Volunteering is a great way to step off the gringo trail, really get to really know the places you visit, and contribute a bit more than your tourist dollar.
Xela and the surrounding area offer countless ways to get involved, whether your interests lie with education, kids, addiction recovery, farming, micro-business, hiking... the list goes on and on.
HOW TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES:
The opportunities posted on message boards at hostels and restaurants are only a small sampling of ways to volunteer. For more extensive information, pick up Entremundos, a free newsletter available at many hostels, language schools, and bookstores. EntreMundos is a networking organization started by volunteers who wanted to maximize the potential of Xela's volunteers by helping people and organizations find one another. The newsletter includes English and Spanish articles on local culture and politics as well as a classified section packed full of volunteer opportunities. EntreMundos also has a website - www.entremundos.org - with updated information. You can also stop by the office at 6a Calle 7-31 and talk to Julie, who speaks both English and Spanish. She knows a lot about available opportunities and can help get you started. Hours are a bit erratic.
A couple of good opportunities:
Quetzaltrekkers is an adventure tour company run entirely by volunteers. Proceeds fund a school and boarding house for at-risk children who would not otherwise be able to get an education. If you have three months to spare, some Spanish skills, and a desire to get out and dirty, stop by Casa Argentina and ask the kids at Quetzaltrekkers about volunteer opportunities. Volunteers organize and lead hikes, take care of promotions and fund raising, and get involved with the kids at the Quetzaltrekkers-funded school too.
Finca Nueva Lianza is about an hour away from Xela and an excellent option for anyone with an interest in agriculture or fair trade. The 40 families that grow coffee and macadamia nuts here have worked the land for generations. Following plummetting coffee prices in 1998, the owner of the land stopped paying, but the people kept working. After a long struggle, the workers have finally gained legal control of the land and are starting a small eco-tourism project. Since the owner stopped providing chemicals along with wages, Nueva Lianze is organic by default and are looking into certification options. Quetzaltrekkers and many language schools can take you there for a day or two, but if you want to help out, you can stay at the hotel for a week or more. For a small contribution (125Q or about 17 USD per week), you get housing, hot water, food, a great experience, and the knowledge that you are contributing to a great project and helping people make a living sustainably. For information, stop by Quetzaltrekkers and see if Mike is around.