When you study at Spanish School Jabel Tinamit there are many exciting volunteering opprotunities that we can arrange for you. We work with four voluntary sector organisations: Mayan Families, Oxlajuj B’atz’, Maya Traditions, and Guatemala Conexions. The information below will give you a good idea about the kinds of volunteer work they have available in Panajachel and the Atitlan region. You will make a final decision about volunteering when you arrive in Panajachel - it is then that you can really see the options and make a final decision on the suitability of the program.

If you are interested, when you book your spanish lessons, please tick yes to "Would you like to Volunteer?". We will then contact you to discuss a suitable placement that will fit with your Spanish lesson schedule. At any time, any of our student who decided they are interested in volunteering option may contact us by email at info@jabeltinamit.com and we will give you extra information about how you can help.

Mayan Families

Mayan Families relies heavily on the time and skills of talented individuals and is always in need of skilled people with a desire to work with a hands-on organization. Available volunteer opportunities in Panajachel:

Translate between English and Spanish (documents and the website)
Web Work (updates, postings, uploading photos, blogging,etc).
General Volunteer
Information Technology Volunteer
School Sponsorship/Education Program Volunteer
Family Aid Program Volunteer
Volunteer Photographer
Volunteer Videographer
Medical Volunteer

For more information about Mayan Families please visit their website -


Oxlajuj B’atz’

Oxlajuj B’atz’ is well positioned to host volunteers, interns and fellows for various periods of time. Their Volunteer, Intern & Fellowship Programs seek to provide targeted assistance to strengthen the organization or support community programs, and allow the volunteer/fellow to experience, learn and grow from their time spent in-country and with our groups. Available volunteer positions include:

Translation Volunteer
Fantastic opportunity to help Guatemalan women from your home! Work in-country or remotely to assist with translation (English-Spanish/Spanish-English) of various documents and media when asked.
Health Resource Guide Volunteer
Complete a comprehensive Health Resource Guide for use in the Women’s Center and in geographically-specific communities, in an effort to increase health care for members and families of the community.
Store Systems Volunteer
Work with the Production and Store Manager to implement a new, efficient store management system.
Design Volunteer
Work with groups of Mayan women artisans to develop new designs and design techniques in order to diversify their product offerings.
Marketing and Tourism Volunteer
Be part of an exciting new initiative to grow the organization’s sustainable tourism project, associated with our Maya Women’s Center & Fair Trade Store.

For more information about Oxlajuj B’atz’ please visit their website -


Maya Traditions

Maya Traditions is looking for self motivated, open minded, creative and committed volunteers. The establishment of the Guatemalan foundation Tradiciones Mayas was initiated as a means in which to create a sustainable structure for the artisan groups with whom they work. Currently the business arm of Maya Traditions helps support projects such as the Herbal Medicine Garden and workshops and the Scholarship program which began in 1997. Depending on your personal skills and specific interests it may be possible to design your own volunteer placement, however if you do not already have a specific project or area in mind the following areas may be considered:

Monitoring and Evaluation Internship
Marketing Internship
Teach English as a Second Language
Work in our Medicinal Garden
Grant Writing and Research
Website Maintenance and Design

For more information about Maya Traditions please visit their website -


Guatemala Conexions partnering with Spanish School Jabel Tinamit

On Saturdays, you are welcome to participate in the Learning Centers in Rural Areas created by us at Spanish School Jabel Tinamit in partnership with Guatemala Conexions in the rural areas around Panajachel. You can volunteer by teaching some basic English, playing with kids, and helping the local tutors. We are absolutely sure you would have a very inspiring experience.

Access to books is in general the first big barrier among many Guatemalan children. It is even more difficult for students in the rural areas to have access to books and reading. Rural areas in Guatemala are most disadvantaged in education. Being illiterate, adults often subjected to discrimination, oppression, and to live in a world where they are ignorance of their rights. Most of the indigenous population in the rural area are illiterate because Guatemala is too poor to afford better state provided education.

Most of the rural schools lack books and technology, and even an infrastructure for smooth operation. Because of this children grow up in a very small world with little knowledge about their rights and obligations, it limits their academic training and thus stunts their human potential development.

Due to all these barriers, Spanish School Jabel Tinamit promotes the establishment of a learning center program in the rural area of Sololá, in the Atitlan region. This is not only to establish a library with books and computers but also we have created a reading program named "Knowing a Larger World." This program encourages the habit of reading in children, adolescents and potentially an adult literacy program. We believe that a population of readers is a population prepared to confront challenges: to open a book is to open a window to a big world.

Target population - Children 3 to 15 years old in rural areas of Sololá

How it works - The day available for the reading program is on Saturday; we are looking for someone who can sponsor a girl working for half a day, every day, to work for the library. At the moment three groups of children are organized according to their age and each group has two tutors. These tutors are volunteers. They are young people with the spirit of helping and collaborating. The children get a nutritional snack at the end of the class reading. Since all beginnings are difficult, it is necessary to motivate them by giving them a small prize after reading 5 books and passing a reading evaluation. This prize has to be something of value for everyone - we want to give a prize of a plant, any plant, but preferably a fruit plant so it can have ongoing meaning for his or her life, to to help their family too.

To carry out this program we need your generous donation which you can do by PayPal or a personal check. Also, you can help by donating needed items:

Volunteer teacher
Books for children any age in Spanish
Note books
Pencils
Pens
Games like puzzles, dominoes, etc.
Toothpaste and toothbrush (we promote hygiene)
Crayons
Any other material to create handicrafts
Sweaters or jackets, and any kind of shoes
Computers are welcome to create computers labs as the children need to develop these skills.

It has been verified by this program that a child who reads can share what they learn with their parents who are illiterate and thus help cultivate critical thinking and empowerment. This is aimed at training future leaders and therefore an egalitarian society.

Impact of this program

Better educated children in literature.
Children and young people better prepared for the urban area and various challenges of life.
Better use of time
Children and young people with diverse skills and abilities
Children and youth with critical thinking skills
Better school grades
Children and young people with a larger vision
Children and youth with a spirit of cooperation and solidarity

For more information about Guatemala Conexions please visit their website -