Though we are a small organization, we’ve got a big heart and we welcome volunteers of all ages, abilities and interests. Most of our volunteers have been either from international development agencies, such as the US Peace Corps or JICA from Japan, or stay-at-home fundraisers, but we have had a few individuals who are teaching interns, retired specialists or people who want to combine further Spanish language training with volunteering. Below are several options for volunteering, but if you have another suggestion, please let us know.
Getting involved with El Maestro en Casa
Long-term
Our academic program is on a 9-week cycle and a standard travel visa is 90-days. Therefore, we ask for a minimum commitment of 2.5 months from a volunteer for a long-term assignment in Honduras.
Short-term
A short-term assignment is considered a minimum of 2 weeks, but can be arranged for several weeks, depending on the choice of volunteer jobs.
Options in La Esperanza:
Academic Teaching
Length of commitment: Long-term
Language: Advanced level Spanish
Options:
- First year secondary school level: 2½ hours on Thursday mornings in one of the following classes: math (algebra, geometry), English, biology, physics, chemistry, psychology
- Second year secondary school level: 2½ hours on Friday mornings in one of the following classes: math (algebra, trigonometry, geometry), English, biology, physics, chemistry, philosophy
- Middle school level (7th, 8th or 9th grade) math or English: 2½ hours on Saturdays in our Study Center, or on Mondays – Wednesdays in the village centers
Outreach Instruction
Length of commitment: Long-term, a 4-hour class once or twice a week
Language: Middle level Spanish
Options:
- Elementary English
- Computer literacy
- Art or music
- Crafts, e.g., weaving, sewing, knitting
- Practical skills, e.g., bicycle mechanics, cooking
Agriculture Cultivation
Length of commitment: Short-term
Language: Basic to middle level Spanish
Options: Work with organic strawberry and vegetable production in our greenhouse
Construction
Length of commitment: Short-term
Language: no Spanish required, but some is preferable
Options:
- Repair flat cement roofs
- Repair cement basketball court
- Lay tile in courtyard and stairs
- Build fence
Fundraising
Length of commitment: Short-term or long-term (no travel to Honduras required)
Language: no Spanish required
Options:
- equipment for the Centre
- English-as-a-Foreign Language (EFL) learning materials
- new motorcycles
Contact Susan Stone at lencaeducation@gmail.com for an up-to-date list and how we can support you in your efforts to support us.
Accommodation
Volunteers have 3 options for staying in La Esperanza:
- El Maestro en Casa has 2 clean but basic dormitories (a women’s and a men’s) with bunk beds. There are also women’s and men’s bathrooms with 3 (sometimes) hot water showers and 3 toilets each. The cafeteria has a refrigerator, running water (not potable) and countertop gas stoves. The cost of a stay in our center is $10/wk with kitchen privileges.
- Homestay with a Honduran family, with a private bedroom, shared bathroom, and two meals a day. The average cost is $40 /wk.
- A room, apartment or hotel in La Esperanza, with meals in a local restaurant. Weekly costs range from $75 to $100.
Directions
International flights to Honduras: American Airlines, Continental, Taca, Delta, Spirit. There is a direct bus from Tegucigalpa or from San Pedro Sula to La Esperanza: Impresa Carolina, which leaves every hour.
Application
To apply for a particular volunteer assignment with us, please fill in the application form and send it to Susan Stone at lencaeducation@gmail.com. Even if you want to inquire about other volunteer options, please fill in the form as an efficient way to tell us about your interests and qualifications.
Volunteer Application form (Word doc)
.
Thanks to Volunteer South America for linking with us
