Hogar Abierto, Asociación Escuela de la Calle (EDELAC)
Focus: Community and Education.
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Project Description
Asociación Escuela de La Calle (EDELAC) is a Guatemalan-registered, non-profit organization that has been combating the phenomenon of children living and working on the streets of Quetzaltenango (Xela), Guatemala since its establishment in 1995. EDELAC is run by a Guatemalan staff of teachers, social workers and psychologists who are in turn supported by foreign volunteers.
In addition to a school, EDELAC operates Hogar Abierto - a children’s dormitory that acts as a long-term home for 16 adolescents between the ages of 9 and 18. Most of the young residents have a sad story to tell; many were forced to leave their family because of poverty, domestic violence or sexual abuse; others lost their parents in accidents, in the civil war or because of illnesses; others were simply abandoned by their parents.
Hogar Abierto offers these kids a safe, drug and violence-free environment with round-the-clock supervision and support. They are provided with meals, clothing, education, medical care and psychological attention to equip them with what they need to successfully re-integrate as functioning, responsible members of society.
Volunteer Information
Costs & Benefits
Requirements
Contact information
Project Summary
Hogar volunteers assist the Hogar staff in the care, supervision and general education of the 16 kids that live full-time in our dormitory in the centre of Quetzaltenango. These kids are often former street-kids and come from difficult family backgrounds.
Hogar volunteers have a lot of autonomy to choose what activities they do with the kids, the main emphasis being on keeping the kids active, engaged and motivated. Required availability of volunteers is a minimum of 5 days per week, 5 hours per day.
Importantly, Hogar volunteers also act as a liaison between the kids and the Quetzaltrekkers guides. Because they have a much closer daily involvement with the kids, Hogar volunteers keep the guides updated on Hogar activities, attend guide-meetings and are an integral part of the Quetzaltrekkers team.
It is possible to combine volunteering at the Hogar with volunteering at EDELAC.
For more information on either Quetzaltrekkers or EDELAC, please see the separate project listings.
This isn’t one of those pay-to-volunteer type deals. On the other hand, the tangible perks on offer are minimal– this is still volunteering after all. Your biggest reward and motivation should be the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the children we support.
Although you will be expected to cover your own living expenses while you’re here, these costs are likely to be minimal. Many volunteers combine working mornings with Spanish school in the afternoon (or vice versa), and live with a Guatemalan family for the duration of their stay.
Monthly rates are available for those who wish to live in a hostel, or there are plenty of apartments and house shares available in Xela.
A reasonable estimate of costs per month would be around $250 - $350 per month. For long term volunteers there is the possibility to live in the Quetzaltrekkers Guide House.
Working as a Hogar volunteer is a challenging but rewarding job. We ask that volunteers meet the following requirements: a 2 month minimum time commitment; minimum intermediate Spanish language ability; experience in children’s education and/or social work; and a strong desire to work with children and youth.
Working as a Hogar volunteer is a challenging but rewarding job. We ask that volunteers meet the following requirements: a 2 month minimum time commitment; minimum intermediate Spanish language ability; experience in children’s education and/or social work; and a strong desire to work with children and youth.
Hogar Abierto, Asociación Escuela de la Calle (EDELAC)
1 Calle 19-54, Zona 1
Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.
Tel: (502) 77618119, 53473799 (Spanish) or 77655895 (English)
Email: edelacxela@gmail.com (Spanish) or quetzaltrekkers@gmail.com (English)
Website: www.escueladelacalle.org (Spanish), www.quetzaltrekkers.com(English)
Location: Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.
Average cost per day: $10
Focus: Community and Education
Skills needed: Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, a 2 month minimum time commitment; minimum intermediate Spanish language ability; experience in children’s education and/or social work; and a strong desire to work with children and youth.
