Guatemala

My husband and I spent a month volunteering with IFRE in Guatemala, 2 weeks in Antigua and 2 weeks in Xela. We signed up to do orphanage work in Antigua and a street children program in Xela. Neither materialized, which we didn't learn until AFTER we got to Guatemala.
In Antigua, apparently there was a change in administration at the orphanage, such that many new rules and regulations were to be put in place. After taking a death-defying chicken bus ride of 45 minutes to the place, we learned the nuns were not at all anxious to take us on nor were they prepared. We were told we'd need to know Spanish, that we could not be with children without a nun present, that we would need a teachers certificate, etc etc. And IFRE didn't know this in advance? Instead, we were set up with an after school program at a different location. That went well enough though the program was very unstructured. Housing was barely acceptable but tolerable.
In Xela, we were told by the country coordinator that the street children program dissolved. Instead, they would set us up with a daycare program for children of poorer residents. This was a fun program, though it was much like babysitting and we didn't feel all that relevant because the staff was adequate. But our presence gave them a break from things. More disappointing however, was the inadequate housing IFRE provided. We did not expect much, but it was not private, it was quite crowded with only one bathroom, and the family had a list of 'don'ts" they wanted implemented. We stayed only 2 nights and then elsewhere on our own for the remaining two weeks, no refund of course. We don't blame the family, but IFRE for not finding something more acceptable with a family who could provide a little more without so many unreasonable rules.
For the above reasons, we cannot in good conscience recommend these programs. They need to fine tune their mission of providing the "highest quality volunteer experiences".

What a wonderful and eye-opening experience it was, working with the amazing Maximo Nivel staff and patients of Virgen del Socorro this past August. It has been extremely memorable and unproblematic. I am honored to have been a part of such a beneficial program, and I look forward to returning in the near future!

The prep for our trip was well thought out. I´m sure each mission brings with its own set of challenges. I do think that if there are certain supplies that are intensively utilized it would be nice to highlight those so that they can be procured ahead of time. In addition, we had a nice variety of toys and such for the children. Hopefully, that can be maintained for future clinics.
I honestly feel that providers who will be participating in missions in Guatemala need to understand that no matter how well a clinic is planned, things happen. There needs to be an understanding that flexibility and adaptation to any situation are key. You just need to take a breath, reevaluate and move forward.
I really enjoyed doing the popup clinics in rural areas. I met the most wonderful, appreciative people.
The host family was very welcoming and made me feel welcome from my first hello. The coordinator was fabulous. Being here in Xela, she kept us on track and was extremely knowledgeable about the area. Our translators ... invaluable. Without them, my job would have been difficult.
We were kept in the loop from the very beginning. Sarah's enthusiasm is phenomenal. The ability to keep 13 health providers satisfied was a tough position and she handled everything with a smile and grace.
Thank you for letting me be a small part of the mission in Guatemala!

I had a wonderfully meaningful experience volunteering at a day care center in Dueñas, Guatemala. I stayed with a local family in Antigua, one of the most beautiful and safest towns in Guate.
IVHQ was very thorough in preparing us for the trip and Maximo Nivel, the onsite contact, was excellent at making sure we were taken care of during the duration of our stay. They were organized, professional and very hospitable.

I enjoyed taking the famous chicken bus to Dueñas then working and playing with the children at the day care center for four hours each day. I assisted them in their daily assignments and meals and even played songs for them with a ukulele I brought. I also learned a lot from my Spanish instructor who was patient, funny and very organized.

I’m glad I decided to stay and extra few days to unwind after the volunteering portion of the trip, as Lake Atitlan was the perfect destination to end the trip on.

I left Guatemala feeling changed for the better and felt I made a difference to the children I met, as they certainly made an impression on me. I look forward to working through IVHQ again in the future and highly recommend them for anyone interested in volunteering.

ABV helps take your talent and skills and create a special experience where you can share what you love and what you´re best at sharing. As a dancer, it was so meaningful to share my passion of dance with this community, this is our second trip in Guatemala with Abroaderview.
I felt the support was superb. I didn´t feel annoying or hesitant to ask ANY question. The atmosphere that was created was there to support this trip and to ensure I was clear to what was happening from the moment I decided to book the trip.
The host family was once again, incredible. Accommodating in every way possible. They were patient with my Spanish level and made sure I was understanding and improving day to day. The food was delicious and it was important to see what a family in Xela´s life is like to expand my mind.
The loveliest thing I experienced was how welcomed we were at the volunteer sites. Sometimes I felt hesitant to show up and disrupt the schedule or flow of another communities flow, but both locations welcomed us with open arms and were supportive in allowing our group to engage.
Coping with the schedule on top of dealing with heavy emotions was some what difficult. The women´s shelter is welcoming, but the girls are dealing with extremely horrific situations that is beyond my understanding. It took self care and boundries as far as bedtime, prompt nutrition etc, to be able to be there for them and not feel depleted.
The highlight of the trip was the performances with the afterschool program and the women´s shelter. It was so nice to build a movement vocabulary that we all had in common and to connect via those ideas. It was stronger than words and very forcing.

This was a once in a lifetime experience. I saw Guatemala in a completely different way. To see Quetzaltenango from the locals point of view was absolutely priceless. We loved our accommodations. Very clean, the host was so welcoming. The meals were delicious, I wish we had more lunches together with the family. It was very difficult to see the poverty and the children who were living in that situation. It took me back to my own past, when I was in the same situation. Traveling and seeing new things was great. Some things have been hard to see but it has made me be more grateful for everything that I have, no matter how big or small. Bring as many donations as you can. Find out specific needs as much as possible prior departing so you´re bringing what´s needed. Be open, flexible and adaptable. I will treasure this time with all these experiences for my lifetime. Its impact will be forever etched in my heart.

I recently got back from my week in Antigua, Guatemala with IVHQ and I had an unforgettable experience. As a premed student on the medical project, I had the opportunity to volunteer at a clinic in Jocotenango for elders 60 and older. I fell in love with the Guatemalan culture and the friendly and kind people I met there. I noticed how incredibly hard working they all were. It was so hard to leave! Each evening I took Spanish classes which helped with my Spanish at my volunteer placement. During my free time, I was able to explore Antigua and the surrounding areas. One of my favorites was trekking up Cerro de la Cruz which was such a beautiful view! And visiting the coffee plantation. My host family was very kind and professional, and the meals were always delicious! There was never a moment when I felt unsafe. IVHQ and the local staff were extremely supportive and always there with advice when I needed it. They helped me to feel comfortable and safe in a new environment. Thanks to this experience I met so many wonderful people and have learned so much! I highly recommend IVHQ Guatemala!

To be honest, entering the program I was very nervous because I had never traveled abroad with an organization outside of my university. However, there was nothing to worry about. My host family was very welcoming, ABV coordinators were very informative. All the staff at the clinic were also friendly and helpful. I learned a lot through my experience and it was interesting to see the differences with the US.
I had a unique experience since my family lives here in Guatemala, but my host family was very welcoming. Since I have such a big family, different relatives would go out with me, and I felt bad not being able to share as much time with my host family. However, the little time I did spend, they were extremely nice. I felt safe in their home, and meals were great.
Donations are always much appreciated in Guatemala. My family and I made donations to the clinic with medical equipment. However, I wish I would have had clothing donations and hygiene equipment like nail clippers, q-tips etc, to give to children that had dirty ears, dirty nails, or ripped clothes or clothes that didn’t fit anymore.

The month I spent in a dog shelter in Guatemala was amazing! The people at my placement were so kind and welcoming and the dogs all lovely. We helped out with walking the dogs, cleaning and just giving them love. I am grateful for being able to help her out and fundraising money to rebuild part of the shelter and providing food and vaccines.

IVHQ has helped me with preparing for the trip and in country it was the staff at Maximo Nivel that supported me and provided me with information. I liked the fact that you are picked up from the airport and immediately meet other volunteers. A little more information from IVHQ on the specific project I was going to do beforehand would have been nice as well was some 'after care' e.g. asking about the things you have done at the placement in country.

However, overall I had an amazing experience and I am satisfied with the level of overall guidance before and during the project! I would highly recommend anyone to sign up for a volunteer placement like this!

I went to Guatemala for one week to Volunteer in the child care program. It has been the BEST experience that I have had in my life, I was looking to travel but also to do something special with and meaningful, this trip had that and so much more. I love how everything was very organized and clear from the time I applied online, my arrival to Guatemala and until know after returning home. I had the opportunity to meet people from different countries and cities from the USA, learn from a new culture, and met amazing teachers in the daycare program. I cannot wait to go back and spend more time in Antigua through this program, I will definitely stay longer than a week there is so much to see and learn.
Thank you so much for this wonderful experience.