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Help us develop our dog shelter at Lake Atitlán, Guatemala!

4.5
(7 reviews)7

The experience

We run a dog shelter in Tzununa, a small town on the lake. We have a new location that needs a lot of development, with jobs including dog walking and feeding, gardening, cooking, building, digging, cleaning, social media... and much more!

Volunteers will have shared dorms with access to a shared kitchen, WIFI, bathroom and hot shower. Some food is provided.

All work is shared - DO NOT apply if you can't work as a team. Message for details!

What you offer

30 hours of help per week

Farming: Plant crops, sow seeds and help in outside tasks.

Painting & Decorating: Help with painting or decorating the property facilities.

Gardening: Help grow plants and cultivate gardens

Building & Repairing: Help with a wide range of repairs or building.

What you get

2 days off per week

Shared Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other travelers.

Tent: You will sleep in a tent at a camping site.

Lunch: You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.

Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.

Basic Internet Access: Basic speed internet for you to work remotely

Requirements

Intermediate English or Intermediate Spanish

Between 18 and 70 years old

Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

Program Details

We operate a non-profit focusing on rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming street dogs around Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. Our mission is to improve the lives of these dogs and we work closely with other individuals and organisations in the area to ensure all our dogs are vaccinated, sterilized and are ready to go to new homes.

Volunteers are an essential part of our operation. If you volunteer with us, you can expect to be part of a team of up to 10 people living amongst the dogs on one of our sites in Tzununa. While there's always plenty to do and some days can be tough, you can work happily in the knowledge that you're improving the lives of our greatest animal companions.

We currently have 6 beds in shared rooms, including 2 double beds (preferably for couples or friends). We also have plenty of camping options on the shelter land (if you can bring your own camping supplies you'll be especially valuable, we only have 1 tent).

Conditions are liveable but rustic. We have running water on all sites, and electricity/WiFi on 2 of our sites. Many of our buildings are open to the air and as Guatemala can get cold at night it is recommended to bring warm clothes/blankets/sleeping bags. We have an indoor toilet and a hot shower.

Volunteers are expected to do their own laundry - either by hand on site or at a laundromat in town.

Food staples are provided for free (rice, beans, flour, oil, coffee, spices). Volunteers have the option to contribute to a food fund to buy vegetables, meat etc which are used to cook communal meals when a competent cook is present - let us know if you like to cook!! Otherwise there are stores in town where you can buy your own supplies.

Activities & Shift

We expect at least 6 hours of dedicated work per day, 5 days per week.

The schedule is flexible and we can work around your preferences (as long as the work gets done). The dogs do not respect our working hours - they need constant care and attention. Some of our permanent staff work around the clock but we don't expect this from everyone. Please communicate clearly your needs so there is no confusion. We are happy to spread your working hours throughout the day, or if you want to work only in the morning/evening, this can be arranged.

An ideal volunteer will use their initiative to complete tasks, often without oversight. The managers here are busy, so organising your own work is an essential part of keeping things running smoothly. This means you have a lot of freedom - if you're a passionate cook, we'll be thrilled to let you focus on the kitchen while the exercise fanatics walk all the dogs!

All volunteers are entitled to 2 days off per week. As the shelter needs to be constantly staffed, please bear in mind it may not be possible for volunteers to take all days off together.

The most important aspect of volunteering here is having a love of animals and wanting to improve their lives. This is not a free holiday - many volunteers in the past have struggled with the noise, cleanliness and workload. If you come here expecting to work hard and make a positive impact in the dogs' lives, you'll thrive and grow as a person and we will love you for it.

There is plenty to do around the lake, such as paddle boarding, cliff jumping, kayaking, volcano hikes, ATV rides etc... Tzununa has plenty of great hiking options, restaurants, pizza takeaway, a dance temple and a mushroom cultivation centre. Plenty to do on days off!

Rules

You must be physically fit and mentally resilient - Tzununa has very steep terrain, you will be walking up and down these hills multiple times per day. The work can be stressful and you must be able to cope.
All volunteers must work hard and contribute to all tasks (yes, even washing dishes and cleaning dog poo) - no exceptions.
Absolutely no violence or sexual harassment - you will be immediately kicked out.
You MUST work as a team - dogs can sense negativity and we will not tolerate childish arguments.
You MUST listen to the permanent staff members and obey the shelter rules.
No stays of under 3 weeks are allowed - we will consider shorter stays for a fee of 50Q per day. Longer stays of a month or more will be prioritised.