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An amazing chance to help Guatemalan children and adults with mental disablilites. Your assistance is crucial and the nurses there will guide you as you help with day to day duties. A heart warming project indeed!

YOUR CARE PROJECT
The centre looks after People arrive at the organization from all walks of life... From families with few means at their disposal, who with the best will in the world do not have the time or the skills required to take care of their loved ones. Some arrive at the centre after being abandoned by their families... Others have simply grown old and require more assistance than their families can provide. Some are sick or are simply patients requiring rest and are unable to stay in a normal hospital.

The centre is based in a beautiful and traditional Guatemalan building in Antigua.


AREAS OF THE HOSPITAL- What are they and how do they work?

--> CENTER FOR RECOVERING FROM MALNUTRITION
The centre cares for children with varying degrees of malnutrition. The centre also cares for children who are waiting for operations for childhood diseases. The centre is also devoted to work treating children suffering from cleft palates. The children need to be given medicine for stomach problems, receive check-ups and to receive the kind of stimulation that any young child needs to develop their motor skills and cognition. The centre also provides education to the mothers teaching them how to care for their child’s needs.

--> CENTER FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN
Care is provided for children with Down’s syndrome, quadriplegics, hydrophiliacs, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, and asphyxias perinatal. The children receive attention from medics, psychologists, paediatrics, physiotherapists, neurologists, and specially trained teachers at the school. Volunteers help to stimulate the children to help with their development.

These children need lots of care and love as they receive physiotherapy, speech therapy, stimulation, play, daily care, and through the help of everyone involved they get to experience constant interaction and movement. Wheelchairs amongst other things are provided to keep them mobile as much as possible. .

-->"MANTE SANA" - FOR ADULTS AND "SPECIAL" YOUNGSTERS"
They take care of men and women with permanent incapacity, both physical and mental; the frequent diagnostics is setback in mental development, following convulsive syndrome, aggressive behaviour and schizophrenia. Most of the patients need round the clock care.

-->CENTER FRO ELDERLY MEN
Here the men suffer from conditions and afflictions commonly found in men of an older age. They are provided with activities to keep their minds strong and active amongst other things.

-->CENTER FOR ELDERLY WOMEN
Primarily the centre works to accommodate women in their later years who don’t have anywhere to live. They may also suffer from conditions and afflictions commonly found in old age. They are provided the same love, care and attention as anyone else. Again activities are organised to keep their minds strong and active amongst other things.


THE EDUCATION CENTER
-->Special School-The school teaches the children who live in the hospital. They give them the education directly suited to their level of understanding, providing the materials necessary for the lessons and of course bringing bucket loads of dedication. The school is very aware of making the lessons fun and interactive and ensuring that they have fun while they learn. Being stuck in a hospital isn’t much fun for anyone so the school makes sure that they know how to show them a good time as well teaching them.

--> KINDERGARTEN- Just like any other crèche/kindergarten they take care of the younger children who are too young to go to school. Many of the children’s mothers go to work in the market.

--> WORK & CRAFT SCHOOL-All kinds of crafts work is taught here at the centre. It really is fabulous to see. Everything that’s made is sold to bring in funding.


ABOUT YOU WORK

As the centre deals with a large variety of ailments and has many ‘areas’, there is much work that you do. You could be playing with, changing and feeding babies one day, helping elderly men another day and teaching English to the staff on another day. This is an excellent project which volunteers really enjoy. It is extremely worthwhile and hands-on.


YOUR QUALIFICATIONS

If you don’t speak Spanish, you must first spend some time learning Spanish before starting work. It usually takes between 4-8 weeks to reach the required standard of Spanish. Travellers will arrange these lessons for you in Antigua.


LOCATION

With majestic volcanoes rising out of lush green rainforest, highland villages steeped in tradition and vibrant, spirited people, Guatemala put quite simply is a magical destination!

Beautiful Antigua, where all of our placements are based, is arguably the most picturesque and certainly one of the oldest cities in Central America, characterised by a mellow, yet distinctly international feel. The local residents of Antigua are warmly referred to as Green bellies or panza verde due to the abundance of avocados that grow in the region.

Antigua’s splendour is protected by three giant guardian volcanoes Agua, Fuego and Acatenango, providing a stunning setting which attracts thousands of visitors every year. Antigua is one of the most popular places in Central America to learn Spanish so you are bound to meet lots of other students and travellers!

As for things to do with your spare time, whether you’re an adventure-mad extreme sports enthusiast or a nature-loving bird-watcher, Guatemala’s awesome unspoilt natural habitat will have something for you. The extraordinary terrain around the volcanoes and caves provides the perfect setting for mountaineering and caving (spelunking) whereas the fast-moving rivers are ideal for boating, white-water rafting and windsurfing, with Lake Atitlán also popular for diving. There’s also a nearby turtle sanctuary - see above for volunteers holding the baby turtles on a trip there.

Besides this you can also find ample opportunity to go mountain biking, bathe in hot springs surrounded by lush green jungle, or indulge your passion for nature in one of the country’s national parks.


OUR PARTICIPANTS SAY...

"Antigua is absolutely STUNNING. I cannot stress how stunning it really is. I wish I could zap you all here just so you can see it for yourselves. The cobbled streets contain brightly coloured low houses and the most amazing cathedrals or ruins are everywhere. Most of the house roof tops are covered with flowers and plants. It is fascinating to sit in the park and watch those stunning colourful ladies and girls come to sell their beautiful coloured fabrics, headbands and bags, etc., etc

The town is very modern even though the locals are rather poor. There are many internet cafes, restaurants, bars, shops, galleries, travel agents, bookshops, etc. In fact, have never seen so many internet cafes, salsa bars and travel agents in a small town.

Finally, the most important and greatest asset of Antigua is that it is surrounded by volcanoes and mountains - every angle is a photo!!!! I am always seeing something different here. There is always some form of music playing in the streets too. I'd imagine Cuba being similar. The food is sensational and changes every day so that we try a lot of the local food. - Volunteer Rebecca Tilley


WHAT TO DO NEXT:

Talk to us - We're there to help you. Most of our team are ex Travellers volunteers and are ideally qualified to offer advice and guidance because they know what you're looking for. They'll help you find your perfect project - and then make it all happen!

If you’d like more information about this or any of our projects, please email or call us! If you’d like to apply for this project, please go to our website and complete the application form. As soon as we receive it, we’ll liaise with you and then start making your travel adventure happen.

It’s as easy as that.


ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES YOU CAN DO WHILE ON YOUR PROJECT:

Whether you’re an adventure-mad extreme sports enthusiast or a nature-loving bird-watcher, Guatemala’s awesome unspoilt natural habitat will have something for you. The extraordinary terrain around the volcanoes and caves provides the perfect setting for mountaineering and caving (spelunking) whereas the fast-moving rivers are ideal for boating, white-water rafting and windsurfing, with Lake Atitlán also popular for diving. There’s also a nearby turtle sanctuary.

Besides this you can also find ample opportunity to go mountain biking, bathe in hot springs surrounded by lush green jungle, or indulge your passion for nature in one of the country’s national parks.

Our placements are very flexible and you can combine any of our projects to give you a broader experience of life on the inside in Guatemala.

Duration

Available all year round. Our placements are very flexible, you can choose your own start and finish dates.

Start Dates

Flexible start and finish dates you choose. Our placements are flexible and can be tailored to match your preferences. For availability please contact the office.

Costs / Benefits

Costs vary depending on length of placement, but starts at £595 for two weeks. You can participate for up to one year, subject to visa requirements.

Included is full support from the moment of booking and throughout your placement to your return home. There are support staff 24/7 in all our destinations worldwide and a 24 hour emergency international telephone line direct to the Head Office. All meals are provided, unless otherwise stated. Accommodation is provided (whether a rented house, a hotel/hostel, homestay, apartment or flat).

You’ll be met at the nearest airport on your arrival by our in-country manager who will take you to your accommodation and give you a full induction into the area. He/she will also be on call 24/7 and you’ll see them frequently.
Pre-departure you’ll receive comprehensive information about every aspect of your placement and necessary preparations, ranging from what to pack, to visa information, to what to do on your weekend travel in the country. Your safety, well being and happiness throughout your placement are our primary concerns and we will keep in touch with you throughout. International flights not included.

Requirements

No qualifications or previous experience are necessary, just a good dose of enthusiasm! Spanish language skills are reccommened and can be learned while on the project at our local language school. Everyone is welcome on a Travellers programme, whether gap year, undergraduate, on a career break - or even retired! From 17 years old upwards, and all nationalities. This placement would suit anyone who wants to make a real difference, wants first-hand experience of a different culture and has initiative.