Volunteer with a Guatemalan child.Volunteer Work in Guatemala City
Guatemala City has become a place of refuge for many members of the indigenous communities, and a hub for a wide range of social services, allowing volunteers to work with the growing and diverse local population. Many of CCS' volunteer placements are in the shantytowns surrounding Guatemala City, while other placements are in the central areas of the city where local people converge to receive services, such as care for people with disabilities.
Volunteer work is always in partnership with one of CCS' Partner Programs from the local community. Your placement is based on your skills, interests, and the needs of the community. The most common organizations we work with in Guatemala City include:
-
Day care centers: Volunteers provide support to local staff on the development of recreational and educational activities, assist in kitchens at mealtimes, work with children on basic hygiene, and provide physical therapy and counseling services, depending on individual qualifications and experience.
-
Orphanages: Volunteers provide support to the local staff assisting in physical therapy and art therapy activities with the children. The volunteers also help assisting in the kitchen and at mealtimes.
-
Clinics and hospitals: Volunteers assist in daily routines such as physical therapy, observing and assisting administrating vaccinations and medications, etc
Volunteer Work Placements in Guatemala City
Volunteer Abroad , Intern Abroad, and Insight Abroad (one-week) programs are available in Guatemala City. Volunteers in Guatemala City are placed within the fields of caregiving, teaching, healthcare, or community development. Learn more about our placement process.
A volunteer trying on a traditional Guatemalan dress.Cultural & Learning Activities in Guatemala City
Building on your volunteer work in Guatemala City, Cultural & Learning Activities include weekly Spanish classes and discussions with guest speakers on topics such as the civil war, the country's topography and earthquakes, Mayan cosmology, health issues facing the nation, the educational systems, and the history of Guatemala. Cultural activities may also include visits to textile museums near Antigua, where volunteers can learn about weaving textiles and the significance of textiles in Mayan culture, participation in a Mayan wedding ritual, visits to a coffee museum, or the family home of a local chocolate-maker.
Volunteers relaxing on a beach on a weekend trip in Guatemala.Free Time in Guatemala City
In your Free Time in Guatemala City you may choose to visit the many cultural sites, from museums and churches to local craft markets and parks. Within a half-hour walk from the Home-Base in Guatemala City there are many things to do and sites to see.
Guatemala City is also one of the main hubs for travel in Guatemala; volunteers often take weekend excursions to Antigua, the former capital of Guatemala, which contains the preserved remnants of Spanish colonialism, or to Lake Atitlan, a beautiful and mystical lake, or to Chichicastenango, home to the largest indigenous market in Central America. For those with longer stays, weekend trips to other Guatemalan cities, such as Coban, Quetzaltenango, and trips across the border to Belize are also popular.
For those who like adventure, you can climb to the Pacaya Volcano from Antigua in a half-day excursion. You may also take a weekend trip to the most important Mayan city of the classical period, Tikal, where you can explore the temple ruins of this famous archeological site while being immersed in the beauty and splendor of a tropical rainforest.
Home-Base in Guatemala City, Guatemala.Home-Base in Guatemala City
The Home-Base in Guatemala City is in a safe residential area of Guatemala City that is walking distance to many services, including Internet cafes, laundry facilities, parks, museums, and libraries. The two-level house has an office on the main floor and volunteers have constant access to CCS staff.
The spacious, open courtyard serves as a common area to relax, play games, read, and more. The rooms are comfortable and accommodate up to six volunteers each.
CCS staff in Guatemala City will make you feel at home during your stay and help you to better understand the local culture. Guatemala Country Director Virginia Burmester says:
"Whether we are of Mayan, Spanish, Mestizo, or Garífuna descent, you will find that Guatemalans (Chapines) are kind, humble, resilient, and generous people."
In-country staff in Guatemala City, Guatemala.In-Country Staff in Guatemala City
Local CCS staff in Guatemala City will welcome you to the community, make you feel at home and help you better understand the culture. They help facilitate your volunteer experience and are always available to handle any questions that may arise. CCS staff is always from the region where we operate, so they can provide a local perspective, help you with learning the local language, and guide you in what to do in your free time.
All of our in-country staff members are warm, loving people who want you to feel at home and will make sure you are well cared for. Each CCS program site has a Country Director or Program Director and a full staff to take care of all programming, administrative, and logistical needs, as well as housekeepers, drivers, house guards, and cooks. Because the staff office is typically located at the CCS Home-Base, a helping hand is never far. Learn more about our Guatemala City staff below.
Country Director: Virginia Burmester
Virginia’s earliest cross-cultural experience was as a student in a year-long high school exchange program. She later traveled to Belgium as a participant in a community service project. These travels shaped her view of the world dramatically and proved to her that intercultural education was (and is) a very effective and successful way to bring peace and progress around the world. Virginia’s passion for education led to a 25-year career as an English teacher in Guatemala City. She later worked with the American Field Service, placing high school students with host families around Guatemala and preparing Guatemalan students to study abroad.
Her academic studies and internship experience in a rural area of Guatemala, and her extensive professional experience in intercultural education has brought Virginia recognition and respect as a recognized leader in intercultural exchange and an expert storyteller of the history and development of Guatemala. She takes great pride in her work and enjoys collaborating daily with the CCS Placement Coordinator Sonia, a director and teacher with the National School for Children Living with Mental Disabilities.
Placements Coordinator: Sonia Tello
Sonia is responsible for coordinating your volunteer placement and with maintaining Cross-Cultural Solutions' relationship with all of our partner programs in Guatemala. She also coordinates all cultural and learning activities.
Office Manager: Aneliesse Burmester
Aneliesse is responsible for managing the office and other secretarial duties. She coordinates airport pick-up and drop-off, Spanish lessons for the volunteers, and more. She is available for any questions, from helping with cultural adjustment to providing directions to local points of interest. Aneliesse is also on the National Volleyball team and has represented Guatemala in many tournaments.
Cooks: Mari Oliva and Amabilia Valiente
Mari and Amabilia are in charge of all meal preparations. They are also great at ensuring that meals meet the needs of any volunteers with special dietary needs, such as vegans, vegetarians, et al. These ladies are great cooks, and Mari loves to sing in the kitchen while she prepares the meals.
Housekeepers: Julieta Pirir and Olivia Lopez
Julieta and Olivia are in charge of cleaning the house and making sure that the house is comfortable for the volunteers.
Driver: Francisco Carrera
Francisco is our main driver and will be picking you up at the airport, transporting you to your placement each day and bringing you to the cultural and learning activities, as necessary.
House Guards: Luis Alvarez and Henry Arizandieta
Luis and Henry are in charge of overall security of the house, including making sure that all volunteers return safely to the Home-Base each night.
