"Once anyone allows themselves to let go of the walls they have created, and allow their true heart to be exposed, the joy and the growth both for the giver and the receiver is unequal to anything else. While in Guatemala, I was able to experience honest love between me and the people I was serving. Never have I been apart of something so pure and beautiful. I thank HELP International for the opportunity to change my life, and in the process, bless others. I shall never forget the lessons learned and the experiences had while in Guatemala."

 

- Kate Hubrich, Guatemala 2007

"From my experience, I gained an understanding of my responsibility to serve because I can, because I have been blessed to have the resources to turn away from my and my family's immediate needs and look  outward. I never expected to gain such a pressing understanding of my need to serve. I never expected to meet people who were so much "better" than I am, who had so much to teach me of compassion, of self sacrifice and of hope. I feel that I was literally healed by the people of El Salvador as they changed my perspective and expectations."

 

-Natalie Brown, El Salvador 2007
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Hogar Del Nino

What is the Hogar Del Niño Project?

 

The Hogar del Niño Project is a program of HELP International specifically focused on sending volunteers to work in the Hogar del Niño orphanage for persons with disabilities in El Salvador.

 

For more information:

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Check out the Hogar del Nino Blog

Chick here for an application

 

The Hogar del Nino Orphanage in El Salvador was founded in 1986 by a Catholic priest named Padre Vito Guarato. It currently serves as a home for 138 persons with physical and mental disabilities. Residents of Hogar come as babies or young children and stay there for the rest of their lives. Unlike many orphanages in Central and South America, the Hogar is a safe, clean, and loving environment for the residents. However, the orphanage caregivers have their hands so full caring for the physical needs of the resdidents that they cannot plan activities or spend time with individual children. Many of the residents spend all day every day sitting in their wheelchairs.

 

In 2006, HELP International started a program focused on sending volunteers to live and serve in this orphanage. Volunteers live in the orphanage and focus on improving the quality of life for the children by planning stimulating, educational, and exciting activities: art projects, leisure education, academic classes, outings, and communication development.

 

 

What are the goals of the Hogar del Niño Project?

 

« To provide love, education, and stimulating activities for the residents of the orphanage.

 

« To facilitate continuing projects in literacy, education, and daily living to benefit the lives of a focused group of the residents long-term.

 

 

What is required of the volunteers participating in the Hogar del Niño Project?

 

« Two volunteers will live and work in the orphanage for a three month shift. (Mid January through mid April; mid May through mid August; or mid September through mid December.)

 

« The two volunteers will be living in close quarters, and therefore need to be a married couple or of the same sex. The volunteers need to be prepared to work and live very closely for three months.

 

« Volunteers are expected to plan daily activities and classes for the orphanage residents.

 

« Volunteers are expected to begin and contribute to focused projects that will benefit the lives of the orphanage residents long-term. Projects can vary according to volunteers' expertise, but ideas include teaching the residents to read, teaching the non-verbal residents to use assistive communication devices, offering recreational therapy activities, teaching the orphanage teachers educational theory and techniques, etc.

 

« Volunteers are expected to contribute 40 hours a week to improving the lives of the orphanage residents.

 

« At least one member of the volunteer team must be fluent or nearly fluent in Spanish.

 

 

What are the costs associated with participating in the Hogar del Niño project?

 

The Hogar del Niño project is an affordable option for students and young married couples because generous donors in the community have contributed scholarship money to fund the volunteers' plane tickets and a portion of their program fees.

 

Each volunteer pays $1,750, which includes housing, program fees, and airfare. The cost of food, entertainment, and weekend travel is the financial responsibility of the volunteers.

 

If volunteers fulfill their responsibilities in El Salvador, when they return to the United States they will be refunded $250 per person.

 

Many volunteers choose to fundraise their program fees.

 

 

What would I gain from participating in the Hogar del Niño project?

 

 

« Hands-on experience in your field of study. (Many university majors are even willing to offer

internship credit for your volunteer work abroad, and this type of international experience is

invaluable on applications for jobs, graduate school, medical school, or dental school.)

 

« An incredible opportunity to experience another culture, improve your Spanish, and see the world. (A week of travel is allowed in addition to your weekends.)

 

« Life-changing experiences learning from persons with disabilities.

 

« The chance to play rowdy games of UNO with Xiomara, to teach Geovany to use pictures to speak to those around him, to color with Matias, to blow bubbles with Inecita, to teach Maritza how to read, and to enjoy every day serving children who really need and love you.

 

 

 

Click here for an application
 
"Changing the world is easy. All you need is passion, blood, sweat and tears!"
-Warner Woodworth, Co-Founder and Board Chairman of HELP International

_______

HELP International

 

363 N. University Ave. #110

Provo, UT 84601

 

mike@help-international.org

 

(801) 374-0556

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