Volunteer in a Micro Empowerment Project in Guatemala (Quetzaltenango)

  Guatemala

• Other Cities in Guatemala: 
Quetzaltenango

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks

Description: United Planet's Quest Volunteer Abroad program offers you or your group a life-changing opportunity to interact with local communities through customized work experiences, cultural activities, and home stays. United Planet Quests are offered in 50 countries from 1-52 weeks.

Volunteer in a variety of different locations while immersing yourself in the culture of Guatemala! Due to its large indigenous population, Guatemala maintains a rich culture. You will be staying in the heart of the Sierra Madre mountains in the city of Quetzaltenango (abbreviated Xela). Surrounding Quetzaltenango are various villages of Quiche and Mam origin, containing market squares and churches of the old colonial style. Explore the beauty of Guatemala while volunteering with those who need your help.

Highlights: United Planet's Quests offers volunteers a unique blend of work, cultural immersion, and fun. All ages and skill levels are invited to apply. Everyone has something to offer!

Guatemala Micro Empowerment Quest:

Supported by the Timberland Corporation and volunteers, United Planet is building a Laundromat at the women's shelter in Quetzaltenango the second largest city in Guatemala. Currently the shelter, serving both battered women and children, is having a very difficult time making ends meet to provide a basic healthy diet and education for the women and children. The Laundromat project serves as a way to empower the shelter by building sustainable revenue source and a means to provide the battered women with the training to develop self-reliance and independence.

In Guatemala, domestic violence is too commonplace for comfort. It is a patriarchal culture where alcohol, poverty and a lack of government intervention exist. Battered women who wish to regain complete control of their lives have to overcome numerous difficulties where economic dependence is a great limitation. Studies have found that almost 50% of women at the shelter return home to an abusive situation because of the economic factor. Once home, they face abuse and even more violence from their husbands because they ran away in the first place.

Running and managing the Laundromat will help empower the women by having them assume responsibility and ownership of the operation. They will also develop the technical skills and experience to set up their own small businesses in the future. United Planet is currently searching for Spanish-speaking volunteers to assist with the implementation of the business plan, including the budget and marketing plan of the project. Work also includes training the women and shelter staff on operations and planning. Business, financial, and marketing professionals, as well as teachers and occupational therapists needed!

Qualifications: None

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: International volunteer travel is often filled with unpredictable surprises, such as transportation delays, local holidays, etc. Cultures may vary greatly and you might feel outside of your comfort zone in some situations. People, including the local population and fellow Quest participants, might have different religious, ideological, racial, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds. United Planet offers volunteer opportunities to people of all ages and backgrounds and request that volunteers strive to always be: flexible, courageous, open-minded, tolerant and compassionate. United Planet volunteers are offered pre-departure training and materials, which include cultural adjustment tools and other tips to help you adjust to your new surroundings.

Age Range: 18 and up

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

Participants Travel to Guatemala Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Phone Interview

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

United Planet's Mission Statement: As an international non-profit organization, United Planet (UP) strives to create a world in which all people understand, respect, and support one another. United Planet's global network of leaders and volunteers fosters cross-cultural understanding and addresses shared challenges to unite the world in a community beyond borders. In 2008, United Planet was one of only ten organizations selected by CNN to be part of its "Be the Change" initiative.

Year Founded: 2001