First, if you are looking to volunteer in Guatemala, you are up to a great experience. In this post, you will find information about safety in Guatemala during the Covid-19 times, the kinds of volunteering you can do in Guatemala, and of course, a list of nine organizations you can volunteer in Guatemala.
If you are looking for more information about volunteering abroad, look at this: How to Volunteer Abroad For Free or Ways to Travel More Sustainably.
Is It Safe To Travel To Guatemala Right Now?
This was a very common question even before Covid stroke the world. Everywhere you see in the news, you will get 10-second sketches about poverty, corruption, gangs, and many other things that make your mom worry. The sad truth is that all of these things are true, but Guatemala is way more than that. The warmth of its people, nature, the smell of fresh coffee in the morning are things that are barely talked about.
Guatemala was one of the first countries to close its borders and decree a curfew in 2020. As of September 2020, it is possible to fly in and out of the country again.
At the moment (at the time this post), there is no curfew, and if you are coming from the United States, you don’t need a visa. When you enter Guatemala, you will be granted a 90-day tourist permit to stay in the country.
The common question is, “Do I need to quarantine or a covid test even if I have already been vaccinated? The answer is yes, you do need a negative antigen covid test to enter the country, but no quarantine is necessary. Some people decide to do it out of precaution, though.
Lastly, wearing a face mask is mandatory, and in some places like Guatemala City and Antigua, every time you enter a restaurant, store, mall, etc. Your temperature will be measured, and you will need to apply hand sanitizer.
In terms of mobility, public transportation is up and running again, but even when it is the cheapest option, most people will recommend hiring a shared or private shuttle if you ask around.
Make Sure You Have a Travel Insurance
Travel insurance has always been crucial! Make sure to ask the organization you are volunteering with if they offer insurance, and you need to have travel insurance on your own. There are two travel insurance companies that cover covid-19 expenses in some cases. They are World Nomads and Safety Wing. If you know any other travel insurance companies, let us know in the comments.
What Kind Of Volunteering do You Want To Do?
Many of us have started our volunteer journey with the simple thought of wanting to be of service to other people or causes. But what exactly is the service you want to provide? Finding that out might be quite the task. But, you must reflect on the activities you enjoy and your skillset. Or maybe you are beginning to work on your thesis and see it as a window to travel abroad.
Here are some fields you can volunteer in Guatemala:
- Social Justice
- Healthcare
- Wildlife conservation
- Marine conservation
- English teaching
- Day carrying
- Construction
- Child education
Best Organizations You Can Volunteer In Guatemala
Now, let’s get to the juicy stuff. If you are thinking about volunteering in Guatemala, you most likely know already that Guatemala is a developing country with hunger, health, and education issues. That is why you will find several organizations focusing on humanitarian jobs, but not all organizations have volunteering programs.
Ninos de Guatemala
This organization provides quality education to children from low-resources families from the towns around the city of Antigua. They now operate three schools with a total of 500 young students. All three schools are mostly operated by Guatemalan staff.
You can choose from five different volunteering programs: International Volunteering, Volunteer Groups, Volunteer for a Day, Corporate Volunteering, and Netherlands Volunteering.
ARCAS – Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Association
In 1989, Guatemalan citizens founded ARCAS to protect the endangered Guatemalan wildlife from the black market. Today, they educate people on environmental issues and release spider monkeys, parrots, crocodiles, small mammals, iguanas, and hawks into the environment. Last but not least, they also do turtle and mangrove conservation and research.
Nowadays they work in three different locations where you can volunteer, Guatemala City, Peten, and Monterrico.
From Houses to Homes
There are many communities in need in Guatemala. From Houses to Homes focuses on the Guatemalan highlands by providing dignifying houses. Most people in the area live in houses made with bamboo walls that provide very little security and privacy against nature or the rest of the people in the community.
This organization believes that by improving the living conditions of the families, it will be easy for them to focus on other top necessities like education, finding a job, etc.
As of today, they have built 1562 13 X 19-foot block homes with a door with a lock and a window. You can now begin to be grateful for the place you call home.
Safe Passage
Believe it or not, for decades now, a group of people has been living in the largest landfill in Guatemala City, which is also one of the largest n Central America. After knowing that, you won’t find it hard to believe that these are low-resources people who can barely get a proper education.
This organization provides education focused on wellness, lifelong learning, vocational skills, and community engagement working mainly with children and adults. They believe that breaking the cycle of poverty is guiding the students to reach their goals and change their lives.
Sadly, since the work happens in the landfill, they have stopped their volunteer program due to Covid-19. But, you can read the information in case you are making plans ahead of time.
Long Way Home
This organization has its headquarters in San Juan Comalapa, Chimaltenango. They have built an elementary school using landfill waste! It is easier for you to understand what they do by looking at this video.
Eco Ciudadanos
This organization focuses on environmental education in schools and universities around Guatemala.
Unidos por los Animales
If you are a pet lover, you will love this place. This is a small welfare group located outside of the city of Antigua. They take injured or unwanted animals to restore their physical and mental health.
There are two ways you can volunteer with them. The first is by fostering one of these animals until an owner is ready to adopt them, or by helping Rolando who is in charge of taking care of all the animals.
Final Thoughts
Travelling around these days could be a little tricky due to the Covid-19 sanitary emergency but not impossible. Before you move anywhere, make sure to have your travel insurance up to date. Do your research about the organization you are volunteering with to ensure it is reliable and not a scam, and don’t forget to be cautious once you reach your destination.
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