Become a hiking guide to help local children in Xela, Guatemala

Details

• 

  Description

  Our Vision: Hike Volcanoes, Help kids! Social change, one step at a time.
  
  Our Mission: Since 1995, we have been the primary fundraiser for the social projects of our parent nonprofit, which provides education, housing, and social support to disadvantaged children in Xela. We achieve this by running safe, fun, and educational trekking experiences around the Western Highlands of Guatemala, led by volunteer guides from around the world. Through our treks, we aim to sustainably support these education projects, as well as the local communities that we hike through.
  
  Guide Job Overview: Hike Volcanoes and Help Kids! Live and work as a trekking guide at our organization, leading hikes in the volcanic highlands of Guatemala to help raise sustainable funding for the local education projects of our parent nonprofit. This is a full-time volunteer position, with a 3 month minimum time commitment.

• 

  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Language practice

  Teaching

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Hospitality/Tourism

  General Maintenance
• 

  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

  ...

  ...

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  What's this?
• 

  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  -Community - Close communal living with amazing people from all around the world who love to hike and help. In addition, we get to have regular futbol games and dinner with the kids we support.
  -Personal growth - This is a great place to build new skills and knowledge, especially for guiding treks, practicing wilderness first aid, nonprofit management, and learning local geology, ecology, and culture.
  -Supportive environment - All kinds of people are welcome here. We aim for a balanced environment that works for everyone, so that people can leave their mark with their own strengths and passions.
  -Meaningful work - Be part of a unique organization that connects incredible hiking experiences with an important educational project for local kids, and see your direct impact in the community.
  -Fun - Being a guide can be hard work, but it is incredibly rewarding and unbelievably fun. You will definitely have some unforgettable experiences during your time here.

• 

  Help

  Overview: Hike Volcanoes and Help Kids! Live and work as a trekking guide at our organization, leading hikes in the volcanic highlands of Guatemala to help raise sustainable funding for the local education projects of our parent nonprofit. This is a full-time volunteer position, with a 3 month minimum time commitment.
  
  Roles and Responsibilities: What it means to be a guide:
  -Lead safe, fun, and educational treks for groups of clients.
  -Participate in preparation of gear, food, and logistics for treks.
  -Run informational pre-trek meetings for clients.
  -Understand and manage basic finances.
  -Perform other responsibilities around the office.
  -Participate in organizational improvement
  
  Required Qualifications - Necessary for becoming a guide:
  - 3 month minimum time commitment
  -Availability for 3 days of hiking each week
  -Availability for 2 days of prep each week
  -English language skills - Conversational
  -Spanish language skills - Basic
  -Ability to hike 20 km and carry 20 kg
  
  Who is a guide?
  We strive to be as inclusive as possible and welcome anybody who meets the required qualifications for the position to apply. We have also noticed certain qualities and attitudes that serve guides well here, foremost among these being an eagerness to participate, learn, and grow. We hope that you can get excited about hiking, education, volcanoes, guacamole, and even washing dishes. People skills like relationship building and public speaking can be very helpful, as well as an interest in group living. As a guide, flexibility, teamwork, attention to detail, and remembering that all jobs are valuable (including those dishes) can help a lot in our work. Our organization loves and is loved by people who care about the work that we do, why we do it, and the chance to jump in and take part.

• 

  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent

• 

  Accommodation

  -Housing - Free private room provided in Casa Argentina, nice hot showers, fully stocked communal kitchen, office computers and WiFi available.
  -Food - All on-trek food (and other expenses) is covered for guides. Shared tip money pays for communal groceries in the office, and often other basic living expenses. Communal kitchen with everything you'd need.

• 

  What else ...

  If this all sounds intriguing to you, we encourage you to apply! Please find our website in order to submit our guide application form directly, or send us an email for any questions or more information.

• 

  A little more information

  • 

    Internet access

  • 

    Limited internet access

  • 

    We have pets

  • 

    We are smokers

  • 

    Can host families

• 

  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

Website Safety

Feedback (2)