Year Round Volunteers
Description
Our mission is to inspire the children and youth of Honduras to reach their potential by equipping them with the skills necessary for life management, academic achievement, spiritual growth, and leadership rooted in the Christian faith.
Volunteers in our after-school and vacation camps, as well as our experiential learning programs, work alongside our staff to serve the children and youth of Copán while developing their organization, interpersonal skills, and individual talents. Interacting with people from different cultures (Spanish-speaking or not) is a valuable experience for our kids, as they learn to love and accommodate people who are different from them.
UPH offers volunteer positions to young adults who desire to work with children and youth, who want to experience life in a different culture and are looking to be challenged and stretched to become more mission-focused persons. Volunteers help plan & run Vacation Camps and work at our After-School and Youth Leadership Programs, and stay between 1 month and a year. Our Intern & Volunteer Program is ideal for students who want to travel and make a difference during their Gap Year, Study Abroad, Summer Vacation or J-term.
2024-25 Dates
Starting dates flexible*
*Year-round volunteers start and end in Nashville, TN for a pre-departure training and post-return debriefing retreat.
**Final cost may vary depending on arrival/departure times. For more or less time than 12 months, contact us and we can give you an estimated cost.
Cost
12 months:
$8000** + Airfare
Volunteer Tracks
Click on a photo below to learn more about our different volunteer tracks
Volunteer Profile
Most of our volunteers are in the 18-25 year old range, coming from various universities across the globe. Some are coming to explore work in cross-cultural ministry, education, or a nonprofit. Others may be looking to stretch and develop their leadership skills, Spanish language skills, or serve outside their comfort zone. Others have come as they transition between jobs, or before beginning their university studies, or because of a personal connection from a friend. Whatever your story, we look for those with a heart aligned with our mission, adaptability in new situations, and a willingness to grow and be transformed as you serve.
Age Requirement: 18 years or older
Volunteer Program Objectives:
To act as a catalyst to active servant leadership
To instill a deeper understanding and appreciation for community
To provide a positive educational and personal development experience
Provide support and relief for our full-time staff who serve on the ground.
Living Arrangements
Year-round volunteers usually live on their own or with one or two other roommates in an apartment style home in Copán, depending on the number of volunteers for the year. All lodging arrangements are taken care of by local staff. A home stay may be able to be arranged with a local staff family member if requested.
Spiritual Formation
We believe an essential piece of every internship is the spiritual formation that happens as we work together in community and learn more about God’s heart for the vulnerable. You’ll have the opportunity to engage in reading and discussions with staff and fellow interns around topics of justice, diversity and privilege, and how it relates to God’s Kingdom. Volunteers will be part of regular community building meetings leading up to, during, and after your time as a volunteer.
Our Context
UrbanPromise Honduras is a non-profit ministry made up of about 15-20 local Honduran staff, some of whom grew up as children or youth in our programs over the last 15 years. We serve over 600 children and youth throughout the year in various AfterSchool and Vacation Camp programs in the community of Copán Ruinas, Honduras. About 120 of those children and youth come from one of the local Bilingual schools, and the rest are part of the local Spanish-speaking public schools. Copán Ruinas is a small town of about 15,000 people located four hours from San Pedro Sula, on the border of Guatemala. Copán Ruins is famous for its magnificent Mayan ruins, declared by UNESCO as an Archaeological World Heritage Site in 1980. It is also the home of Macaw Mountain Bird Park, a bird rescue, rehabilitation and release center, which has reintroduced scarlet macaws back into the wild of the Copán Valley. Coffee farms, natural hot springs and local markets & cuisine all contribute to making Copán Ruinas a cultural gem in the midst of the beautiful surrounding mountains. While serving in Copán Ruinas, interns will have the chance to visit and learn from some of these local cultural and historical sites, which we believe is an integral part of the personal formation that happens as part of the internship.