Volunteer travel & Spanish classes, Guatemala

The indigenous Maya in Guatemala make up a huge percentage of the population and many live off less than US $1 a day. Due to economic, political and cultural factors, most Mayan families today use what is referred to as a three stone fire, which is three round stones surrounding a wood fire, over which a metal plate is placed for cooking.

Coupled with poor ventilation in most Guatemalan homes, this is leading to high levels of indoor air pollution which can be life-threatening or lead to respiratory diseases and loss of sight causing more health issues worldwide than malaria. You will assist in building energy efficient stoves for cleaner air and less wood consumption, thus providing environmental benefits, economic benefits and health benefits including greatly improved living standards and decreasing rate of deforestation. Or you could choose to be involved in preparing and planting one crop cycle to provide harvests for one family for one year, or work with livestock rearing, an essential in the lives of the indigenous population.

You will live with a local family in Antigua, Guatemala. Included in your fee is the funding needed for the project tools, all food, accommodation, and transport. Twenty hours of one-on-one Spanish classes are included per week, as well as a half-day adventure such as biking, rock-climbing or hiking. We are currently working with two Indigenous communities, these being San Andrés Itzapa and Santa Maria de Jesus, both within a 45 minute bus ride from Antigua through lush mountain scenery and typical Guatemalan villages. Antigua is a stunning colonial town, surrounded by volcanoes.

A typical day will start with breakfast with your host family, followed by a Spanish class, then the bus ride to the community. You will have lunch with a family in the village, and construction begins in the afternoon. Your evening meal will be supplied by your host family - another exciting chance to enjoy authentic Guatemalan food.