Olancho Aid Foundation

I loved volunteering for the Olancho Aid Foundation. I was in Juticalpa for two years, and it quickly became a second home. The people are fantastic, and the opportunity really is one of the best out there. I know they've made some changes with requirements and benefits, but when I volunteered, they paid a wage you could live on and save with. In addition, you did not have to have teaching experience. Though being in the classroom was "sink or swim" and could be overwhelming, I learned a lot and my experiences have greatly contributed to my current career. Overall, I loved Juticalpa. It's a small, quaint town, and people like having teachers from the US (Notice I don't say "American"--Central Americans are also "Americans"). Before volunteering, I had never been to Honduras before (or Central America), and I was concerned about safety. I can say honestly that I always felt very, very safe. We were trained well and provided with cell phones. I knew that if I ever called or text

When I retired from teaching in May of 2018, I needed to find a way to give back for all of the blessings I had received in my life. To pay it forward. But what I have found, in teaching Catholic Spirituality to high school students for the Olancho Aid Foundation, is that the blessings keep coming. There is joy in teaching and reaching young people, in the support that I receive as a volunteer, and in the gift of living among people from a new culture. If you are considering this for your future, come here to work with the Olancho Aid Foundation. You will be blessed!

I have been a volunteer with the Olancho Aid Foundation since September 2018, and I love it here! I love teaching, learning about Honduran culture, hanging out with the locals, traveling on weekends, and learning Spanish. This has been one of the most challenging experiences of my life - but also one of the most rewarding! Olancho Aid does a great job at placing volunteers in positions where their skills are needed most. In addition, they provide a great support system throughout the program, starting from the moment volunteers apply. If you are considering applying for the Olancho Aid Volunteer program - I say go for it!