A small slice of paradise inhabited by a sweet little library and an artistic oasis near San Isidro, Intibuca, Honduras

Informationen

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  Beschreibung

  Before I get started, please take note that Workaway has my location tagged in the wrong place on their map. Please look up Macuelizo, San Isidro, Intibuca on Google maps to make sure you understand where you think you are going. Thanks.😉😊
  
  Hi! My name is Aura. I live amongst and work with children and families here in the mountains of a coffee-producing region of Honduras. My home hosts a small library that is open and available to this community that, until now, isn't familiar with literature and reading. The library contains games, puzzles, dolls, skateboards, and many other special activities aimed at giving the children diversity in their life experience.
  My hope is to help develop and enrich the lives of these children and young adults so that they'll be able to dream up and build optimistic lives.
  
  One of my passions is art, especially painting and sculpture. I have a BFA in sculpture, and immensely appreciate the creative processes.
  At present, we're working at painting murals in the village"s public school- and I welcome, with open arms, any traveler that desires to contribute to this endeavor. There are 2 large walls and 3 partial walls still available to paint.
  I'm also very grateful for volunteers that can bring fresh energy and inspiration for children's art or craft projects.
  
  The outreach that I offer to the community is primarily aimed at creative enrichment and literacy. The space that I've made available for the community children is a place where they come to paint, draw, study, bake, play, laugh, sew, and visit. My hope is that any workaway volunteer will feel the same freedoms to do likewise, share their inspiring project ideas, and relate to the children on a personal, casual level. I very much appreciate any hand and heart that can help integrate beauty and nature into the work spaces here.
  
  During the Honduran school year, which runs from the beginning of March to early November my 28 year old daughter, Enya, who is home for the year and very helpful with the projects here, gives daily tutoring to all of the public school's students that are challenged in their literacy and writing. The children come up to the house in small groups throughout the morning. There is opportunity for volunteers to work alongside Enya and help these children practice reading short stories etc.....it's fun and quite rewarding.
  
  One day a week the public school's kindergarten comes to the library to have their classtime. It's generally an organized chaotic experience, but we all enjoy it quite a bit!
  
  I aim at offering organized art activities year round during after school hours, and the children really love to paint, color, and draw.
  This year I'm giving English classes in 2 public schools; (which serve wonderfully as "bilingual classes" for any workaway volunteer who would like practice in either English or Spanish). I love to have volunteers who aren't too shy to try helping conduct English classes😉😊

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  Arten von Hilfe und Lernmöglichkeiten

  Kunstprojekte

  Sprachpraxis

  Unterrichten

  Gartenarbeiten

  Heimwerker- und Bauarbeiten

  Zubereiten / Kochen von Mahlzeiten für die Familie

  Hausarbeiten

  Handwerkliche Arbeiten
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  Kultureller Austausch und Lernmöglichkeiten

  I speak fluent english and spanish that is fluent, but not perfect. A visitor will have language and cultural immersion, as well as many opportunites to accompany the natives in their daily life activities. There is a mine of cultural gems that could be discovered by those that are willing to explore and relate.
  Any time of year is a good time to be here getting to know the local culture, and getting involved in daily life.
  Those travelers that are interested in picking coffee should come between November and January
  Those that are interested in working with children during their school year should come between March and October. (However, because of the library, children frequent the premises all year round.)
  April and May are hot, dry, dusty and smoky.
  The remaining months are a comfortable 75°-85° F, often rainy, and quite pleasant.
  In any season, we all love to play baseball, soccer, and swim in the river.

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  Projekte mit Kindern

  Dieses Projekt schließt möglicherweise den Umgang mit Kindern ein. Mehr Informationen findest du in unseren Verhaltensregeln und Tipps hier.

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  Arbeit

  For the artístic and creative, the current mural painting project down in the public school continues. I prefer to leave my volunteers up to their own designs and styles, and pretty much leave you alone to your work. I provide all supplies.
  
  I have a large-ish garden that helps provide variety and flavor to our meals throughout most of the year. Any garden lovers are welcome to help keep up with weeding, watering, planting and harvesting. In this climate zone there are many wonderful types of plants and trees- for any one interested in learning more about Central American botany, this is a great place to come.
  
  Presently there is a fence rebuilding/rearranging project that I would love help with. i.e. digging post holes, and nailing up chain link.
  
  Anyone willing to give a hand with tutoring the children during the school year will not regret the impact they leave on the childrens' lives.
  They make your time worthwhile through their love, hugs, and smiles.
  
  Lastly, I will say that it is very important to me that any volunteer can take basic instructions and decide for themself how to execute a task according to their own strengths, talents and preferences. I don't like to think and decide for others.

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  Sprachen

  Gesprochene Sprachen
  Englisch: Fließend
  Spanisch: Fließend

  Dieser Gastgeber bietet Sprachaustausch an
  Dieser Gastgeber gibt an, dass er dir gern seine Muttersprache beibringt oder selbst eine Sprache lernen möchte.
  Bitte wende dich direkt an ihn, um weitere Auskünfte zu erhalten.
  
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  Unterkunft

  There are two houses on the property, and to my volunteers, I offer a private bedroom with a padlock in the guest house, which also houses the library/learning center. Depending on which room is available, you will be given a double bed, or single bed and semi-private bathroom with hot, running water. Visitors are welcome to share meals, or cook and eat on their own time and in their preferred space. Personally, for me, an afternoon meal is nice to share, as that's usually when things start to settle down around here. I try to keep a well-stocked kitchen. But the truth is, everyone up here eats "typical mountain food"-eggs, chicken, fresh milk, homemade cheese and yogurt, beans, corn tortillas, rice, bananas, other seasonal fruits, vegetables and delicious fruit juices and amazing coffee. We have electricity, and Wi-Fi, but during rainy season frequent lightning storms often cause power outages.
  The library house hosts a fully-equipped sewing room that is available to work and create in,
  or simply learn to sew if that's something you've been desiring to do.
  Our dog Pepita believes that every work away volunteer comes here to meet her! So be prepared- she's a real ball of energy.
  I tend to be a quiet person who very much enjoys spending time with the children that come to the house, I also enjoy edifying adult conversation. I often leave my volunteers to their own ideas and projects and step back to give then room to practice Spanish, get to know the local people and customs, and soak up the love and culture of this community.
  I encourage curious volunteers to get out and meet the natives. The locals enjoy meeting outsiders: and as we live in a safe area, folks are generally out and about doing their visiting until about 8 p.m. And in mentioning this, please understand that this is a very rural, typical mountain community that wakes with the rooster's crow, and sleeps with the coming of the starry filled, quiet night. It gathers and chops firewood for cooking, keeps chickens, rides horses and mules to work, washes clothes by hand, build houses from hand-made adobes, and plants everything by hand without tractors. There are very few places to shop, and no restaurants. That being said, the are daily bus that come and go tp the larger towns outide of these mountains. The bus rates are cheap, and I encourage volunteers to get ot at last one to explore: or, get up further into the mountains to explore the forests and rivers.

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  Was noch ...

  Nature lovers will be encouraged to enjoy trips to the river, and hiking excursions in the mountains, as well as outings to pick mangos, oranges or whatever the seasonal fruit may be. Playing soccer is another favorite pastime here in the village, and baseball, where ever a game may unfold.
  
  The sunrises, sunsets, and summer thunderstorms here tend to be amazing.
  Camping is easy to arrange in the mountain forests.
  
  For those that would like to experience coffee-picking, there are choice opportunities.
  
  Neighbors will lend horses for riding, and motorcycles for exploring. We are "dirt-roads", and few-cars.
  
  There are a few daily busses that come and go from the nearest town an hour away, as well as to the next larger town 2 hours away. Bus fare is $1.50-$3 each way. The new international airport XPL is an easy 2-3 hour bus ride from home. I am about 4 hours from Tegucigalpa, 4 hours from San Pedro Sula, and 2 hours from Siguatepeque.
  
  I am ready to answer any questions you may have, and give as many more details as you may need about the area and lifestyle.
  
  The area is beautiful. The children are brimming with love. And I can promise that your experience here will be unforgettable.

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  Etwas mehr Information

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    Internet Zugang

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    Eingeschränkter Internet Zugang

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    Wir besitzen Tiere

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    Wir sind Raucher

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    Familien möglich

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  Platz zum Abstellen von Camper Vans

  Small, van sized vehicles would fit inside the parking area

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  Kapazität - wie viele Workawayer maximal

  zwei

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  Arbeitszeiten

  Maximum 3-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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