offers daily cultural activities including a Guatemalan cooking class, a weaving class, free salsa lessons, and a weekly lecture on the history and politics of Guatemala.

All students and volunteers are given the opportunity to stay with a Guatemalan family during their time at El Nahual.

El Nahual is a Mayan term that means protective spirit of each person. Our vision is to become a guiding force for those who need us. We strive to encourage personal growth and human rights awareness by providing access to education.

Qualifications: We seek highly motivated, passionate volunteers who are dedicated to driving change within the local community. Please contact us or visit our website for more information on volunteer opportunities and our programs!

Cost in US$: Free (to volunteer) and $162/ week (20 hrs. of private Spanish classes and homestay with a Guatemalan family)

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Our typical volunteer is between the ages of 18 and 30, and is socially-minded and ready to learn and give back to the communities we serve.

Age Range: 18 - 80

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Guatemala Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of 2-4

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Post-Program Services Include:

• Job and Internship Network

El Nahual Language Center's Mission Statement: El Nahual Language Center is a non-profit educational community center and Spanish school. Our vision is to become a guiding force for those who need us. El Nahual is a Mayan term that means protective spirit of each person. We encourage personal growth, human rights awareness and community development by providing access to education to some of the poorest communities in Quetzaltenango. El Nahual also dedicates itself to providing high-quality Spanish language instruction to foreign students who volunteer in our programs. All of the profits of our Spanish school, which account for nearly 100% of our funding, are invested in our educational community development progams. Our philosophy is "educando para desarrollo social," or "educating for social development." We invite you to partake in our mission.

Year Founded: 2004