Volunteer tasks
Volunteering at Hogar Miguel Magone will be high on your list of the most rewarding things you will ever do. The memory of the tightest hug from a little boy who has seen more horror in a few years than we will ever see, makes your heart beat so hard that you never ever want to leave!
I can also be tough and it certainly won't be a holiday! You can arrange with Karen to take days off and visit the beautiful parts of Guatemala, and you will probably need a few breaks because at Hogar Miguel Magone you'll get up at 5.30 in the morning to cook breakfast and it's non-stop from then until 9.30 in the evening!
You won't need an alarm clock, the kids and senos (teachers) will wake you with their shouting and banging. You'll cook the beans, heat the atol (a sort of runny porridge) whilst directing chores and dishing out the food to the hungry kids.
Once chores are done (each child has his/her own job from cleaning the showers to washing up), you'll take the six and seven-year-olds up the hill to school - and it's a big hill, so you'll need good shoes. You could also end up accompanying the older children to Satellite where they study.
The rest of the morning you'll occupy the remaining children (too young for school) with games, teaching and maybe drawing help prepare lunch, clean and support the hardworking staff in their work.
The cook arrives at about 10.00 am and she prepares lunch, making sure there is enough food to be warmed up for supper. Lunch is the main meal of the day in Guatemala and usually consists of beans, rice, sometimes meat (their favourite being chicken feet!) and eggs.
You'll pick the younger kids up from school at various times ranging from 11.30 to 1.00, so it's up and down the hill another couple of times before the older children arrive home for their lunch.
Once all the kids are back you help with homework, learning games and English classes (something most volunteers are a great resource for!).
It will probably be your job to heat up and serve supper at 6 pm, and then when all the chores and homeworks are done it's relaxation time where the children will either watch a film or listen to their music.
Every day is different and you will be asked to do different things on different days.
You may also accompany boys to the dentist, help with fundraising and tidy dormitories - there is never a dull moment and you won't ever have be lost for something to do!
