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9 January, 2025 In Interviews, News

New Year, New Opportunities: Join our Volunteer Team in 2025

As we welcome 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect on our goals and consider how we can make a meaningful impact in the world. If you’re seeking an opportunity to volunteer abroad in 2025, immerse yourself in vibrant cultures, and contribute to educational development, One Two… Tree! invites you to join our volunteer team in Central America. Our mission is to make English accessible as a tool for social empowerment and intercultural exchange, and we need passionate individuals like you to help us achieve this goal. Check out our achievements and impacts of 2024 via our Instagram.

 

Why Volunteer with One Two… Tree! in Central America?

Volunteering with One, Two… Tree! offers a unique and rewarding experience that combines personal growth with community development. Here are compelling reasons to consider joining us.

Join our volunteer team in Guatemala in 2025!

 

Make a Tangible Impact

 

By teaching English in Central America, you empower individuals with language skills that enhance their educational and employment opportunities. Your efforts contribute directly to the personal and professional growth of our students, fostering a brighter future for them and their communities.

 

Cultural Immersion

 

Living and working in Central America provides an authentic cultural experience. You’ll engage with local traditions, learn from diverse perspectives, and build meaningful relationships with community members. This immersion enriches your understanding of the world and broadens your horizons.

 

Personal and Professional Development

 

Volunteering abroad challenges you to adapt, communicate, and problem-solve in new environments. These experiences develop valuable skills such as leadership, cross-cultural communication, and resilience, which are highly regarded in today’s globalized world.

 

Affordable Volunteering

 

At One Two… Tree!, we believe in accessible volunteering. We are volunteers, not employees, and our compensation is the satisfaction in the work we do. We strive to keep costs low, ensuring that volunteering is an option for individuals from all walks of life.

Our Projects in Central America

Currently One Two… Tree! Operates an educational project in  Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala, where the region’s rich Mayan heritage and stunning landscapes provide a captivating backdrop for your volunteer experience.

We have been running our project in Santiago Atitlán since 2016 and each year we teach hundreds of children and adults in the community through our various programs, which include:

 

Public Schools Partnerships

 

Schools in Guatemala are required to provide English language education to their students. However, many schools across the country do not have the resources to do. Through community outreach within the community of Santiago Atitlán, we identify public schools that are in need our support. Our international and local volunteers deliver lessons to children in grades 4, 5 and 6 twice a week at each of the schools we partner with.

 

Learning Centre Programs

 

At our dedicated Learning Centre, we run English programs for young learners, targeting those children we do not reach via the public schools we partner with. We also run programs for teens and adults, with these programs open to anyone who is eager to learn.

Since we opened the centre in 2022 we have had more than 450 students participate in our English programs.

 

Students from our Learning Centre celebrating their graduation!

 

Community Collaborations

 

We are also always on the lookout for other partnership and collaboration opportunities, which in the past have included supporting a local coffee cooperative to develop coffee tasting tours in English, teaching English to the children of a women’s fair-trade weaving cooperative and community clean-ups.

We have also started partnering with local businesses to run regular Spanish-English language exchange sessions to strengthen our relationships within the community.

 

How You Can Get Involved

Joining our volunteer team is a straightforward process designed to match your skills and interests with community needs. Here’s how you can get started:

Visit Our Website: Explore our website to learn more about our mission, projects, and volunteer opportunities.

Apply Online: Complete the online Volunteer Application Form, providing information about your background, skills, and motivations for volunteering. This helps us understand how you can best contribute to our programs.

Interview and Placement: After reviewing your application, we’ll arrange an interview to discuss your skills, experience, interests and answer any questions. Based on this conversation, we’ll determine whether you are the right person for our project, and in turn, whether we are the right project for you!

Prepare for Your Journey: Once accepted, we’ll provide guidance on travel arrangements, accommodation, and cultural orientation to ensure you’re well-prepared for your volunteer experience.

Volunteer Testimonials

Don’t just take our word for it—hear from our past volunteers about their experiences:

  • Volunteering with One Two… Tree! in Guatemala was life-changing. I formed deep connections with the students and community, and I learned as much from them as they did from me. — Sarah, USA
  • Teaching English allowed me to immerse myself in a new culture while making a real difference. The support from the organization was exceptional, making my experience both impactful and enjoyable. — David, UK

 

FAQs

Do I need prior teaching experience?

 

While prior teaching experience is beneficial, it is not required. We provide training and resources to help you succeed in the classroom.

 

Is there an age requirement?

 

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old. There is no upper age limit; we welcome individuals of all ages who are passionate about our mission.

 

What is the minimum commitment?

 

We ask for a minimum commitment of 6 weeks to ensure continuity for our students. Longer commitments are very welcome and encouraged! Ideally our volunteers can stay for 3 months or more.

 

Are there any costs involved?

 

Volunteers are responsible for their travel, accommodation and living expenses. We do not charge any volunteer participation fees, however welcome donations to help us deliver our English programs!  You can make a donation via our GoFundMe fundraising campaign or via a bank transfer (details available on our donate page).

 

Where will I stay?

 

We have partnered with local host families to families to accommodate our volunteers. Each home is unique, offering a mix of private rooms and, some, apartments. Volunteers can choose the type of accommodation that best fits their needs and budget, while enjoying an enriching experience within the community.

 

Start Your 2025 Adventure with One Two… Tree!

Embarking on a volunteer journey with One Two… Tree! in 2025 is an opportunity to make a lasting impact, develop new skills, and experience the rich cultures of Central America. As you plan your New Year’s resolutions, consider joining our dedicated team to teach English and empower communities through education.

Check out our website to learn more and apply. Together, we can make 2025 a year of growth, learning, and positive change.

9 February, 2024 In Interviews, News

Tickling Tongues and Tackling Numbers: Reflecting on a Year of English Empowerment

As we gear up for the commencement of another year of English programs in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the past year. We want to express our huge appreciation to the community of Santiago and our donors for their support, and to our amazing volunteers who enabled us to deliver our programs and make positive impacts.

 

A glance at our key achievements in 2023

 

Reach and number of schools involved

 

Spreading English like confetti, we dazzled the minds of 300 kids across 5 public schools! Grades 4, 5, and 6 were our fearless language adventurers, and together, we created a symphony of verbs, nouns, and a lot of ‘Aha!’ moments.

 

Benefited students

 

We’ve had a blast teaching English to almost 160 students at our Learning Center too. Across two semesters, we rolled out 10 English programs to kids and adults. And to keep things interesting, we sprinkled in some one-on-one conversation classes. Because, who says language learning can’t be a VIP experience?

 

We also teamed up with the crafty women of Cojolya in Santiago. From translating lessons on the art of weaving to orchestrating English activities, we were there.

 

Training of local teachers and their impact on the community

 

We tapped into our English-teaching super powers to help upskill community members, and voila! One has now secured a job as an English teacher in Santiago! We are very proud to have contributed to the empowerment of a Santiagüeña.

 

A big thank you to our Volunteers

 

A big shoutout to our volunteers! We had 21 awesome humans supporting our project last year – 6 of them brought the Santiago vibe, and the rest? Well, they joined the party from all corners of the globe! From Spain, the UK, Germany, Italy, the USA, Portugal, the Netherlands, to Australia—talk about a diverse and collaborative squad making things happen!

 

Check out our 2023 wrap-up video for a sneak peak of our volunteers in action in Santiago!

Educational programs and innovative methodologies implemented

 

Techniques and teaching methods used

 

Active learning strategies are the backbone of our methodology. Scaffolding, problem-solving activities, hands-on work, peer teaching… you name it! Teaching is a partnership, a dynamic two-way street, so not only do we share our “power” with our students, we also create scenarios where they can’t resist using their English.

 

We always kick off our lesson by having a lively discussion about what the students remember from our last session. We like to get them engaged and excited about the learning journey we’re on together. As we wrap things up, we sprinkle in a cheerful summary of the day’s discoveries. This way, we’re creating a chain of lessons that sparks their memory and keeps them eager for more.

 

We also want to make sure our students grasp the concepts without relying on Spanish. In fact, we don’t speak Spanish in class at all! We make use of your own resources, like mimicking, drawing, gesturing… The goal is for them to understand the concept first, and then the translation will naturally follow in their minds. We want to keep those brains flexible and agile! We also try to make ourselves understood by modulating our voice, using Latin words and our body language.

 

Looking to the future: our programs in 2024

 

Expanding our reach across public schools and the Learning Center

 

We’re riding a wave of enthusiasm because there’s an incoming tsunami of volunteers! With their help, we’re set to partner with six schools this year, where we will again be teaching English to kids in grades 4, 5 and 6!  The anticipation is building up, and on February 15th , the public schools will come alive with learning and excitement.

 

The Learning Center is clearly a hot spot for eager adult learners and our one-to-one lessons are always a sought-after gem, so we’ll continue to meet that demand. Our classes at the Learning Center will kick-off on 19 February and we are pumped to have new cohorts of kids and adults join our English programs.

 

Exploring collaborations and partnerships

 

We are eager to strengthen our connections within the community by seeking new collaboration opportunities and supporting local initiatives. On top of that, we’re also actively exploring partnership opportunities with educational institutions and beyond to boost our volunteer network and in turn broaden our impact.

 

If you would like to partner with us, or have ideas for collaboration don’t hesitate to contact us !

 

How you can participate: volunteering and support in 2024

 

Embarking on a volunteering journey with One, Two… Tree! is a wonderful choice, and we’re excited to welcome enthusiastic volunteer English teachers to join us in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala.

 

To kickstart your journey with us, reaching out is easy. You can express your interest by sending an email to our team in Guatemala , completing the volunteer contact form on our website, or connecting with us through Instagram.

 

Once we receive your inquiry, our team will promptly get in touch, providing you with all the details about our project. Our volunteer coordinator will arrange an interview, giving us the chance to get to know you better and address any queries you may have. Following the interview, we’ll guide you through the necessary steps to prepare for your trip, including the submission of required documentation such as a criminal record check, photo ID, and an insurance policy.

 

As your volunteering journey with us approaches, we’ll share a comprehensive introduction package a month before your arrival. This package includes valuable information on our work processes, tips for living in Santiago Atitlán, and training materials to help you prepare for your teaching role.

 

During your stay, you will be supported by our awesome coordinators and your fellow volunteers and no doubt, you will make some great friends within the community.

 

Can’t make it to Guatemala? Reach out to explore how your talents can be used remotely or head on over to our donations page to check out how you can contribute.

 

We look forward to connecting with you and sharing this meaningful experience!