Vacation Reading Program Volunteer needed for November 2025

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Overview:

UPAVIM seeks a volunteer to co-facilitate the November vacation reading program with our Guatemalan librarian. Help local primary school students receive a fun and educational vacation experience in their own local community.

Responsibilities:

• Help librarian develop materials for the vacation reading program for two weeks in October
• Suggest and plan fun project ideas for the students (i.e. crafts)
• Assist librarian in running each days activities with the primary students for the month of November
• Promote an environment of fun and learning

Qualifications:

• Intermediate level of Spanish to be able to communicate with local librarian and students
• Creativity in suggesting ideas for student activities
• Empathy towards the students living in the area
• Willingness to adapt to and understand a unique culture
• Clean background check
• Able to commit to living in Guatemala from Mid-October through November
• Documentation of COVID-19 vaccine

Nice to haves:

• Experience working with children of multiple ages, especially elementary school aged.
• Experience working in an after school program a plus.
• Willing to extend volunteer experience to 3 months to a year.

Compensation:

Volunteers stay in shared bedrooms on "the roof" with a beautiful garden overlooking the city and nearby volcanoes. Lunch is also provided from the UPAVIM kitchen Monday through Friday. Additionally the volunteer may use their time with UPAVIM for academic credit, fieldwork and research. Note: Volunteers are requested to contribute $40/month that goes towards internet and infrastructure costs for maintaining the volunteer housing.

Description of the Organization:

UPAVIM's mission is to empower women in the neighborhood of La Esperanza, located on the outskirts of Guatemala City, by giving them opportunities to economically support their families, while also providing services to improve the quality of life for the entire community.

Over the past 33 years, UPAVIM has grown from a small baby-weighing program to a women's cooperative employing over 100 local women and making handmade fair-trade crafts sold around the world. The proceeds from these crafts pay the women's salaries, fund UPAVIM's community health clinic, and fund UPAVIM's school, which includes a daycare, pre-school, and elementary school (K-6th). In addition, the organization manages the first public library in the neighborhood, and runs a bakery to provide fresh and affordable goods to the community.