The Honduras Child Alliance provides educational enrichment and healthy living programs for children in El Porvenir, Honduras.
Volunteering Activities
What We Need
Volunteers teach English, computers, art, photography, sports, math, and so much more! We are looking for energetic and enthusiastic volunteers who are 20+ years. Our volunteers come from all over the world and we accept all levels of ability to speak Spanish and English. You will be helping operate programs mainly focused on elementary age children but we also work with teens and adults.
Classes are split into morning and afternoon sessions Monday-Thursday and also on Friday mornings. Morning classes are from 9-10:30 AM and afternoon classes are from 1:30-3:30 PM. Volunteers must arrive at least fifteen minutes early in order to set up the classroom and review the plan for the day.
Class schedule:
1. Free-Time
For 15 minutes, kids solve puzzles and memory games; build objects with blocks; play board games, cards, and dominos; and much more in order to get their minds “prepared” for learning and creativity.
2. Circle-Time
During this time, the children and volunteers sit on the floor in a circle. Everyone introduces themselves by saying their name and age (in English) and then answering a question of the day. For example, if the question of the day is “what is your favorite sport?”, a volunteer or student would reply “My name is _, I am _ years old, and mi deporte favorito es _ (or) my favorite sport is ____ .” Once everyone has introduced themselves, the children are asked to review the class rules about how we treat each other. Then, the plan of the day is explained before “changing the language” to English.
3. English Immersion
During this time, volunteers lead an activity (a game, vocabulary review, etc.) speaking only in English. We encourage volunteers to speak slowly and using big hand motions and exaggerated facial expressions in order for the children to understand what is being said to or asked of them. English Immersion is not a time to introduce new vocabulary to students, but rather to allow them to become familiar with hearing words in English and connecting the dots.
4. Snack
5. Spanish Literacy
The language is “changed” back to Spanish. This time is dedicated to students improving their ability to read and write in Spanish. Once a week, each class uses either tablets or computers to read books or practice typing. Some activities have included reading a book and having students act it out, or typing lists of household items.
6. Activity One/Two
Each activity lasts about 15-20 minutes. These activities are usually creative art projects, information on nutrition, an introduction or review of new vocabulary, field time, and much more; it all depends on the curriculum unit and primary lesson of the week. Morning classes only have one activity and afternoon classes have two.
7. Final Circle
During Final Circle, students are usually asked what was their favorite activity of the day, when the next class is, and at what time.
Each volunteer is assigned to lead one part of the class but all volunteers participate and assist in the full class as well as being responsible for bringing either the snack, kindles, computers, and/or other materials for each activity.
When & Who
What we Provide
There are two volunteer houses that are walking distance from the projects.
The cost is $42 a week ($6 a day) for the first 6 weeks and $35 a week ($5 a day) after that. If you are staying for 6+ months, rent can be further reduced.
Our Fees
Upon acceptance to the program, there is a one time donation of $160 USD.
More Services we Offer
Volunteers need to buy their own food, which is very inexpensive in the area (about $20-$25 a week).
Please be prepared to make your own travel arrangements to Honduras. Due to the volunteer nature of the program, HCA uses all funds to benefit the children in their programs and is not able to pay your way.
Contact Person
Other Ways to Help
We have recently moved our old Wordpress website to a new Wordpress theme. We need some help cleaning it up and making things look organized and inviting. If you are familiar with Wordpress, we could really use your help!
Laptops
Soccer balls
Craft items
Dry erase markers
Children's chewable vitamins
Additional Info about Us
We incorporate technology (laptops, kindles, and digital photography) and healthy eating into all programs. Our program is about relationships - both with the Hondurans and with volunteers from all around the world!
** There is an opportunity for rent reduction for helping with social media
Honduras Child Alliance provides educational enrichment and healthy living programs in 3 locations around the seaside community of El Porvenir. Our main program focuses on English and Spanish literacy and includes art, games, computers, science, and sports. The children are in grades 1-6 and our program is a supplement to the public schools.
There are also free English and computer classes for teens and two levels of English for adults. Moreover, we partner with our local firefighters to provide health fairs, emergency first aid training, and other programs that benefit the community. Our volunteers also assist with dental and medical teams and light construction projects. Via a partnership with the local public hospital, we also accept healthcare and dental volunteers who wish to gain international experience.
5 Reviews
Classes and programs are planned and implemented as a group effort, with consideration taken of individuals' strengths and abilities, and we are able to challenge ourselves in areas where we feel we could improve. A lot of care is taken to include aspects of art, technology, literacy and plenty of fun. The main focus in all of our classes and Vacation Programs is to promote an atmosphere of safety and friendship, where nobody is left out and where everyone can feel respected and secure.
Before coming to this country, my friends and family were quite worried about things they had heard about safety in Honduras. This is a very valid concern, but it's easy to write off a country as dangerous by what we see on the news. I'd like to stress how quiet and safe El Porvenir is, how secure the Volunteer houses are, and how friendly this community is. Of course as in any country, caution for safety must be exercised. HCA has a strict 8:30pm curfew and the volunteers become like family who look after each other. We have good relationships with many people in the community and I can honestly say I have never felt unsafe here.
The 2 volunteer houses are a 5 minute walk from each other. Both have nice, homely living areas, fully equipped kitchens, plenty of bathrooms and are kept clean and tidy. I live in the house by the beach which now truly feels like home, and I love being able to see and hear the ocean every day. El Porvenir is a beautiful little town surrounded by pineapple farms and the ocean, with a dramatic mountain range backdrop. It has some stores and plenty of independant vendors and local restaurants where you can buy food and groceries. The city of La Ceiba is only a 20 minute taxi or bus ride away where you can find bigger supermarkets, malls, restaurants, and more, There are also lots of beautiful and interesting places nearby to visit for a day trip or the weekend, including hikes to waterfalls, Pico Bonito national park, Samba Creek, Corazol beach, and the Bay Islands.
If you are looking to escape your comfort zone and challenge yourself, to make a difference, to experience a rich and diverse culture, to continue or try out teaching with the most wonderful and receptive kids who will steal your heart, to be a part of a multinational team, to learn, grow and give; Honduras Child Alliance is for you, and I cannot recommend it highly enough."
