Volunteering in Guatemala

Key Information
Eligibility
About

Key Information

Information

Application Deadline: 21/02/22 at 9:00 am

Opportunity type: Extra-curricular opportunities, Volunteering

Ref: 10006353

Dates

Departure Date: 12/06/22

Return Date: 10/07/22

Costs

£1500-£1600: the estimated cost for travel and accommodation (excluding any support). Students will also be required to pay for: UK transfers, visits, food and drink, DBS check and visa

Funding

DMU Global Bursary: £400

Additional Funding: Turing Scheme Bursary: £480 + £110 extra for students from disadvantaged backgrounds

Booking

Accommodation: Booked and provided by IVHQ

Travel: Booked by DMU (students travel as a group)

Contact

General Enquiries: dmuglobal@dmu.ac.uk

Eligibility

All DMU students are eligible to participate in this opportunity, but it would be particularly relevant to those with a demonstrable interest in public good, volunteering and contributing towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

 

There are a maximum of 15 places available, with a minimum of 8 participants required for this opportunity to take place. Students are recommend to check the eligibility criteria before applying.

 

Please note, that no DMU staff will be travelling with students as part of this opportunity, instead participants will be supported by IVHQ and the host organisations in Guatemala.

About

DMU Global in cooperation with our partner International Volunteer HQ, are offering DMU students the chance to spend 4 weeks volunteering in Guatemala in summer 2022. By participating in this opportunity you will help to make a genuine difference to hundreds of people by working on a variety of community projects. During this volunteering opportunity, students will have the opportunity to make a positive impact with the local community by engaging with one of the following projects based in and around Antigua:

  • Teaching English – Assist in schools, community centres and libraries. Cost and accessibility are often major barriers to learning English, which can open new opportunities for locals and help them find work. Participants will assist in local classrooms and teach classes to make English more accessible to the locals.
  • Special Needs Care – Assist at homes and clinics for disabled babies and children by providing personalised care and assistance. Opportunities for children with special needs are very limited in Guatemala, so homes and clinics create a safe space to improve quality of life. Children respond well to individual care so volunteers will help by assisting with their day to day care and interactions.
  • Childcare – Assist in schools and early childhood centres in Antigua. Children from disadvantaged neighborhoods often have a poor home life, little to no schooling and alcohol or drug abuse among their families. Participants help by providing a safe space while playing with, teaching and looking after the children. Access to these support networks helps to build fulfilling lives and break poverty cycles.

For more information about IVHQ and the specific volunteering opportunities in Guatemala, please visit the IVHQ website.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

De Montfort University is the only higher education institution in the UK to be a global hub for one of the Sustainable Development Goals – SDG 16 to promote peace, justice and strong institutions. The SDGs were introduced by the United Nations in 2010 with the aim of improving the lives of millions of people by 2030.


Through our activities at DMU, we aim to contribute to all of the UN SDGs in a variety of ways. This DMU Global volunteering opportunity specifically gives students the chance to engage with the following Sustainable Development Goals:

Learning Objectives

Participating in a DMU Global opportunity can help you develop a range of skills and competencies that enhance your studies and boost your employability. Through participation in this volunteering opportunity in Kenya we expect that students will develop the following:

  • A greater sense of societal responsibility and civic mindedness, by engaging in behaviours and activities in the best interests of society and the environment.
  • Respect for other cultures, beliefs, world views and practices.
  • Cross-cultural empathy and the ability to understand cultures and how different people perceive situations, emotionally respond to them, and how to behave as a way of showing understanding.

Cultural Activities

The projects offered within the volunteering program will provide many opportunities for intercultural learning. As students will be volunteering for 3-6 hours per day, there will be plenty of time to explore Antigua and its surroundings. Antigua is renowned for its architecture, including Spanish colonial buildings and La Merced church.

Explore the beautiful architecture and sights of Antigua, or jump on an ATV and go exploring at a coffee plantation, on a volcano or through small countryside villages. You’ll also find a great selection of markets selling everything from fruit and vegetables to locally-made handcrafts and cooking classes that can teach you how to make Guatemala’s tasty national stew – Pepian.

COVID-19 information

  • Travel to Guatemala is permitted according to the travel rules for England as listed on UK Government website.
  • Students are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 vaccine prior to travel.
  • Accurate and up-to-date information about the entry and testing requirements for Guatemala can be found on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office website. The current requirements are for travellers to take a PCR test before travel to Guatemala,. In addition, travellers a required to take a lateral flow or PCR within 2 days of arriving back in England. Further Information can be found on the UK Government website.
  • All students that are offered a place on this DMU Global opportunity will receive further COVID-19 advice and guidance by email and in pre-departure briefing sessions. More details and COVID-19 Travel Information can be found here.