Guatemala: Children of the Maya™
Guatemala is the beating heart of the Maya – a 4,000 year old civilization rich with history, art, and culture. Amid breathtaking mountain scenery, learn first hand about how Mayan traditions have evolved over time in response to a combination of globalization, civil wars and subsequent peace accords and how the Maya have fought to preserve their culture.
During this teen community service summer program abroad, you will volunteer with a local school for children from the surrounding farming communities as well as have the opportunity to learn about the local culture and social issues facing the community, and also meet leaders who are working to improve the lives of the local residents.
This is the perfect program for students who are interested in volunteering abroad while learning about traditional Mayan culture.
Highlights
- Volunteer at a Mayan school
- Journey across sacred Lake Atitlan
- Attend a ceremony with a Mayan shaman
- Explore ancient archeological ruins
- Shop at the largest indigenous craft market in the hemisphere
Community Service
You will spend the week volunteering at a local school refurbishing it and working with the Mayan children. The school is unique in that it is run by Mayan teachers and actively promotes indigenous language and culture. On this high school volunteer abroad program for teens, you will help out fixing up the school painting or building the school as well as organizing games with the students. In addition, you can share your talents doing arts and crafts, playing sports and games, and teaching basic conversational English.
Hands-On Learning
Rural Guatemala is the perfect place to learn first-hand about living Mayan culture. Our international teen summer programs abroad for high school students use the world as the classroom – and we learn by doing. We will meet a traditional shaman who will teach us about Mayan cosmology, and also learn about medicinal plants used by the Quiche people of the region. You’ll dive into Guatemala’s rich culture by learning how to make the colorful indigenous textiles, how to play the local music and even soak up art by indigenous painters. You will meet with grassroots leaders to learn about the challenges the Mayan community faces to preserve their heritage in the face of globalization.
Adventure
Xela is located near many important cultural treasures such as the famous Mayan ruins at Takalik Abaj. We’ll participate in a traditional ceremony with a Mayan Shaman. We will visit Antigua, a charming colonial town with gorgeous colonial architecture and cobblestone streets, Lake Atitlan, which rests at the foot of three massive conical volcanoes, and Chichicastenango with the largest Mayan craft market in the world. This is more than just a summer teen travel program – it’s the adventure of a lifetime.
Lodging
The GLA Home Base is a lodge on the outskirts of Xela surrounded by beautiful mountains and fields offering a peaceful escape for students. Students live in gender-segregated rooms with two to three bunk beds, depending on the size of the rooms. Two students will share a room; rooms are clean and have a private bathroom and showers with hot and cold water.
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