Volunteer Abroad in San Jose Villanueva, El Salvador

Location: El Salvador: Rural Areas

Program Duration: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks

Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks

Dates: year-round

Epilogos Charities

P.O. Box 22 Nashua, New Hampshire 03061 United States

Description

You may volunteer in El Salvador with Epilogos as an individual or as a group of two or more. The Epilogos volunteer site can accommodate up to 12 people; groups of more than 12 can be accommodated at a nearby retreat center. In addition, you may join a group led by Epilogos board members who organize a trip several times each year. All trips must be planned when either Mike or Susie Jenkins is present in the village, unless you're working with other authorized agencies in San Jose Villanueva. We make every effort to meet your scheduling needs. Individual and group applications are available. Volunteer projects may include construction projects, clean water projects, medical assistance, classroom participation and take place rain or shine. Please indicate any special skills on your application such as medical/dentistry training, teaching, and engineering.

We have, with the help of volunteers, initiated or played a collaborative role in the following projects:

* 140 plus houses
* 603 plus scholarships
* 14 rural health brigade missions & hospice support
* 27 solar systems for houses, schools, community centers, restaurants
* 200 hundred plus water purification systems
* 140 plus environmentally friendly wood stoves
* micro-financing systems for small businesses
* 3 new and 10 repaired classrooms (practical science labs, computer classrooms, healthy kitchens, etc.)
* a shrimp & tilapia farm
* 3 skills training programs
* 2 basic literacy programs for youth and adults

Highlights

Mike and Susie Jenkins have lived in San Jose Villanueva, La Libertad, since 2002. They will be your guides for your volunteer experience with Epilogos. You'll eat with Mike and Susie, meet their neighbors, and work alongside villagers on projects to improve the community. In the process, you'll make new friends and receive gifts beyond your imagination. Cultural trips are available and visits and volunteer opportunities in the capital of San Salvador are encouraged. Volunteers have visited cultural landmarks as well as Divina Providencia to assist nuns at the hospice center providing palliative care to patients of all ages.

Qualifications

* You must be at least 18 years of age to volunteer as an individual.
* In addition to completing an application, you will be interviewed by in-country volunteers or their representative.
* Some ability to speak Spanish is desired, but not a must.
* Those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian throughout the trip.

Type of Programs
  • Community Service / Volunteerism

Languages
  • English
  • Spanish

Cost in US$:

USD 270.00 plus USD 500 fundraising minimum

Cost Include Description:

* Plane Fare: You are responsible for making your own plane reservations and paying the roundtrip fare to San Salvador, El Salvador.

* Meals and Shelter (Payment in Advance): USD 270 per week (5-7 days) or USD 40 per day for additional days. This covers your lodging at the volunteer house or a nearby retreat center in San Jose Villanueva, three meals daily at the Jenkins' apartment (meals eaten out not included), and water. Transportation to and from the airport, plus 2 group excursions, is USD 50 per week. If you're not staying at the volunteer house, but eating and meeting at the Jenkins house, the cost is USD 4 per meal plus USD 1 per day for use of the facility. At least two weeks prior to your scheduled departure time, send checks to Epilogos, P.O. Box 22, Nashua, NH 03061. If you are part of a group, please send either one check for the group or send all the individual checks together.

* Sightseeing and cultural trips in El Salvador: USD 30 suggested for various tips (cash only), which includes a suggested tip for the house administrator at the rate of USD 10 per week.

* Airport fees: USD 10 tourism visa fee on arrival at the San Salvador airport (cash only); and $29 exit fee when flying out of the San Salvador airport (cash only).

* Extra transportation: For transportation beyond airport transfers and to project sites, or if you are not paying the weekly fee of USD 270 (includes a USD 50 transportation allowance), the cost of transportation in El Salvador is USD 0.485 per mile per vehicle.

* Donation for project(s): Epilogos requires that you raise USD 500 in your community to help sustain future Epilogos projects and to spread awareness of the many needs of the people of El Salvador. Contact us for suggestions on how you can raise funds.

Credit Available

no

Volunteer Types
  • Academic Reinforcement
  • Adult Education
  • Agriculture
  • Appropriate Technology
  • Building Maintenance
  • Building/construction Projects
  • Childcare/children
  • Community Development
  • Community Health
  • Computer Training
  • Consciousness-raising
  • Economic Development
  • Education
  • English Teaching
  • Food
  • Grassroots Organization
  • Health
  • Health Care
  • Health Education
  • Hospital
  • Housing
  • Income-generation
  • Infrastructure Planning
  • Literacy
  • Medicine
  • Micro-enterprise
  • Nutrition
  • Organizational Development
  • Professional Services
  • Public Education
  • Relief
  • Renovation
  • Repairs
  • Sanitation
  • Solar & Hydro Projects
  • Strategic Planning
  • Teaching
  • Volunteering
  • Youth Development
Typical Volunteer
Volunteers to the Epilogos program have come from all walks of life and in all age groups to work alongside residents of San Jose Villanueva for the betterment of the community. Epilogos has hosted families with children as young as 14, retired dentists working in the dental clinic, and teachers who trained educators in a local school on lab science instruction. All interest and skill-levels are welcome!
Age Range
14+
This Program is open to

Worldwide Participant. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements
  • Dormitory
  • Group living
  • Guest House

Participants Travel to El Salvador

Independently

Application Process Involves
  • Phone/Video Interview
  • Written Application
Typically The Application Process Time is
two weeks
Post Services Include
  • Alumni Network
  • Exit Debriefing Abroad
Epilogos Charities's Mission Statement

To improve the lives of the people of San Jose Villanueva, El Salvador. Epilogos enables the disadvantaged to improve their own lives through projects that increase educational and economic opportunities. At the core of the Epilogos philosophy is a commitment to facilitating community-development rather than a dependency on donations. Community development projects require a 30% financial participation on the part of the recipients.

Year Founded

2001

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