languages School, Spanish School, spanish

VOLUNTEERISM

CBA Spanish School offers the unique opportunity to study Spanish and to combine this with volunteer work in a total immersion program. The school offers a considerable variety of interesting projects which will reinforce your ability in the Spanish language and will give you a valuable work experience. CBA also serves as a contact for volunteer work with other development organizations.

Students can choose the work field as well as the location where they would like to do volunteer work. Volunteer opportunities include social work, education, health, environment, tourism, cultural work and agriculture. The majority of the projects are located in Quetzaltenango, but there are also some projects outside the city. Some projects require a longer time period and request that volunteers commit themselves for a minimum of 6 weeks. To be able to do volunteer work it is obligatory for the students to apply for at least 4 weeks of Spanish courses.

Contact us for more information.

TWO ORGANIZATIONS CBA SUPPORTS ECONOMICALLY

1.) NOFED, NUCLEOS FAMILIARES

Nucleas Familiares is a rural school serving 23 students in the first, second and third grade. Located in the old battery, Olintepeque, Quetzaltenango; it serves youths from ages 13 to 21.

The Situation

The students, who are mostly children of Mayan agricultural workers, need to help their family by working in the fields during normal class hours. Thus, the public school system rejects them for missing classes or for falling behind the age-range.

The Community Based Solution

With the help of CBA, an initiative was started to address the educational needs of the community. An ´´adobe house¨, a house with an earth based foundation, was transformed to become an educational facility. There are currently two teachers who instruct from the hours of 1 to 5 (so the kids can work in the morning) and hold classes in-tune with the agricultural cycle (so kids can work during planting and harvesting seasons).

What is the goal of Nucleas Familiares special?

The goal is to provide the children economically important skills, such as learning an art or a craft, which can allow them to work in a self-sustaining industry. The classes include: improved techniques in agriculture, baking, carpentry, mechanics, masonry, furniture making, blacksmithing and workshops. Furthermore, the children are taught to be proficient speakers in Spanish and Quiche Mayan language to help them advance economically in Guatemala.

What will volunteers do?

Volunteers can be teachers of English, computers, crafts, teacher assistants. Skills in other educational areas or topics can also help the community (agriculture, electricity and so on). It is suggested that a student stay for at least month to complete the volunteer module. This project requires a lot of support.
Contact CBA for more information.

2.) CLINICA DE MATERNIDAD COMUNITARIA

The clinic is located in the town of Olintepeque, Quetzaltenango 1a. Avenue in the Central Zone 1. The clinic caters especially to Mayan pregnant women by administering Mayan cultural medicine (and western medicine when necessary). The midwives speak Quiche Mayan like the 90% of the population they service. Thus there is a need to maintain its traditions, customs and folklore. The pregnant mother will have an option to maintain cultural traditions such as:

- A Mayan ceremony held in bathhouse or thermal bath to give thanks and ask permission to Mother Nature for the new member.

- At the time mother begins laboring, a herbal tea called Pimpinela is given to soothe contractions

- To speed delivery, the pregnant mother receives a massage in the abdomen with an ointment-based emollient Vaseline, tree resin.

- After delivery, Mugwort tea is given

- If there are complications during delivery, the pregnant Mayan mother will be accompanied by the midwife to serve as a translator for the Spanish speaking doctors.

Who are good candidates for this volunteer program?

This project will require volunteer medical students, nurses, doctors, midwives or people with interest and knowledge of alternative medicine or health knowledge.