Programme details
| Programme length | Start | End | Price | Age on departure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Service Programme | August 2008 | November 2008 | $8,250 + nil visa costs | 18 - 50 |
Guatemala’s glories include Mayan relics—the ancient city of Tikal, for example, towering over a rainforest preserve, has more than 2,000 ruined buildings and temples—as well as rugged mountain scenery. In fact, Central America’s highest mountains, at least three of which are active volcanoes, frame the city of Antigua, once Guatemala’s capital and still filled with colonial architecture. Guatemala may also be Latin America’s least socially assimilated nation. Descendants of European colonists maintain their own, mostly urban communities, while native Mayans—perhaps half the population—live more often in mountain villages, supporting themselves by ancient modes of farming and crafts, while dressed in colorfully embroidered, centuries-old fashions. These two cultures are proud to be Guatemalans, though they sometimes feel tension among themselves. Most of the time, however, Guatemalans are soft-spoken, courteous and hospitable to everyone.
Family life
Much of Guatemalan life revolves around families. Family members tend to live near each other, and Guatemalans rarely live or spend much time alone. An invitation to a party or social function, for example, would be interpreted to include all family members, including children and grandparents. Most families consist of parents and their unmarried children, though they may also include married sons or daughters and their families. Families also care for elderly relatives, and godparents are considered an important part of the family. However, traditional family patterns are changing as Guatemalans adopt more North American values. Guatemalan families are often conservative.
Community Service in Guatemala
Programmes include caring for endangered animals including sea turtles at an environmental conservation centre, organising drama, music or arts at a school for children with disabilities and teaching skills to marginalised communities about agriculture, technology, natural medicine, community income generation and integrated development.
Smokers and vegetarians are harder to place and a degree of Spanish is preferred for this programme.
