Volunteer with Safe Homes
Getting involved can be a memorable vacation or a life-changing experience. Living amid third-world poverty can profoundly alter the way you look at the world and your own life. And you may want to get involved on a long-term basis. We have accommodations for short-term volunteer teams, both large and small. We occasionally use long-term volunteers and individuals wanting to do an internship or immersion. Speaking Spanish is always an asset, but we can make alternative arrangements. The local Mayan culture is very traditional, and we expect modest dress and conservative behavior.
Check out our upcoming trips for 2025:
- February 13th – 22nd
- March 1st – 7th
- March 9th – 16th
- April 8th – April 11th
- May 31st – June 6th
- July 12th – 18th
- Aug 16th – 22nd
- Nov 8th – 14th
Short-Term Volunteers
We regularly handle teams for a week and sometimes two. Some of these teams have been coming for many years and can provide a reference. We do our best to help you plan your week with the right mix of work and play.
For educational and medical-type teams we put the word out via loud speaker ahead of time. We want to make sure you’re booked up. For construction teams we match your skills and budget with the local need, which is endless.
Family Teams
We love seeing grandparents, parents and grandchildren do a volunteer vacation. It is a teaching moment that will stay with the youngsters forever. And what a legacy to leave your progeny!
Tell us where your skills are and we will make it happen. Bunk bed construction is one of the most popular and very rewarding.
Long-Term Volunteers
We have had longer term volunteers build up our library, teach the children how to read and work on building up the gardens. You may have other ideas.
We are entertaining the idea of Spanish emersion. You would take lessons in Spanish in the mornings, work with the local children in the afternoon and then branch out to see our programs in action and merge in the local culture.
Accomodations
Lomas
This house is in a gated community overlooking beautiful Lake Atitlan. Most houses are second homes for folks living in Guatemala City. Most are unoccupied except at Christmas and Semana Santa (Holy Week). It is safe and private with miles of walking trails. There is a fully-stocked kitchen with a living room and dining area and a nice covered porch.
There is a master bedroom suite complete with bathroom and fireplace. There is a second bedroom downstairs that can be adjusted from one queen bed to 4 bunk beds. There is a second floor bedroom with 5 bunk beds. It is quiet and very relaxing.
Although not large we have had groups of over 20 people staying there.
We can provide cooks that will prepare meals and do the shopping so that you can work and play.
Los Robles
Los Robles is the old orphanage grounds, which is surrounded by an eight foot high cinder block wall. It is not a safety issue but a remanent of the orphanage. It consists of the third floor which has three large rooms with three or four bunk beds each. There is plenty of room and separate men’s and women’s bathrooms equipped with showers.
Also, on the orphanage grounds is what we refer to as the volunteer house. It has four bedrooms, each with two bunk beds. And one smaller bedroom with a double bed. Again, there are separate bathrooms with showers.
There is a dining area and a laundry room and a bodega (warehouse) and office space.
