Guatemala House Building Volunteers

  Guatemala

• Other Cities in Guatemala: 
Antigua

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks and 5-8 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: Generally first Monday of every month but other dates are available

Description: This project works in the poorest areas of Guatemala to rebuild homes and supply health and education to the most disadvantaged families. This is an immensely rewarding volunteer project; you witness the fruits of your labour in a relatively short period of time, and can see for yourself the huge positive impact your work has on the families and communities.

This project works in the poorest areas of Guatemala to rebuild homes and to supply health and education to some of the most disadvantaged families.

Many Guatemalan families live in poor quality makeshift homes that are built of nothing more than cardboard or sugar cane walls with dirt floors. The use of makeshift building materials and poor construction resulting from a lack of resources leaves families extremely vulnerable to the harsh weather conditions during the storm season.
Volunteer Role

Changing lives block by block - each house takes around six days to be built from start to finish which allows volunteers to see completion of a project and (most rewarding) the final results, a very happy and very grateful family whose lives you have helped change beyond all expectations.

* The Goal
Once the house is completed the family can move their belongings into their new home and are handed the keys. This is always a very emotional time for both families and volunteers alike and an extremely rewarding moment that you'll never forget.

Poor quality, dilapidated housing fuels health problems, and destroys family unity and hope. Working with this project gives you the opportunity to help directly with some of the world's poorest families to build or rebuild houses making them strong, safe, culturally appropriate, and affordable to maintain. These homes become the foundation for a community building process.

* Your Typical Itinerary
A typical day will start at around 8.45am when all volunteers meet at the project base in Antigua, usually around five to ten minutes walk from your host family. Once all volunteers have arrived, you pile into a pickup truck and drive to the village you are working in! The journey can be anywhere from ten to 40 minutes from Antigua depending on where the build is based.

When you arrive at the site, materials will have been delivered and work starts. Often you will work alongside the family, who are usually very keen to help the building of their new home. You will need to bring your own lunch. Lunch breaks usually start at 12.30pm until 1.30pm but many volunteers choose to work through lunch. Bottled water is supplied throughout the day.

The first day is spent digging the footings and getting the foundations in place. Don't worry if you don't have any building experience, everyone is welcome - the co-ordinators are more than happy to show you how to mix cement or lay bricks. Generally the day finishes at 4pm and you return to Antigua to have a shower and relax or head out to some of the many bars Antigua has to offer.

Over the following three days the house develops block-by-block, level-by-level, day-by-day. Each house is built with a window, a door and a concrete floor. It is then furnished and painted whatever colour the family chooses. After all the building and painting is done comes the most satisfying part of the project - showing the family the finished results!

Highlights: * Orientation
On arrival at the project you will have a brief orientation from our organisation leaders. This will include being shown around the project site, being introduced to the project coordinator and staff, a health and safety briefing and an introduction to your tasks while on the project.
Project Support

Throughout your stay in Guatemala you will have the support and guidance of our coordinator and team. You will be provided with competent assistance and help with any questions or advice you may need during your stay.

In addition you will have access to a 24 hour emergency contact number so you can contact one of our UK staff at any time should you need to.

* Accommodation and Meals

During your programme you will be living with a typical Guatemalan family. Our staff personally knows all the families and all of their homes meet an excellent standard set by our on-site staff. All families are close friends of the on-site staff and will speak Spanish most of the time (to help you get the most from your time in Guatemala) although there will always be at least one person who can speak English.

The families are all very warm, sociable people and are very keen to accommodate international students. You will instantly be made to feel at home and will be included in all day-to-day social activities (shopping, parties, barbecues etc) throughout your stay - a fantastic insight into life in this unique and diverse country.

Your family will provide you with two meals a day (breakfast and dinner), throughout your stay providing a great opportunity to chat and get to know your host family in an informal setting. All families are more than happy to cook any dishes that you'd like (within reason!) and many families can accommodate special dietary requirements for vegetarians and vegans. There is also a laundry service once a week with some families though this is not guaranteed.

Families belong to Guatemala's middle class, although students should take note that living standards in Guatemala are generally lower than Western Europe or North America. Family homes are located in neighbourhoods usually no more than seven blocks from our language school.

You will be given a key to the house and will be able to come and go as you please. All families have hot water and flushing western style toilets and showers. You will have you own private room and generally share a bathroom with other volunteers.

* Free Time
You will have free time in the evenings and at the weekends. During this time you can take excursions to other parts of the country, or stay in town to get to know the community and people more personally.

As part of the language programme, we offer two to three organised activities every week. In addition, students will find a daily schedule of cultural events in Antigua and surrounding areas, locations of theatres, museums and festivals as well as tickets prices.

* Activities include:

- Visits to local areas of interest
- Dance classes
- Cooking classes
- Parties and fiestas
- Spanish language videos and movies

Our on site coordinator and language school director is fantastic and will organise any tours or excursions for you very cheaply! Alternatively you can travel independently in groups with other volunteers living and working in Antigua.

Cost in US$: from 969

Experience Required: no

Age Range: Minimum 18 years

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Other
• Written Application

Real Gap Experience's Mission Statement:

Real Gap offer over 350 projects and travel options in over 35 countries over 6 continents. So whether you are interested in volunteering, community work, conservation, paid work overseas, teaching English, learning a new skill, adventure travel or sports and expeditions, you will find what you are looking for with Real Gap.

Not only about we passionate about responsible travel, we are pretty keen on making sure you have a good time too! Our travel advisors have traversed the globe and taken their own gap years, so they can give you all the advice you need to plan yours. You will also get support from both our on-site and office staff who understand the needs and expectations of Real Gap travelers.

Year Founded: 2005