Organisation

• The receiving organization is a language school and NGO that supports a number of projects in Quetzaltenango and surroundings. In this language school you can, if you’re volunteering, get Spanish classes at a reduced tariff. You can also participate in the excursions the language school organizes for the students and volunteers (of course against payment for the excursions farther off)

Project activities

• To help with the afforestation project that was launched in 1989. The aim of this project is to annually plant 100,000 mostly native trees in order to contribute to the city of Quetzaltenango. The project starts with sowing and ends at the point where the saplings can survive in the mountains without protection or care. At that, the organization can use all sorts of help. The tree nursery is established in the ‘Labor San Antonio’ in zone 9 of the city of Quetzaltenango. Activities will take place in Quetzaltenango and surrounding area.

What’s expected of the volunteers?

• Required: Nivel intermedio de Español (if your knowledge of Spanish isn’t good enough, you should follow Spanish courses locally)
• Social
• Flexible
• Enterprising
• Taking initiative

Accommodation and living environment

• You live with a family and pay for board and lodging. There is also the limited possibility to stay against payment in a room at the language school where you have a shower, toilet, and cooking facility.

Period / duration

• Throughout the year. Minimum stay of 3 months but preferably a long term sending. You usually work 5-6 days a week (4-5 hours/day. In the months of July-August an 8 hours shift might be necessary).
• August-November: Working in the tree nursery
• December-January: Sowing and work in the tree nursery
• February – June: work in the tree nursery
• July – August: planting new trees

Local costs

• Board and lodging €120.00 or €100.00 if you stay at the school

Experiences