Quick Facts

Duration: 5 Weeks 2012
Dates (tentative): June 14th-July 21st

• Orientation: La Ceiba: June 14th- 17th
• Midpoint Break: The Bay Islands July 6th-8th

Number of Volunteers: 4
Language Requirement: Intermediate Spanish
Students’ Proficiency Level: Beginner, all ages
Village Setting: Small city and the surrounding area on the North Coast of Honduras
Living Conditions: Basic to moderate (depending on host family)
For questions not answered on this website, Contact Kyla.

Program Structure

All volunteers will fly into San Pedro Sula where they will meet the Program Director and other volunteers, and then catch a bus to La Ceiba. Once in La Ceiba orientation will begin with dinner and some relaxation. Then tours of the city, basic information, training teaching sessions and an introduction to the programs will keep you occupied over the weekend, as well as some fun time to walk around and explore. On Sunday, volunteers depart to their host families who they will stay with for the duration of the program. All volunteers will teach at the same school about a 20 minute ride up a dirt path into the jungle. Volunteers will spend 5 weeks submersed in the Honduran culture, meeting amazing people, and teaching English to impoverished, disadvantaged children. Volunteers will see each other daily and have the opportunity to work together on lesson plans, and travel during the weekends to places such as the beautiful Bay Islands. After your third week, we will have time for a midpoint break spent on one of the Bay Islands, for a little time to relax and regenerate for the second half of our teaching experience. The program will end July 21st, though Volunteers are able to extend their stay or travel if they desire.

The Ideal Volunteer for Honduras:

• The ability to “go with the flow” and understand that you can not change everything, but you can help in your own way.
• An open mind to new people, new languages, and an entirely new culture.
• An understanding that you are not going to be in the USA… you are in a new country with a new way of doing things and may often have to ‘rough it’ a bit. Things happen on Honduran Time which can be an adjustment.
• An ability to see poverty, abuse and neglect and not become completely overwhelmed, but to channel any emotions into positive action.
• A desire to learn from your students as well as excitement to teach them English and make a difference in their lives through being a positive role model and showing them that they have value and worth!

Your Host Community

Volunteers will be placed with host families in and around the La Ceiba area. You will meet the bus each morning to take you up to the Jungle School to help with classes and teach in the afternoon. All volunteers will be in relatively close proximity to each other and able to visit either by bus or taxi.
Your host families will be first time hosts, so a certain amount of flexibility and understanding is expected of you. They are new to this as well! They will be families excited to have you and will gladly share their home with you. Be aware that many of the families live in poor conditions, and depending upon with whom you are placed you may be living in sub-standard conditions. Some families may have electricity, running water, TV and a car while others may lack any or all of those things. We will try to place you with upper middle class families for comfort, but keep an open mind to living a poorer lifestyle as well. We are looking for flexible volunteers who are willing to experience some discomfort. Squat toilets and bucket showers are not outside the realm of possibility. Even in the nicer homes expect to deal with unwelcome critters such as insects (mosquitos!) and sometimes rats. Your family will most likely not have any English speakers, so this will provide a great opportunity to practice your Spanish.
Host families will provide you with breakfast and dinner, which will very likely consist of beans, rice, some sort of grilled meat and tortillas. You are welcome to supplement any meals from the local markets. Vegetarians may need to be creative, as Honduras is a heavy meat culture and it may be awkward at times to turn down food that is offered to you. Lunch will be eaten at the school with the children. American style supermarkets are present in La Ceiba for familiar commodities, as well as more traditional Honduran tiendas and outside produce stands.
During the weekends you may spend time with your host family, meet up with other volunteers to explore the beautiful Honduran beaches and forest, spend time up in the mountain with the families from the Jungle School, or go on a Sunday outing with the children from the orphanage. We encourage you to do all of these! There is a lot to see and do, and many cultural experiences to have. For adventure and fun there is zip lining through the forest canopy followed by relaxing in natural hot springs, swimming in the Rio Congrejal just below the school, or spending time on the white sand beaches of the islands just off the coast. You will also see poverty first hand and up close, so be prepared for developing a new perspective and respect for the people who live in those conditions daily.

Teaching

• Volunteers teach English classes for 2 hours after regular school hours.
  Volunteers will have one class room with anywhere from 10 – 30 students in it, arranged by age group
• In the mornings volunteers will assist teachers with their usual lesson plans, and may be asked to give a lesson in Spanish
• Volunteers will be provided at least a black or white board and chalk or markers, but other supplies may be limited. It is recommended to come prepared with various teaching supplies.
• Students will be beginner English. English is a very valuable skill for the kids, as it can potentially increase their future by four times the average amount.
• Teaching can be HARD, so come mentally prepared for a challenge, some disappointments but ultimately an extremely rewarding experience.
• Volunteers may be asked to teach an additional class for adults in the afternoons, either at the orphanage for the ‘tias’ that run the house, or later in the evening for community members who wish to learn.
• Creativity is a key aspect in teaching English! Remember, it this is an after school program for the students, so MAKE IT FUN! Laugh while you are learning!

Additional Information

Honduras_Addendum PY 2012, a field guide to life in country.

Check back here soon for the 2012 program expense sheet!