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[ Volunteer Activities ] [ Weaving Classes ] [ Traje Collection ] [ Swimming ] [ Hiking ] [ San Pedro la Laguna ] [ Visiting San Juan la Laguna ] [ Visiting Santiago Atitlán ] [ Visiting Chichicastenango ]  
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Many people who travel to Guatemala want to help the local Maya communities while they are there. Volunteering is an excellent way to contribute. You will be making friendships and participating in the local Tz'utujil Maya community, learning about Maya culture and traditions at the same time as you practice the Spanish you will be learning.
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  With the exception of cleaning up the lakefront of plastic and trash, Casa Rosario does not administer any ongoing volunteer programs. Casa Rosario, however, will help you get connected with organizations in San Pedro and the surrounding communities that do. You will have to take the initiative to get connected to a program you want to help. This is best done when you get to San Pedro.
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The decision of the project is up to the student. What you volunteer for will depend on your interests, the needs of the project or organization that you want to help, how long you plan to stay, and how much time you want to devote to the project. If you are only planning to stay for a week, helping clean up the trash on the waterfront would be a better choice than trying to teach English in one of the schools, which may take all of a week to get started. One volunteer who opted to teach English was requested to have the children for several hours daily, but she found the children lost interest after about half an hour, so she shortened her program. There are existing projects with charitable organizations which are on-going in the area. Some students opt to create their own project, typically helping some needy family improve their living conditions. Typical projects which students decide to work on:
  • Plant trees, transport and filter dirt and water plants.  
  • Teach English to children in public schools.
  • Helping in the library or one of the two museums in town.
  • Provide educational, recreational or therapeutic assistance to children with disabilities who are unable to attend school because of limited access and services.
  • Participate in an ongoing campaign to clean San Pedro’s beaches and raise environmental awareness in the community.  
  • Provide secretarial services in the school’s office.
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  Mahiya Norton, an Australian woman who studied at Casa Rosario, has been one of the driving forces behind the program to pay for schooling for poor Maya children. She is now working on another program in one of the poorest towns around the lake, San Pablo la Laguna and she needs volunteers. It is a program which will provide ovens for the Maya women.  This will give them a healthier cooking environment, and at the same time it will cut down on the amount of wood needed for cooking. You can learn more at her website Friends of Australia and New Zealand and to volunteer contact Mahiya directly at:
   

[ Volunteer Activities ] [ Weaving Classes ] [ Traje Collection ] [ Swimming ] [ Hiking ] [ San Pedro la Laguna ] [ Visiting San Juan la Laguna ] [ Visiting Santiago Atitlán ] [ Visiting Chichicastenango ]


For questions and answers in English call me in San Francisco, California at (415) 282-7654 or email me at .

Casa Rosario Spanish School
Canton Sanjay
San Pedro la Laguna
Depto. Sololá
Guatemala, C.A.

All paintings and photographs Copyright © 1988–2008 Arte Maya Tz'utuhil
Todas pinturas y fotografías son Derechos Reservados © 1988–2008 Arte Maya Tz'utuhil

All paintings are copyrighted by Arte Maya Tz'utuhil for the artist. The reproduction rights are reserved and administered by Arte Maya Tz'utuhil for the artist. Reproduction for commercial reasons without prior written consent is strictly prohibited.