This is a great chance to be part of something new and to make a difference within Petén's communities. Las Cruces and the villages surrounding it are seldom visited by tourists, giving volunteers the opportunity to truly integrate themselves with the local culture and make a great impression amongst those they help.
This volunteer program was set up in cooperation with the Women's Office (Oficina Municipal de la Mujer) of Las Cruces town hall, a department created to promote women's rights, change discriminatory attitudes and provide the help needed to create a society in which there is gender equality. The municipality of Las Cruces not only includes the town of Las Cruces, but forty smaller communities in the surrounding area as well. The volunteer placements available are very often based in these smaller communities rather than the town of Las Cruces itself. The specific work you will be doing will depend upon what projects are running during the period you choose to volunteer. Should you have particular vocational skills or experience, you may be able to use these to great effect during your time.
As mentioned on the home page, this project is set up for people who are comfortable traveling independently. This is to say that you are comfortable using Guatemalan public transport to arrive in Las Cruces (Instructions available on our Apply page). The reason for this is that our volunteering opportunity is not set up by a large organisation and does not have any funding, so unlike many organisations, we don't have an airport pick-up service or anybody employed to handle our volunteer's travel logistics or insurance. However, this does mean that we can offer a volunteering opportunity that won't break your bank!
To find out more about the volunteer work currently available send an email to us via the Apply page!
So, what would this experience cost you? We don't ask any money from our volunteers, but you may be required to pay your own accommodation and food. The specifics of this will depend on the community in which you will be volunteering. It may be that there is free accommodation available, such as a shared house for volunteers or a home-stay, where you will only have to pay for food, or perhaps you will be required to rent a room for the duration of your stay.
Although there is no minimum length of stay we require of our volunteers, the longer you can stay, the more you will be able to help, as it always takes a little time to get accustomed to a new area and a new working environment. Staying longer will enable you to get an idea of exactly what type of help is needed and perhaps you will be able to provide ideas for new projects yourself. However, if you can only give a little time, don't worry! Send us an application a reasonable amount of time in advanced of your intended arrival and there is the possibility that we will be able to offer you a placement.
Generally, our volunteers work five days a week with weekends free. There's plenty to do on your days off. From Flores you can take a tour to Tikal, the most famous and arguably most impressive Mayan archaeological site in Central America. Or, if you prefer, you can trek through the Jungles of Petén to see the lesser visited ruins!
To find out more about Las Cruces, take a look at the Las Cruces page
VOLUNTEER
