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2024: A year of lively conversations, laughter and learning!

As 2024 comes to a close, we reflect on an incredible year of growth, impact, connection, fun and friendships at One, Two…Tree!. Thanks to the hard work of our volunteers, the support of our partners, and the enthusiasm of our students, we’ve made meaningful strides in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala. Here’s a look at what we’ve achieved this year, our plans for 2025, and a HUGE heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey this past year.

Celebrating Our 2024 Achievements

Supporting Public Schools

 

This year, we taught English to 379 students across grades 4, 5, and 6 in five public schools. These lessons go beyond language; they build confidence, inspire curiosity, and open doors to future opportunities.

 

Community Learning Center Programs

 

Our Learning programs continued to thrive, reaching 158 kids, teens, and adults across 2 semesters and 8 English programs. These tailored classes ensure that learners of all ages can enhance their English skills in a supportive environment.

 

Teach the Teachers Program

 

A major milestone in 2024 was launching our “Teach the Teachers” program, which trained five local teachers. This initiative empowers educators to independently teach English, amplifying our impact within the community.

 

Cultural Exchange Through Intercambio Sessions

 

We hosted six intercambio language exchange sessions, bringing together locals and international volunteers for cultural and linguistic exchange, fostering mutual respect, understanding and a few new friendships!

 

Environmental and Recreational Initiatives

 

Community Clean-Up: In collaboration with local residents, we organised a cleanup to help keep Lake Atitlán beautiful and sustainable.

Football Training for Girls: These sessions provided a fun and empowering space for girls to build confidence and teamwork skills.

 

Looking Ahead to 2025: Building on our impacts

As we look forward to 2025, we’re beyond excited to continue making a difference in Santiago Atitlán. Our plans include:

Continued Support for Public Schools


We remain committed to partnering with local schools to provide English education to more students, enhancing their skills and future prospects.

 

A New Round of Learning Centre Programs 


Our English programs at our Learning Centre will resume, offering engaging, learner-centred opportunities for kids, teens, and adults in the community.

 

Expanding the Teach the Teachers Program

 

We aim to train more local educators, empowering them to lead English classes independently and sustainably. If you or anyone you know from within the Lake Atitlán community is interested in learning with us, reach out!

 

Launching an Internship Program

 

To support aspiring educators, we plan on launching an internship program for graduate teachers from the region. This program will provide practical work experience while allowing them to contribute to our mission as volunteers.

 

Exploring Partnership Opportunities


We’re actively seeking partnerships with local businesses, organisations, and stakeholders to expand our community support efforts and foster sustainable development

 

A Heartfelt Thank You

None of our achievements this year would have been possible without the unwavering support of so many:

Our Financial Donors: Your generosity fuels our programs and enables us to reach more people.

Homestay families: A very special thanks to the local homestay families who warmly welcomed our volunteers into their homes. By sharing meals, stories, and traditions, these families offered an immersive experience that allowed volunteers to be a part of the community.

The Community of Santiago Atitlán: Thank you for welcoming us and collaborating on every step of our journey.

Local Businesses: Space Coffee, Le Antigua, Germinación Cocina-Bistro and Restaurante Atitlán your support in hosting intercambio sessions created vibrant spaces for cultural exchange, engaged conversations and laughter.

The Local Government and Ministry of Education: We deeply appreciate your continued support of our work and initiatives and look forward to another fruitful partnership in the new year.

Public Schools and Students: Thank you for partnering with us and bringing your enthusiasm, dedication, and curiosity to learn and creating such a fantastic and welcoming teaching experience for our volunteers.

Our Volunteers: We welcomed 25 incredible volunteers from countries including Spain, Canada, England, Scotland, Korea, Chile, Germany, France, Belgium, the USA, Australia, Spain, Basque Country and Guatemala itself! Each volunteer brought unique skills and passion and without them our work would not be possible so big thanks to you all: Abbie, Denis, Susan, Charlie, Solange, Carlos, Tonito, Toño, Emma, Sonia, Sony, Max, Carla, Daniela, Janette, Edwin, Amber, Hannah, David GF, Marian, Amber, Emiel, David W, Dana and Andrea!

Our Volunteer and Project Coordinator: Candy, your leadership and dedication ensured our programs ran smoothly and effectively.

Join Us in 2025

If you’re inspired by our work and want to be part of something meaningful, here’s how you can contribute:

Volunteer with Us 

 

Whether you’re interested in volunteer English teaching or community initiatives, there’s a place for you. Just fill out the Application Form on our website to express your interest!

 

Donate

 

Help us sustain and grow our impact in Santiago Atitlán. You can make a donation via our GoFundMe fundraising campaign or via a bank transfer (details available on our donate page).

 

Partner with Us

 

We’re eager to collaborate with individuals and organisations that share our mission. Reach out if you want to connect with us to share your ideas!

Looking Toward a Brighter Future

As we prepare for 2025, we carry forward the lessons, achievements, and partnerships of this year. Together, we’re creating a future where education empowers individuals, strengthens communities, and opens the door to endless possibilities.

Thank you for being part of the One, Two…Tree! family. We can’t wait to see what we’ll achieve together next year!

Visit One, Two… Tree! to learn more or get involved today.

What Are the Main Pros and Cons of Volunteering?

What Are the Main Pros and Cons of Volunteering?

 

Are you interested on community service? Learn about the positive effects of volunteering and some of the challenges you may face during your volunteer journey!

 

What motivates people to volunteer?

Volunteering brings people together like a dance floor at a wedding. You’re part of a gang with the same mission. There’s something heart-warming about fighting the good fight side by side.

Some people treat volunteering as a personal training ground. You’re out there, learning stuff that might just come in handy beyond the volunteer party. Others use volunteering as a break from the snooze-fest of regular life. It’s a chance to inject a bit of excitement and purpose into the routine.

So, why should you volunteer? Because it’s not just about giving; it’s about receiving a lot in return – joy, connections, growth, and that awesome sense of making the world a bit brighter.

 

Pros of Volunteering:

Volunteering is like this secret party, but everyone’s invited. It’s this wild, unpredictable journey where you end up discovering more about the world and yourself than you ever imagined. Let’s look at some of the benefits of doing community service.

 

You can learn new skills

 

Embarking on different projects opens doors to diverse skills. Dive into tech, and you could master mobile app development, coding, and digital solutions. Event promotion or cause championing might transform you into a marketing whiz, handling social media, campaign development, and content creation. If storytelling is your forte, documenting experiences or project impacts turns you into a narrative ninja. From the comfort of your couch, you could become a remote work superhero and excel in precise communication, time management and seamless collaboration. For those in education, virtual volunteering can morph you into an online teaching and tutoring wizard.

 

You can volunteer abroad

 

When you volunteer abroad, as our One, Two…Tree! volunteers do, you’re basically diving headfirst into local customs, traditions, and the real deal of everyday life. Chatting it up with the locals day in and day out will have you throwing around colloquialisms in no time.

And let’s talk about worldview expansion. Volunteering abroad is about getting a front-row seat to diverse perspectives and global issues. Flexibility and adaptability become your middle names. You’re navigating through all sorts of cultural twists and turns, and these skills become second nature.

One, Two…Tree! volunteers connect with diverse communities and cultures.

You could meet new people and expand your network

 

Don’t be a wallflower; jump into events, workshops, and all the cool training sessions your volunteering crew throws together. And hey, don’t limit your networking game to just volunteering stuff. Step out of your volunteer comfort zone and dive into the local scene. Social media? Most volunteer organizations have their own groups or pages. Spill the tea on the ups and downs, and stay in the loop about what’s on the horizon. Check out our Instagram page to see what our One, Two…Tree! volunteers have been up to!

 

Personal Growth

 

Volunteering is your door to self-discovery. You might stumble upon hidden talents, passions, or parts of yourself you didn’t know existed. It also often means connecting with people facing tough times. You become an emotional intelligence wizard, learning empathy, compassion, and how to ride the emotional rollercoaster. And, as you assess situations, identify needs, and whip up solutions. Your critical thinking skills will help you make smart decisions.

 

You improve your soft skills and CV

 

Volunteering can lead you to CV glory and a soft skills upgrade. Time to show the professional world what you’re made of!

Lots of volunteer gigs let you take charge of projects, events, or campaigns. Slap those on your CV! Employers dig those who bring a bit of a worldview and can handle different cultures. And when the drama unfolds in group settings, and conflicts are on the menu, volunteering teaches you to navigate that terrain.

 

Cons of Volunteering:

It’s not always rainbows and sunshine in the volunteering world. Let’s talk about the flip side, the negative effects of community service, that sometimes sneak up on you when you’re knee-deep in good intentions.

 

Emotional involvement and impact

 

One big emotional curveball is burnout. You’re all in, giving your time and energy, and suddenly, it hits you like a ton of bricks – exhaustion, fatigue, you name it. When you’re dealing with heavy stuff, there’s this thing called compassion fatigue. You absorb so many emotions that you’re left feeling numb, detached, or just less empathetic.

Setting boundaries can be a real challenge, especially when you’re dealing with personal stories and struggles. So, where do you draw the line? Witnessing suffering, dealing with personal safety concerns, or just being overwhelmed by the enormity of social issues – that’s the emotional weight that can come with certain volunteer posts.

 

Frustration

 

Picture this: you’re trying to tackle an issue, but the impact isn’t as great as you expected. Maybe the challenges are way more stubborn than you expected. Then there’s the lack of recognition. You’re pouring your effort, but it feels like nobody’s noticing. No pat on the back, no acknowledgment. Sometimes, frustration kicks in when you’ve got these big expectations. You think you’re going to rock it, change lives, and leave your mark. But reality hits, and it’s not as glamorous or impactful as you imagined.

 

You put in the time and the money

 

So, let’s spill the tea on why overseas volunteering is a bit of a time and money whirlwind. Visas, flights, where the heck you’ll bunk – it’s a pre-departure puzzle that takes time to solve. It can also mean shelling out your hard-earned cash.

Picture this: you find this amazing volunteer opportunity, but it’s halfway across the globe. Exciting, right? Until you realize you’ve got to dip into your savings for that flight ticket and let’s not forget about accommodation or food!

Volunteering overseas isn’t a pop-in, pop-out situation. You might be in it for weeks or months. That’s time away from your job, family, and your usual routine. Plus, some volunteering gigs might need you to undergo training or obtain certain qualifications, adding more time and cost.

 

Confrontation with other people’s reality

 

Alright, let’s talk about one of the real and tough parts of volunteering – the confrontation with other people’s reality. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions – empathy, compassion, frustration, and maybe even a bit of guilt for having a different reality. It can be messy, emotional, and sometimes uncomfortable.

Picture this: you’re in a community, maybe halfway across the globe. You see first-hand the challenges people are facing – perhaps it’s poverty, lack of access to education, or health issues. It’s a reality check that hits you square in the face.

You might also find yourself in situations where you can’t fix everything. You want to, you really do, but the reality is, some problems are deeply rooted and complex. It’s a humbling experience, realizing that your efforts, while meaningful, might not be the solution you envisioned.

 

FAQs

What are some key benefits of volunteering?

 

  1. Dive into Learning:

You’re out there, getting your hands dirty. Social issues, community dynamics – you’re right in the thick of it, applying the stuff you’ve read about. Some posts even throw you into this mix of different fields, like a knowledge buffet. It’s not just learning; it’s applying, doing, and looking at problems from all angles.

  1. Feel the Feels and build resilience:

You’re dealing with all sorts of people, navigating through the ups and downs of community life. It’s like a crash course in understanding emotions – yours and others’. And guess what? You’re not just learning to deal with it; you’re building up your emotional strength.

  1. Reputation Boost:

Volunteering isn’t just good for the soul; it’s a reputation booster. Whether you’re rocking it in your personal life or hustling in the professional world, people notice when you’re out there making a difference.

 

Volunteers in action at our Learning Centre in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala.

Does volunteering reduce stress?

 

Volunteer work is a game-changer, breaking the cycle of negative thoughts and worries that often run on a loop in our heads. Now, here’s the science behind it – acts of kindness trigger the release of neurotransmitters, the feel-good chemicals. We’re talking serotonin and oxytocin, the brain’s own happiness cocktail.

But it’s not just about the brain; it’s a full-body experience. Depending on the kind of volunteering you’re into, you might find yourself getting active. Physical activity is a known stress-buster, releasing endorphins – your body’s natural mood lifters.

And here’s a bonus – volunteering nudges you towards mindfulness. It’s this sneaky way of encouraging you to be present, fully engaged in the task at hand. Instead of stressing about what’s coming next, you’re right there in the moment.

 

Is volunteer work good for mental health?

 

From a psychological perspective, volunteering is a powerhouse for mental well-being. When you engage in volunteer work, you’re essentially rewiring your brain in ways that contribute to positive mental health. It is a cognitive workout too. Learning new tasks, problem-solving, and engaging in meaningful activities contribute to cognitive flexibility and mental agility. Your brain becomes more adept at handling diverse situations, and this cognitive stimulation is a buffer against mental health hurdles.

Volunteering also challenges your comfort zone. You might find yourself in situations you never thought you’d be in, dealing with people from all walks of life. Stepping outside your bubble not only broadens your perspective but also makes you more adaptable. And guess what? An adaptive mind is a resilient mind, a key ingredient for good mental health.

 

What skills do you need for volunteering?

 

One thing that stands out is the need for clear and effective communication. You will have to collaborate with a bunch of people, each bringing their A-game toward a common goal, and being able to express ideas clearly and listen actively is crucial.

And let’s talk about the human side of volunteering. You’re likely to interact with people facing all sorts of challenges. This is where empathy and compassion come into play – understanding others’ perspectives and offering support. That’s why having self-care skills is non-negotiable. It’s about balancing the scale between giving to others and taking care of your own well-being.

And as you’re navigating this volunteer journey, recognizing and valuing the contributions of your fellow volunteers is key. Openness to feedback, understanding your own limitations, and being receptive to constructive criticism – it’s what makes you a useful team player.

 

What is the toughest aspect of volunteering?

 

Volunteering can be a bit of a tightrope walk, especially when you’re dealing with organizations that operate on shoestring budgets. The constraints on time, funding, or manpower can make it tough for volunteers to hit their goals or create a significant impact.

You may also encounter resistance. Introducing new ideas or initiatives can face pushback, both from within the organization and the community. Changing the game might mean shaking up the status quo, and not everyone is on board with that. Navigating this resistance becomes a challenge that volunteers often have to dance around to bring about positive change.

Last but not least, ethical dilemmas. You can find yourself in situations where values ​​clash or decisions become morally complicated. Manoevering in this ethical maze requires a solid framework and critical thinking. It’s not just about doing the right thing, but figuring out what that right thing is in the first place.

 

Weighing it up!

So, yes, burnout and compassion fatigue can be a part of the emotional rollercoaster of volunteering. Boundaries blur when dealing with personal struggles. Confronting others’ realities might be uncomfortable, realizing that your efforts might not be the envisioned solution. Expectations collide with reality. And overseas volunteering? A money and time whirlwind. Visas, flights, food, accommodation…

But we mustn’t forget that volunteering can be a skill booster, enhancing social media, storytelling, and teaching prowess. Plus, it’s CV gold, it expands your social circle and reveals hidden talents. Abroad, interactions enrich language skills and cultural adaptability. It’s also a mental health powerhouse, releasing feel-good chemicals, and rewiring your brain for cognitive flexibility and resilience.

Well then, are you in?

Meet the new Volunteer Coordinator Team in Guatemala

Introducing our new Volunteer Country Coordinators in Guatemala – Candy, Toño and Nina!

 

One, Two… Tree! extends a warm welcome to our new Country Coordinators for our project in Guatemala –Candy, Toño and Nina!

 

Candy and Toño are natural from Lake Atitlan and both call Santiago, the beautiful lake town where One, Two… Tree! Guatemala is based, home. Having grown up in Santiago, Toño and Candy are always eager to get involved with projects that support their community. So, when the prospect of joining the One, Two… Tree! team as Volunteer Coordinators presented itself, they were more than happy to come onboard!

 

Nina is from Germany and ventured to Santiago to volunteer with One, Two… Tree! as an English teacher in early 2023. She quickly came to love Santiago, as was keen to join the Volunteer Coordinator team to continue to support the project.

 

 

 

Meet Candy, Toño and Nina! (from left to right)

Introducing Candy:  Volunteer recruitment admin and support

Candy is our very talented local volunteer who’s been working with us for a while now. She started off as a student  at our learning centre and six months later started volunteering as an English teacher. She’ll be managing volunteer recruitment, engaging with prospective volunteers to share information about the project, answer questions and arrange interviews.

 

Candy will also arrange your accommodation and transportation, ensuring details are up to date and quality is provided. Because she has grown up in Santiago, she knows almost everyone! 

 

Since she’s done fab work as a teacher, she’ll be assisting with the organization of group and team-building activities outside of teaching time, so that you experience different facets of  your stay in Santiago Atitlan. 

 

What excited you about joining the One Two Tree team?

 

As an indigenous Mayan woman, I want to set a good example for my community. Because of this, I am committed to supporting initiatives that empower people, improve access to education and that encourage and enable people to pursue opportunities. Being part of the One Two… Tree! team will enable me to contribute to such impacts within Santiago.

I also love to learn from and about other cultures. The One, Two… Tree! team is diverse, and when volunteers talk about the places they come from, it is a very emotive experience for me as I can travel through them. One of my greatest pleasures is making friends from all around the world, as I firmly believe that once you truly get to know and appreciate other cultures, barriers and stereotypes start to be challenged. Cultural exchange holds tremendous significance in combatting racism, and that’s another aspect of why I’m so passionate about being a part of One, Two… Tree!

 

Introducing Toño: Financial admin and learning Centre management

Toño worked for many years in Guatemala City and is now back in his hometown. We also met Toño as a student last year and he was very keen to join the One, Two… Tree! team this school year. He’ll be managing the budget and reporting to One, Two… Tree! which is paramount to keep the organisation afloat!

 

He will also be the point of contact with school headteachers, coordinating to understand the grading system, school timeframes and schedules, ways of working through the year and specific topics to teach, keeping regular contact with schools throughout the year to understand progress and solve any issues as they arise.

 

Taking advantage of his former training as a teacher, Toño will coordinate classes at our learning centre aimed at children, teenagers and adults within the community. He will also  identify and establish collaboration opportunities with other local NGOs and community projects. The perfect man for the job!

 

What excited you about joining the One Two Tree team?

 

I was a student with One, Two… Tree! last year and saw first-hand the real-life impacts the organization had in Santiago and was impressed by what students were able to achieve by improving their English. Joining the Volunteer Coordinator team provides me with a unique opportunity to support my community in a meaningful and practical way. I’m looking forward to  helping One, Two…Tree! grow and working with the community to provide people with opportunities to learn English and improve things.   

 

Introducing Nina: Volunteer induction and training/support, curriculums

Nina was looking to volunteer teaching English abroad and she found us! She has been doing a wonderful job as a teacher over the past 3 months so has great first hand experience of what life “on the ground” is like as a volunteer. Once you have arrived in Santiago, Nina will be carrying out the induction, helping you settle in, explaining roles and responsibilities, providing background information, showing available teaching materials and talking you through the methodology followed in our classes. To ensure that everything goes according to plan, Nina will keep the induction material up to date, embedding feedback from past volunteers.

 

We all want your experience as a volunteer in Guatemala to be memorable, so Nina will oversee the preparation of teaching material and supervise teaching quality in the classroom, offering mentoring to ensure that you flourish in your English teacher role. If you think you’ll be a little anxious when you start teaching, don’t worry! Nina will support you to allow you to develop confidence and learn by example. She will also coordinate more experienced volunteers to co-teach with as necessary for large classes  As you can see, we will go hand in hand with you until you are ready to fly! 

 

What excited you about joining the One Two Tree team?

 

I have taught German for several years, and I learned to speak English as a young adult. I’m also currently learning Spanish. These experiences have ingrained in me a deep appreciation for the worlds and possibilities that languages can unlock. I’m eager to use my skills and love of developing connections and community to help One, Two… Tree! build on its achievements of 2022 and deliver positive outcomes in Santiago.

What’s in store for One Two Tree and Santiago for 2023?

This year, we will endeavor to boost the positive impacts of 2022 and we will do this in 5 keys ways:

–    Support 5 public schools to deliver English language programs to students in grades 4th to 6th;

–    Deliver kids, teens and adults English language programs at our dedicated learning centre;

–    Collaborate with and local cooperatives and organizations to promote and support their work;

–    Increase the number of volunteers and the length of the stay. This includes recruiting and upskilling volunteers from within the community, and

–    Continuous review and improvement of the curriculums we use to deliver our programs.

 

 

What’s something you would say to someone who is thinking of joining our free volunteer program?

One of the most beautiful things you can do is empower people with knowledge. Same way someone shared that knowledge with you, keep the ball rolling. There is a saying that goes, “We are more powerful when we empower each other”. We promise you will feel pretty empowered too and you will learn way more than you teach. While not without its challenges, everyone who volunteers with One, Two… Tree! has the capacity to positively contribute here in Santiago and further away as we all take with us the beauty of volunteering and building together wherever we go.

 

What you do, even if it seems small, can have such a big effect. So, we encourage everyone thinking about free volunteering teaching English in Latin America or abroad, to take the leap and apply to join us!

How to become a volunteer teacher? Guide for beginners

How to become a volunteer teacher? Guide for beginners

 

“Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in.” 

 

You might be wondering what the importance of volunteering is. We believe that we all have the opportunity to vote for the kind of world we want to live in, every day. When you volunteer as a teacher, you play an essential role in a child’s life. Education is power, so as a volunteer teacher, you are allowing and enabling children to learn and grow. Many people have that one special teacher that they will remember forever because they touched their life in some way and helped them grow into the person they are today.

 

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #4 is about ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in many children losing 2-3 years of academic learning, which inevitably harshly affected already economically challenged communities. When you volunteer as a teacher, you are helping to develop this worldwide goal of access to quality education for all, especially after a difficult period of time due to the pandemic. 

 

 

How to become a volunteer teacher?

If you have a deep appreciation for education and the power it has to transform societies, and you have a strong commitment to supporting local or foreign communities, then volunteer teaching might be your calling! You will find this to be an enriching experience both for yourself and the students.

 

When volunteering as a teacher, usual requirements are:

 

  • A criminal record check since most projects involve working with children
  • To be 18+, although there might be some projects looking to promote youth leadership where those under 18 might be welcome. This would normally be the case with local volunteering where no traveling is required.
  • Have basic knowledge and passion for the teachable subject matter
  • Be proactive, creative, flexible, and self-motivated
  • Be full of energy and enthusiasm to make a difference
  • Have a passion for education, openness to new experiences, and a drive to learn new skills
  • Have an understanding that you will learn more than you teach during your time volunteering

 

 

What does a volunteer teacher do?

 

Volunteer teachers generally commit up to 16 hours per week to teaching, and most projects require at least a one-month commitment, since building relationships with the students is key to any learning process. Generally, we have found that three months is ideal to start seeing changes and progress among students.

 

When you are a teacher, you will be engaging with children of various ages and abilities. It’s important to have a patient, calm, and accepting demeanor and attitude when interacting with students. Volunteering as a teacher requires flexibility to adapt to different ways of learning to ensure the best experience for the students. 

 

The project that you choose to be a part of might have a well-defined curriculum to follow, or you might need to find resources and prepare materials. Either way, you will always need to prepare the classes in advance and adjust the content to your particular students. In English Teaching Programs specifically, your main focus should be on helping the students to learn the vocabulary and the common phrases, while for other types of programs, you may take up any subject, including math, general knowledge, geography, history, etc! 

 

Some duties and responsibilities of a volunteer teacher might involve correcting exercises and exams, organising events, preparing materials, helping with classroom setup, cleaning up after an activity, or onboarding other volunteers. All of these tasks are often the ‘behind-the-scenes’ tasks that make a project succeed. You might even get the opportunity to support field trips and help with the extra-curricular activities of students. This is another way to enhance the children’s learning and life experiences, and your relationship with them as well.

 

In addition to teaching hard skills such as the actual subject matter and topics, it is important to teach children soft skills such as critical thinking, communication skills, teamwork and responsibility. These are key pillars and values that should be continuously taught and emphasized across all subjects and levels of education.

 

 

Volunteer teaching English abroad for free 

 

Teaching English is a popular volunteering opportunity across the world, as more and more, English is becoming a skill for life which opens up new opportunities for students to get their studies to the next level and have access to a wider range of jobs in the future. Teaching English is becoming a way to empower communities and individuals. In many non-English speaking countries, fluent English teachers are scarce, hence the numerous teaching English volunteering opportunities. This is normally part of community projects, where, by local demand, English support has been requested.

 

To volunteer as an English Teacher, it is important to have a fluent level of speaking and writing, since teaching 100% in English is the most effective way to expose students to the language and develop their listening and speaking skills which are the foundation of learning a language.

 

 

Volunteer teaching opportunities

There are many volunteer teaching opportunities around the world that you can be a part of, from local projects to projects abroad.

 

Volunteer teaching opportunities abroad

 

If you’d like to volunteer with nonprofits in a specific country, you can search for “teaching volunteering opportunities in Guatemala”, for example, and dozens of opportunities will show up. 

 

Volunteer World is one of the many platforms you can use to look for opportunities across the world.

 

In most countries, unless engaging professionally with an NGO, you will volunteer as a tourist and your visa requirements will be those asked for tourists from your country of nationality.

 

Online teaching volunteer opportunities

 

Remote support can be very useful too, especially for conversational practice, and 1:1 support on any given subject. It is a good way to gain experience and to get to know other people, cultures and realities.

 

 

How to volunteer in Central America?

If you are interested in volunteering in Central America specifically, here are two resources that may be helpful for you: 

 

This platform links you directly to many volunteer opportunities across Latin America: 

https://www.volunteerlatinamerica.com/

 

If you are interested in working specifically with nonprofits in Guatemala, this is a directory of nonprofits in Guatemala, most of whom have volunteer opportunities: 

https://directorioguatemala.org/

 

How to apply as a volunteer teacher?

 

Once you have found the volunteer teaching program you would like to volunteer for, there should be an email or contact form to apply. Most application processes would ask for availability, time of commitment, motivation and CV to understand how to make the most of relevant skills and experience.

 

Here at One, Two… Tree! we are always looking for enthusiastic English teacher volunteers to come to join us in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala, where we teach children and adults.

 

If you are interested in volunteering with us, there are a few ways to get in touch. You can either send us an email to guatemala@onetwo-tree.com, complete the form on our website, or contact us through Instagram

 

Once we receive your inquiry, we will be in touch with you and share information about the project. Our volunteer coordinator will set up an interview to get to know you and answer any questions.  After the interview, we will share information to prepare your trip  and ask for the required documentation: criminal record check, a picture ID, and an insurance policy.  A month before arriving, we will share an introduction package with everything you need to know about how we work, tips for living in Santiago Atitlán, as well as training material that you can use to start preparing for teaching. 

 

 

FAQ’s

Here are some of the most frequent questions people have when thinking about teaching volunteering: 

 

How to get volunteer teaching experience?

 

Start tutoring your friends or neighbors, look out for local opportunities, and ask at local schools before looking into volunteering abroad. That way you will have a taste of what it is like and if it is something you enjoy doing before commiting to a full experience abroad. 

 

Can you teach abroad with no experience?

 

Yes, you can! As long as you have basic knowledge and passion of the teachable subject matter, and are passionate about working with people of various ages to facilitate, motivate and increase their knowledge and skills then you will be able to make the most of the opportunity. 

 

Humility and an attitude to learn are key, as you will be learning how to teach with the support of fellow volunteers and project coordinators who will train and mentor you. It is important to volunteer with organisations who have similar values to yours. Have you ever thought about this? 

 

Proactiveness, autonomy and independence are paramount for volunteers while being ready to make a difference. These qualities may even be more important than having prior teaching experience. 

 

Does a volunteer teacher get paid?

 

Volunteer work means working without monetary compensation. There are other non-monetary types of compensation involved with volunteering, such as gaining human connection, feeling useful to others, enriching your view of the world, gaining life experience, becoming confident with public speaking, making new friends, and many more. 

 

Most projects will cover the cost of teaching supplies and traveling such as public transportation if needed to reach a remote community. Some projects might offer food and accommodation as compensation, but this generally requires a long-term commitment and specific background to support the project like teaching training or prior experience.

 

Is it possible to volunteer abroad for free?

 

Even though it is normal for projects to charge a fee per week of volunteering there are many projects, like ours, that don’t charge any fee and will only ask volunteers to cover for their own expenses.