El Nahual Community Education Center

  Guatemala

• Other Cities in 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 Community Center is a non-profit, non-governmental organization funded by its Spanish language school. All of our proceeds return directly to the community through our educational programs for children, which involve teaching English, art, Spanish reinforcement, mathematics, science, theater, and more at four sites on the outskirts of Quetzaltenango (Guatemala's second-largest city). The children we serve often come from families who have been marginalized by poverty, indigenous Mayan heritage, or rural backgrounds, and many lack access to the privilege of a primary school education even though six years are theoretically provided free of charge under the Guatemalan system. Our foreign volunteers provide creative, thoughtful instruction and activities which these children would otherwise not receive. To that end we seek dedicated and enthusiastic individuals who are motivated to give back to some of the most disenfranchised communities in Quetzaltenango. If you are interested in learning about grassroots social development work through education, want to gain valuable international teaching experience, and improve your Spanish through work with kids, El Nahual Community Center has a place for you!

Year Founded: 2004