The project takes place in one of the largest children\'s hospitals in central Quito. You will assist children who need or are receiving medical treatments and support their education.
Programs Abroad
GUATEMALA - Social Work in a Hospital 
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Booking Nº: GL103 Country: Guatemala + Location: Antigua Minimum Stay: 4 weeks Start dates: All year round Price: from 4 weeks, 545 USD |
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Task
The tasks you will do depend on the area of work that you think you are most capable of and interested in. As a volunteer, you can choose the area of the hospital that you want to work in:Center for children recovering from malnutrition:
- Care for children with different degrees of malnutrition
- Play with the children, read to them, comfort them and take them for short walks
Center for mentally and/or physically handicapped children:
- Care for children with Down Syndrome, Quadriplegic, Hidrocefalia, or other disabilities
- Stimulate them by singing to them, talking to them and simply giving them attention, care and love
- Assist in giving them physiotherapy and speech therapy
Center for elderly people:
- Take care of the elderly that have no home and that suffer from different disabilities
- Offer them personal care and attention and create educational activities
Center for babies and little children:
- Care for babies and children with illnesses
- Play with the children, read to them, comfort them and take them for short walks
- Change and feed them
Your working schedule will be from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, though it is possible to work in the afternoons as well. Many volunteers can work during the same time. The hospital has room for about 500 patients, so the more help, the better!
Accommodation
Every effort is made to ensure that your stay is as pleasant as possible. Accommodations are carefully chosen and regularly assessed. During your volunteer program, you will live in a single room with a local Guatemalan family. Living with a Guatemalan family gives you the opportunity to practice your Spanish skills and build relationships with the locals! Accommodations include a private room with a shared or private bathroom and three meals per day (except on Sundays). The family will warmly welcome you allowing you to experience the real Guatemalan way of life!Alternatively, you can live with other students in the student residences or guest houses. You will have a private room but share common areas as well as a bathroom with your housemates. Living in the student residences can be a lot of fun and is a great place to meet other travelers to explore the city with! (Prices are available upon request and based on availability)
Requirements
Language:Spanish skills required (you can book your Spanish course in Guatemala with us!)
Skills:
No professional skills or experiences required.
Age:
18+ years
Vaccination:
Not required. Please consult us and your doctor for specific recommendations.
Insurance:
Full travel and medical insurance is required. You can purchase a full coverage, no deductible health and travel insurance at a special rate for our participants by contacting your South America Inside representative.
Visa:
Tourist visa valid for 90 days. For further information regarding visa requirements please contact us and the corresponding embassy or consulate in your home country.
Details
The hospital is a large public hospital that can hold up to 500 patients and is funded through domestic and international donations from organizations and individuals. The hospital takes in babies, youth and adults and is dedicated to helping people who come from families with difficult financial situations or who lack sufficient time or skills to take care of their loved ones. Some of the patients have been abandoned; others are old or crippled in need of recuperation and rest that is not available in their homes. The patients are of all ages and have many different problems or illnesses. They come from all over Guatemala to seek treatment in this hospital.
Source: Google Maps
Prices
| Program Duration | in USD |
|---|---|
| 4 weeks | 545.- |
| 5 weeks | 655.- |
| 6 weeks | 765.- |
| 7 weeks | 875.- |
| Additional week |
85.- |
One time registration fee 75 USD.
Accommodation including 3 meals / day except on sundays.
| Additional service | in USD |
|---|---|
| Airport pick-up |
25.- |
What’s included:
- Accommodation
- 3 meals / day (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Orientation kit
- Local support
- 24h-Emergency Number
- Laundry service (Homestay)
- Volunteer Work Placement
- Certificate of participation
What’s not included:
- Flight
- Medical Insurance
- Visa (if necesary)
- Local Travels
Country
Country Information Guatemala |
 Guatemala is a country of great natural landscapes, strong religious practices, preserved Indigenous traditions and the best watermelon in the world! This Central American country is snuggled between the Caribbean Sea, Pacific Ocean, southern tip of Mexico and surrounding countries of Belize, Honduras and El Salvador. Guatemala holds about 42,000 square miles of land, slightly smaller than the US state of Tennessee. This country is home to upwards of 12 million people with 2 million inhabitants in the capital of Guatemala City.
The country has 14 eco-regions ranging from Mangrove forests, ocean bodies and five different ecosystems. An outstanding 252 wetlands reside in Guatemala, including five lakes, 61 lagoons, 100 rivers and 3 swamps. These features are home to around 1,246 known species with only 6.7% thriving and 8.1% in threatened states. Similarly, the Guatemalan fauna of around 8,681 species record that only 13.5% are abundant and growing well. Over 6 million people, half of the population of Guatemala, claim Indigenous ancestry. The natives of today are descendants of the Mayan society that thrived in this region since before 1000 years B.C. The first evidence of human settlers in Guatemala goes back to at least 12,000 B.C., though certain evidence suggests this date may be as early as 18,000 B.C. The modern-day Indigenous are hard working and proud people who retain many of their traditions. In some parts of the country, many still dress in the colorful way of their ancestors and speak only their native language. The majority of the population of Guatemala is Ladinos, a mix between Indigenous and Spanish cultures. However, the term can also refer to Indigenous people that have left their ancestral ways and adopted a more modern culture. Both Ladinos and indigenous alike live modestly and at times in very rustic conditions, for example using palm fronds to create a thatched roof. Nonetheless, they are very proud people who tend to work long hard hours, seven days a week, commonly making their living off the forest or through tourism. The primary forest products include chicle, a sap from a tree used to make chewing gum, xate, a leafy palm used in floral arrangements, allspice, and timber, which, unfortunately, is rapidly disappearing. Thankfully, the Peten Region and the UN-declared Mayan Biosphere Reserve are areas of intense international attention to protect the unique cultural and natural resources remaining in the largest forested area in the Americas after the Amazon basin. The best time to travel to Guatemala depends on what cultural and sightseeing aspects most attract you. In regards to weather, December to February hold cold mornings and nights, March and April are the warmest and driest, while May and June bring buzzing mosquitoes. October and November ends the rainy muggy season and bring colder temperatures back to Guatemala. The best time to travel in regards of cultural activity lie between to the two main Christian holidays in December and April. During the Christian pass-over month of April, Guatemala is alive with religious ceremonies and traditions. A second high season, typically for North Americans is between June to August. If you are planning to travel during these months, advanced reservations and booking are advised. FWalking around the busy streets of Guatemala City or exploring the enormous aesthetic temples of the ancient Mayans, this country holds many hidden jewels! Guatemala has something for everyone from eating watermelon and mangos galore, swimming in warm ocean water and discovering a new way of life! The people of “Guate” are warm, generous and await your visit!
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