Honduras - FAQ

Tell me more about Honduras
Honduras is the second largest country in Central America, spread across amazing mountains and islands. The population of Honduras is over 7 million people, with more than half living in poverty. The official language is Spanish, and other Amerindian dialects are also spoken. After an election on November 27, 2005, the president of Honduras is Manuel Zalaya with the Partido Liberal de Honduras (Liberal Party of Honduras.)

What kind of volunteer work is available?
Volunteers in Honduras have the opportunity to participate in the following areas: Building, Teaching, Healthcare, Childcare, and Iguana Conservation programs.

Tell me more about the partner organisation?
We work with a local organisation based in Valle de Angeles, just outside of Tegucigalpa. The director of the organisation has been based in Honduras ever since he was inspired to start his own company after volunteering in Honduras in 2003.

What age do you have to be to volunteer in this program?
To be a volunteer on the Honduras program with GVN you need to be 18 years old, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.

When will I know specific details on the placement?
After you pay your deposit, you'll be put in touch with our partner and will be sent the infopack with more details about the program.

Tell me more about flying into Honduras.
Volunteers arriving in Tegucigalpa airport will be greeted by our partner, who will then escort you to Valle de Angeles for 3 nights for your orientation and language lessons.

Can I take part in more than one project?
It is not possible to do more than one project simultaneously as the projects run at the same time of day, but if you are interested in doing a combination of projects, please let your volunteer coordinator know (for example, one month of teaching, then two weeks of building).

What language do I need to know to participate in the program?
Basic Spanish is a requirement for this program, as we have found that this greatly improves the volunteers’ enjoyment of the program.

When do I need to arrive in Honduras?
Arrivals in Honduras should be scheduled for either the first or third Tuesday of every month.

What are the living arrangements when volunteering?
For the Teaching, Childcare, Building and Healthcare projects we provide home stays with families chosen by our partner, who are experienced with hosting volunteers. The homestays are located in La Esperanza. For some projects the sites are located in the countryside, and homestays are a few miles away. We have found that living in a medium size town where you can find bank services, restaurants, internet cafes and other services makes life more enjoyable and also allows the opportunity to meet volunteers from other countries, with whom to travel and visit the rest of the country over weekends. For the Iguana conservation project volunteers are housed at the centres in dormitory style accommodation.

Where will I be located?
For the Teaching, Building, Medical, and Childcare projects volunteers will be located in La Esperanza, Intibuca. Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, the capital city and the second largest city in Honduras, are both three hours away on a bus. For the Iguana Conservation project volunteers are located in the Bay Islands, on Utila. Utila is approximately one hour from La Ceiba.

How do I get to the project?
Volunteers need to arrive in Tegucigalpa airport where they will be greeted by our partner organisation. Volunteers are then taken to Valle de Angeles, where the Spanish lessons will take place for the next 2 days (for those volunteering in 2008 only), before making their way to their chosen project. For volunteers located in La Esperanza, the bus ride is around is 3 and half hours long. For volunteers in La Esperanza you will either walk or take local transportation to get to your placement each day, depending where you are placed. A system of 'rural taxis' (small trucks or pick up trucks) operate in La Esperanza, which costs around US$0.30 cents per ride.For the Iguana Conservation project volunteers will travel by bus to La Ceiba and then take the hour long trip to Utila by boat. For this program volunteers will be housed at their work site.

How many volunteers are there on the site at the same time?
Up to twenty volunteers can be found in La Esperanza any given time. We can't guarantee that you'll be staying with another volunteer, but if you volunteer with a friend or as a couple we will be able to place you together. The conservation projects can cater for 5-10 volunteers at any one time.

Are we able to do any sightseeing?
You will have the chance to do some sightseeing during the weekend and extended weekends can be arranged when needed.

Are there holidays or festivals I should be aware of when traveling?
Being a predominantly Roman Catholic country, Honduras celebrates all Catholic feasts and there are festivities in just about every town to celebrate saint's days. The fair for the Virgen de Suyapa, patron saint of Honduras, is celebrated in Suyapa, southeast of Tegucigalpa, during the first two weeks of February. Carnival at La Ceiba is celebrated during the third week of May with parades, costumes and street music. There are other popular fairs in Copán Ruinas (15 to 20 March), Tela (13 June), Trujillo (24 June), San Pedro Sula (last week in June) and Danlí (last weekend in August). The Feria Centroamericana de Turismo y Artesanía, a Central American international artisans' and tourism fair, is held annually from 6 to 16 December in Tegucigalpa. Another cultural fair is held in Copán Ruinas from 15 to 21 December.

What hours am I expected to take part in the program?
Volunteers should expect to work between 4 and 6 hours per day, depending on their project as well as their own initiative and individual goals for their volunteering period.

What is the course content of the training/orientation session?
The training consists of an orientation session with our partner and an intensive 2 day Spanish course, for those volunteering in 2008. Please note that the Spanish lessons are not offered for those volunteering in January 2009 onwards. The orientation session has been specifically designed to give the new volunteers in-country a full briefing to what to expect whilst here, covering topics and issuing them with information from what is happening in their chosen project to what to do in an emergency. This is then followed by an individual session when the volunteer has the chance to ask any further questions he/she may well have concerning their placement on a one to one level with the partner organisation coordinator. The Spanish lessons consist of 12 hours of lesson over 2 days and take place at a language school. The focus is on survival Spanish and all levels of skills can be catered for. Accommodation and food for are included.

How do I pay my fees?
Your application fee secures your place on the program (remember this is fully refundable if you decide not to take part in the program). Your program fee is payable to Global Volunteer Network 8 weeks prior to the 1st of the month you wish to volunteer. Please note that all charges incurred by the payment of the program fee are at the volunteer's expense, e.g. if a bank transfer incurs a bank fee at the point of origin, that is at the expense of the volunteer. Eighty percent (80%) of your program fee is refundable until one calendar month before the 1st of the month you are due to begin your program.

What clothing is appropriate for the program?
Dress needs to be conservative, and light loose clothing is advisable as it is most comfortable in the heat, and it is best to wear clothes that will cover and protect you from the sun and mosquitoes. For the building and conservation projects you need old clothes as the work is very messy.

Are there any more expenses once I arrive?
You should plans for a weekly budget of around US$50 to cater for all your other expenses like bottled water, lunch, transportation for weekend excursions, personal spending money, and entertainment. This varies from person to person, depending on what you want to do during your spare time. For example, some volunteers have found that $50 per week is not enough to cover all their weekend travel expenses. Please also note that for the Iguana Conservation program food is not provided; volunteers have the use of a kitchen or cafeteria and should budget around $10 per day for meals.

Do I need an entry visa (and how do I obtain this)?
No visas are required to enter the country for more than 84 countries around the globe, but you should contact your nearest Honduras embassy to find out the requirements for your country.

How safe is it to volunteer in Honduras?
Large parts of Honduras remain relatively safe for tourists, especially throughout the rural areas. In the cities however, street crime is a serious and growing concern. Pick pocketing and bag or jewelry snatches are predominantly opportunistic and can be mostly prevented by exercising basic caution. In general, it not considered safe to walk around at night. As in many countries, foreigners are perceived as wealthy in Honduras. Although the people are generally warm and friendly towards foreigners, as well as appreciative of the work done by volunteers, not every individual is the same. We work extremely hard to ensure you are placed in safe environments while volunteering and security policies are in place to achieve this. However, as in any situation at home or abroad, there is no way to erase all potential threats.

Honduras is also prone to natural disasters, such as hurricanes, droughts, floods and landslides. You will be prepared for emergency situations and given other safety advice in your orientation. For further travel advice you may like to visit AllSafeTravels - a provider of travel safety advice for anyone who travels internationally.

Is there any time of year when I can't volunteer?
School holidays are different every year, but as a rule of thumb they run from early November until the first week in February (in 2007 it is February 5th). It is possible to help at private schools during this time, which have different holidays. Volunteers on the teaching program can also be placed in one of the other programs during this time of the year.

What is the climate like in Honduras?
Honduras has a mixed climate - subtropical in the lowlands and temperate in the mountains. The rainy season goes from May until November and the dry season goes from December until May. Rain usually comes in showers from a few minutes to a few hours, but even during the peak of the rainy season the sun comes out and days are clear and the weather enjoyable.

What immunizations/vaccines will I need?
There are no required vaccines for Honduras, but we advise volunteers to get immunized against Typhoid, cholera, Hepatitis A & B, booster doses for tetanus, polio and measles. Volunteers also need to take anti Malarias and protect themselves from mosquito bites - as Malaria and Dengue fever is present.

What resources will be available?
Each project will provide you with the resources you need. However for teaching or childcare, any extra supplies or games, or books would be great as these are very limited on-site.

Can I bring my family/children to this program with me?
Yes, you can bring family/children with you as long as you notify our partner in advance, so that they can provide the right accommodation and facilities for you.

Can groups participate in this program?
Yes, we are able to accommodate groups for this program - please contact us for details.

What is the criterion for volunteers to be accepted into the program?
Each applicant is considered by the information they provide on the application. If further information is required applicants will be emailed to request this. Please refer to the program requirements listed on the program page which outlines the minimum expectations of what is required for volunteering in this specific program. We also look further at your application as to skills and experience specifically related to the program you have applied to. We look at volunteer experiences, travel experience and also your particular interest in the program to make our decision.

Do I have to be from New Zealand to volunteer through the Global Volunteer Network?
No, volunteers come from all around the world.

Can vegetarians be catered for in this program?
Indeed, vegetarians are welcomed and catered for as long as you indicate this on your application form.

Is there an opportunity to take classes such as language or more cultural activities while on the program?
From now until 31st December 2008, as part of the program training volunteers will complete a 2 day survival Spanish course before they begin volunteering. The course will consist of 12 hours of lessons over 2 days and food and accommodation are provided. All levels of Spanish can be catered for. This course is not being offered for those volunteering in January 2009 onwards.

Who organizes my visa for my volunteer placement?
There is no visa required to enter Honduras for over 84 countries around the globe. However, if you do need a visa, you need to arrange that yourself. This information pack has links to Honduran Embassies throughout the world.

Do I need travel insurance?
As with any overseas travelling, insurance is recommended. The Global Volunteer Network has arranged a comprehensive travel insurance package specially designed for volunteering. It includes excellent medical and accident cover as well as a 'loss of deposits' cover which covers all fees paid to GVN, Airlines etc (up to US$8,000). The cost is US$150.00 for the first month and then US$100.00 per month after that. If you would like to learn more just follow this link: http://www.volunteer.org.nz/insurance/.