Volunteer Stories
We do a lot with a little, but with your help, we can do so much more!
Laura Ramos
SPAIN
Honduras Child Alliance was my first longer volunteering experience. I had originally planned to stay 2 months, but I fell in love with the community and realized I had a lot left to learn from its people, that I returned for another 4 months. The way the organization is set up, it truly fosters a great team spirit amongst the volunteers, and an opportunity to really integrate into the community.
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I loved every part of my day - planning with the team, carrying out the activities with the kids, going for a run after classes and being joined by the kids leaving school, ordering fresh watermelon juice at Iris's, a quick soccer game with the Bomberos, baleadas and a stroll on the beach, adult class, and guitar jam sessions with our in-house band.
The activities are set up so that, after some initial training, you can quickly integrate into the day-to-day, yet the management is open to new ideas and really supportive. When I extended my stay, I was able to set up a literacy program and work with some of the kids that we had spotted needed an extra little bit of support. My time in El Porvenir was really rewarding; I look back fondly and often remember amazing times - and whenever I do, temptation strikes and I start looking at flights... I'll be back one day, for sure!
Lukas Weiss
GERMANY
I just finished my two months volunteering experience with HCA in El Porvenir and I must say it was one of my best experiences ever. It is great to see how the kids love coming to classes every single day. HCA does a great job in El Porvenir not only by providing English, Spanish literacy and computing classes, but by giving so much love to these kids through all the volunteers.
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Everything is more organised than you would expect it to be from an organisation powered by volunteers only. And each volunteer I got to know just had a great time and enjoyed working with the kids. Keep up the great work HCA! And if you ever think of volunteering somewhere - I would definitely recommend HCA to anybody! There's no better feeling than kids running towards you with the biggest smiles on their faces looking forward to the next two hours of class with you... Accomodations: Living together with other volunteers in one of the two houses which have everything you need! Communication and organisation: Curriculums, class organisers, organised material that can be used for class u.a. showed how well organised HCA is for the fact that it is volunteer-based. Safety: If you follow all the rules (which are not too bad or strict) there is really not much to worry about. Since the people of El Porvenir are used to the "gringos" (their expression for white people), you feel very at home in this village. Needed and well-utilized: Yes, definitely. HCA always has need of volunteers and more volunteers mean more possible class groups and additional offers such as adult class or teen class. At the same time of course it is up to you how much you give during your time there and the greater you want your impact to be the greater you can make it be!
Eddy Moran
AUSTRALIA
I first volunteered with HCA in 2016 and absolutely fell in love with El Porvenir and Honduras. The town is so friendly and it is perfectly located next to a larger city and also by the beach so it has the best of both worlds. The community in El Porvenir is what makes HCA so special, everyone is so welcoming. HCA works with the community, including employing Honduran managers and a number of local interns.
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Volunteers are from all over the world which means that some of my closest friends are from Spain, Scotland, and America thanks to my time volunteering with HCA. The program works alongside the Honduran school system and classes have a strong emphasis on learning through play. HCA accepts many different types of volunteers, including medical, dental and university workgroups to construction projects. If you're looking for something different from your regular life and off the beaten track in Central America, I can't recommend HCA enough.
Nathan Altman
UNITED STATES - WV
Honduras Child Alliance is a wonderful organization that has it's priorities in check and truly cares about it's volunteers. The two months I spent in El Porvenir at HCA were the most impactful of my life. My experience gave me direction and motivation for the future as well as an apprecition for many things in my daily life. Working as a volunteer gave me an opportunity to get to know some truly inspiring people.
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The children in the community, everyone for that matter, were incredibly warm and willing to share with us, whether it was food, culture, or simply time. It was a unique and fullfilling time, filled with equally unique people. From the top down, I loved my experience.
Tim Flanagan
UNITED STATES - CT
HCA is an incredibly well-organized volunteer organization. The program has a positive and lasting effect on the community of El Porvenir. If you volunteer, or get involved in any way, you will make a difference. Most importantly, the work of HCA puts the needs of the community first.
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This is not voluntourism, but you will have a great time working hard with the other volunteers and, of course, the kids. I spent one month here and hope to return.
Emma Le Guennec
FRANCE
I first volunteered with HCA in 2016 and came back two years later to develop a program. I directly felt welcomed there, by the volunteers and the community. Teaching kids and adults is really inspiring because you can see the impacts on them. So, there are different types of classes: kindergarten in the early morning then during the day, there is the kids’ class (from 6 to 12 years old), and at the end of the day, adult class.
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All of them are really different and it can suit to everyone with different levels of Spanish. Moreover, it is a good opportunity to learn Spanish with the community, and English with volunteers. HCA allows volunteers to develop projects such as mine: develop the “baños program” and helps you to connect with the community. I would definitely go back to build baños and teach English if I can.
Joshua Gateshill
ENGLAND
I had the experience of a lifetime. Firstly I helped with the last few weeks of VAP which was a very fun time. Lots of games and fun with the children. Secondly I taught in PEP. The program was very well thought out and was a pleasure to assist with.
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Although my teaching experience was lacking I was supported well by the Project Co-ordinator and my teaching ability improved greatly.
Lila Sternberg-Sher
UNITED STATES - PA
I spent four months living in El Porvenir on a gap semester between high school and college. The town itself is beautiful, quiet, and safe, the people are very friendly, and the children are absolutely amazing. Teaching PEP classes to the kids each day was a blast and I formed strong relationships with many of the students. In fact, I even ended up planning a trip a year later with a group from my college.
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The goal of the trip was to help a family of two of my students build a bathroom in their backyard that was wheelchair accessible so that their handicapped family member could use it easily. Both times I went to El Porvenir, the volunteers were all fabulous. They welcomed me with open arms and by the end of my time there many of them felt like family. I was also surprised by how much the residents of El Porvenir respect HCA's program. HCA does real good in the community and I'm so thankful that I discovered this program and that it played such a pivotal role in my life.
Domitille Lasido
FRANCE
My experience at HCA is really amazing. I have the opportunity to help children of the community and it is very nice to see their happy smile when they learn something. I am currently organising a curriculum with nutrition and business so we can teach them so new notions. Concerning the safety in Honduras, even if the current political situation is incertain and confusing, we are living in a village near the sea, El Porvenir...
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and I’ve always felt very safe here. It is also wonderful to get to know the people in the communities. We have good relationships with people around the town, as the interns that are working with us. The staff of HCA is also really nice and opened to new ideas, it is wonderful to work with them and I am thankful for this amazing experience!
Yamit Netter-Sweet
UNITED STATES - PA
I volunteered with HCA for four months after graduating high school and I am so grateful that I did. When I arrived in El Porvenir, I was warmly welcomed by a wonderful and enthusiastic group of volunteers from all around the world (Germany, Scotland, Israel, Australia, Spain etc.) The classes were definitely my favorite part of the HCA experience.
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I loved getting to know the kids and both learning from them and teaching them in class every day. Our classes were filled with art, games, music, healthy snacks and laughter, and were just a ton of fun! After leaving HCA I couldn't really stay away and ended up coming back a year later to work on a Baño Project. I miss El Porvenir, the students, and the volunteers all the time and I can't wait to go back!
Laurine Segura
FRANCE
My experience in Honduras is one of the most beautiful things that ever happened to me. Honduras is an incredible country and surprising in many ways. El Porvenir is a small village in the Atlantida region. Our daily lives are filled with laughter and smiles of all kinds. It is a real pleasure to spend our days alongside children. I also had a lot of fun teaching adults in the community...
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sharing and sharing our visions of the world. To fully live this experience I recommend to future volunteers to stay at least 1 month and a half to have full time to get acquainted with culture and children. Once you have learned to know them you will definitely want, as I could do, to extend your stay here.
Eliana Saxe-Smith
UNITED STATES - PA
HCA has a great relationship with El Porvenir. Everyone is so welcoming and friendly in the community. The area is extremely safe. The kids love meeting new volunteers and will jump all over you and ask you questions. Three classroom locations are all easily accessible. You teach English, computers, science, and art. You can also get involved teaching English for adults in the evenings. It is a great place to work on your Spanish.
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I found everyone really patient with me and ready to help fill in the words I was missing. You can also do study buddies where once a week you spend an hour being tutored but a Honduran intern.
It is right on the beach and you can see the beautiful mountains on the other side. There are lots of fun things to do on the weekends visiting the jungle, rivers, beautiful beaches, the city la Cieba.
Tori Montemurro
UNITED STATES - MA
My time with Honduras Child Alliance was the best experience of my college career. I went the summer before my senior year of college as part of an internship and it was incredible. My favorite part about the work we did itself was the fact that every day was different. Some days you would be teaching kindergarten, youth, and adult English classes and other days you would be out in the community handing out flyers...
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about our classes. Or working on constructing a baño for a family in the community. But no matter what you were doing you were always surrounded by the incredible friends you made with other volunteers and community members! Nights were filled with family dinners with volunteers or long conversations with friends in the community, and sometimes even a quick lesson on how to dance bachata or how to make a good tortilla. You really feel like a part of the community with HCA and that makes the whole experience that much more incredible. I loved it so much I’ve decided to return for a year!
Grace Morris
UNITED STATES - NC
I began working with Honduras Child Alliance in February 2019 as the Healthy Snacks Coordinator. In the past five months, I have felt so safe and supported during my time in El Porvenir, and have had the opportunity to get to know people from all over the world and make a difference working with kids. Honduras is a beautiful country with so much to offer, and our community of El Porvenir is extremely safe and supportive of...
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travelers. The town is situated right on the Caribbean and has a great reputation. The locals are friendly and always interested in what we are doing, and the kids are amazing. Our students are so bright and kind, and once you make the choice to make a difference with them, you're changed forever. I have two more months left in lovely El Porvenir, and I intend to spend the rest of my time continuing to immerse myself in this beautiful and safe culture.
Lynda Lawrence
UNITED STATES - NY
I volunteered for Honduras Child Alliance and it was unlike any other experience I have had in Latin America because it was the only one where I felt like a part of the community and not just a visitor. HCA has done an amazing job integrating into the community and has become a foundational part of the lives of the kids in El Porvenir.
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People are welcoming and friendly and as soon as the kids learn your name they will be calling you every time you walk down the street. You can expect a high energy high creativity atmosphere with a bunch of really awesome volunteers to share the experience. My co-volunteers were from all sorts of countries and have developed to be lifelong friends. Being part of HCA was one of the best decisions I've made and leaving was one of the hardest.
Molly Gibbons
UNITED STATES - MT
I arrived in Honduras in February of 2019 to become Honduras Child Alliance's Outreach Manager. I ended up staying for 13 months and I have absolutely loved every single second of my time here. Before coming here I was very nervous about safety in Honduras because being from the United States all you hear is how dangerous Central America is, but there has not been a single time that I have felt unsafe here.
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The community of El Porvenir is so welcoming to all new volunteers, allowing everyone to make real connections and friendships in the community. I have learned so much from spending time with the children of the community about how to be a more compassionate and empathetic human just because of the fact that life here is so drastically different from the life most people live in the United States or any other developed country. This experience truly has changed my life thus far and I could not recommend volunteering with Honduas Child Alliance enough!
Johnny Lindbergh
UNITED STATES - VA
If you are considering volunteering abroad, I highly recommend Honduras Child Alliance. Three months ago, I came on board as a volunteer with a particular passion for computer science education. I immediately fell in love with this organization. This experience has been a perfect blend of professional growth and meaningful connections that I have formed with my students, the community and my fellow volunteers.
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One of the things in which Honduras Child Alliance excels is that there is always room for creativity and freedom to use you skills and talents to help the organization and the community it benefits. This organization embraces diversity and varied perspectives, and it is a place that has a special place in my heart.
Gissela Perez Escobar
CANADA/HONDURAS
Being part of HCA is a highlight of my life. I never thought that this organization, its people, and the kids were gonna change me, teach me life lessons, and fill my heart and life with so much joy and love. I applied to HCA because I was looking for an opportunity to find myself, make choices about my future, and help others. Turns out HCA gave me all of this, from my first to my last day being in the classrooms I was able to see the effort...
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passion, and love the volunteers and the kids put in every class, and that made an impact on me. My experience with Honduras child helped me to create memories with people from all around the world and also people from the community, it created many beautiful memories whether it was about weekend trips, playing board games, planning classes or eating fried chicken. For all of this I am just happy that I got the opportunity to be part of something like HCA!
Carly Hoecherl
UNITED STATES - OHIO
I chose Honduras Child Alliance for so many reasons! First, I had just graduated with my teaching degree and I knew that I wanted to volunteer with an organization whose goal was to better the lives of children. Along with that, I desired a program that really seemed to make an impact and had the true NGO feel to it. I preferred a smaller, close-knit type of organization as opposed to a large one.
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After searching for a few months, I had narrowed it down to three organizations, all involving work with children in impoverished communities. What made me choose HCA was the immediate and welcoming introductory email that I received from Eve, the director of Honduras Child Alliance. After talking with her about the organization, its goals, and my own personal goals, I immediately felt at home with HCA.
El Porvenir, Honduras is such an incredible place! It has natural beauty, with Caribbean beaches on one side of the organization and mountains on the other side! The community is also extremely welcoming. I believe that the relationships that I made during my experience abroad truly made it unique. I formed relationships with the children who attended our projects, the other volunteers, and the community members.
Adam Shepard
UNITED STATES - WV
Working with Honduras Child Alliance was such a touching and important part of my one year trip around the world that I wrote a full essay in my new book about my experience.
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You can read it here: http://oneyearlived.com/excerpt_detail.php?title=Honduras-Child-Alliance&id=70
Eva Sáez
SPAIN
Volunteering for HCA was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. From the first day I felt at home within the community and at the volunteer’s house. It was a short experience but very intense from the beginning. I was fortunate enough to participate within three different programs, and I learnt so much from each of them. The community is extremely welcoming, people from El Porvenir are used to meet volunteers...
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from all over the world and they highly value the work that HCA does for the community. The house where I stayed is beautiful, right in front of the beach. Is big and cosy at the same time, I always felt comfortable living there and the security is ensured.
I was lucky as well to get to know three of the Directors of the Organization. They were all very sweet and hard-workers. It was really inspiring to work with them. They are extremely committed to the work of the Organization and they would do anything to help the volunteers to have a great experience. The work within HCA, as any other volunteer work, requires self-discipline and devotion to have a positive impact in an environment where people do not have many resources. HCA provides a safe space and enriches the community throughout educational activities. Teaching is the main task that volunteers do in El Porvenir, but also other type of activities and responsibilities are assigned to volunteers. I was very happy to be able to help not only with the classes but with a bunch of other projects which main focus is always to have a positive impact on the community.
I totally recommend volunteering for HCA. It is a small organization working within a small community, therefore the impact that they have is quite visible. I would recommend going to El Porvenir with some previous-basic knowledge of Spanish, since it will make the experience much more enjoyable from the beginning, but it is also a very good place to learn and improve the language. It is also very cheap to live there, and the weekends are free to explore the beautiful places that surround El Porvenir!
David Schmengler
GERMANY
My name is David (24), I am German and I spent two months in El Porvenir, Honduras. Before I came to Honduras, I had two main priorities in my head. Firstly, I wanted to work with underprivileged children and be an English teacher in a third world country. And secondly, I wanted to spend some time in a Spanish speaking country in order to improve my language skills.
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In retrospect, I can say that I made the perfect decision and that I can warmly recommend Honduras Child Alliance to everyone who is interested in volunteering in Latin America! HCA feels responsible for your safety and comfort and made my stay and outstanding experience. The organization and communication of my trip was as good as it could be. At every stage of my travel plans I felt comfortable and well-informed, do not hesitate to apply and to contact Honduras Child Alliance! I can only warmly recommend this organization to you! The overall experience in Honduras was absolutely amazing. I worked with kids that were from 6 to 14 years old. From Monday to Friday, I delivered classes in the morning and in the afternoon. But classes are not as strict as they are in Europe. We taught them English with lots of roleplays and games and tried to get the kids involved in our daily activities. Every day that I spent in Honduras was a real pleasure, especially because you build such a strong bond with the kids. You are not just a teacher to them, you become a really good friend and a save harbor!
Lauren Moran
UNITED STATES
I volunteered with HCA last summer for 9 weeks, and I'm back this summer for another 11 weeks. HCA has great accommodations and safety measures, but most importantly, they work with wonderful students. Being in classes and getting to meet these students and other community members is an amazing experience, and they will (both consciously and unconsciously)...
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teach you so much while you are here. HCA is also very willing to let volunteers do special projects during their stay, which has been a huge part of my experience this second time.
Mesa Goebel
UNITED STATES
A little over two weeks ago, I hopped on a plane to San Pedro Sula, not 100% sure what to expect, but excited for an immersive experience in Honduras. Since then, I have met incredible children, collaborated with energetic volunteers, and found a new home in the welcoming community of El Porvenir. The coastal town is full of kind families that partner with HCA in our...
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English classes, community building activities and fundraisers, and healthy living programs. And those connections continue in our free time; just the other day I played basketball and fútbol with several of our adult class students. Volunteers can expect to feel safe and truly become a part of this community during their stay.
Although I will be with the organization for another two months, I feel I have already grown as a person and formed relationships with our students. Speaking in Spanish and facilitating a classroom was intimidating at first, but every day I improve in my language skills and communicate more effectively. In turn, students help me grow more culturally aware and empathetic. The students' enthusiasm is contagious and makes me excited to go to class every day. I am looking forward to the rest of my time here, and I highly recommend this organization to anyone who wants to become a more globally-minded person!
Anna Minke Roodhof
NETHERLANDS
I came to Honduras not really knowing much about the country other than that my government (The Netherlands) recommends people to not go there. When I decided I wanted to check it out for myself anyway, this was the best decision I ever made. HCA is a small organization completely absorbed by the community of El Porvenir and the town is very safe.
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Everyone knows HCA is there, and everyone accepts it as a part of the community. The classes it offers are additional to regular school classes, which are mandatory in Honduras, just to teach the kids a little extra something. It teaches them basic English, but also allows the kids to practice their writing, reading, and computer skills. Other than teaching kids, HCA teaches English to adults as well, it builds baños for families in need of one, and much more! It's a perfect example of a small organization with an enormous impact.
If you're interested in giving something back to the world, volunteering with HCA definitely a great way to do it.
Fae Krakowska
ENGLAND
I’m just 7 weeks in to my role as Program Manager here at Honduras Child Alliance, and I am already seeing the huge benefits of the work that HCA does for the local children and community of El Porvenir. I feel lucky to be a part of such an ambitious and productive endeavour providing a variety of educational programmes to children and adults alike.
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There is a real strong sense of teamwork and commitment within the diverse team and amongst the children, and an overarching sentiment that there are no limits to what we can achieve together! I would certainly recommend Honduras Child Alliance to anyone passionate about supporting local communities, alleviating poverty and experiencing the uniqueness of this wonderful country.
Natasha Steele
ENGLAND
I'm currently volunteering with HCA in El Porvenir and am having a fantastic time! I've been made to feel so welcome in this small town, where everyone seems to know everyone. I feel very at home here and feel very safe walking around the community, especially as we're always greeted by so many excited children, wherever we go! The children’s energy and enthusiasm make classes fun and enjoyable, and I always come away...
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from class smiling. Working with other international volunteers and Honduran interns to plan and run English, Spanish literacy, craft and sport activities has been great fun, and it’s always so rewarding to see the children enjoying an activity that you’ve planned. HCA does a wonderful job of making classes fun and educational for all involved. El Porvenir is a beautiful coastal town and I’m loving living so close to the warm Caribbean Sea. There are also plenty of beautiful places to visit nearby, including the jungle and the Pico Bonito National Park. Overall I’d thoroughly recommend this organisation!
Caroline Fogarty
UNITED STATES - NY
Although my time with Honduras Child Alliance was relatively brief, the weeks I spent in El Porvenir not only made a huge impact on my life, but allowed me to make incredible impacts on the lives of others. This small but powerful organization provides a steady stream of education, fun, and compassion for the families of the small coastal town of Porvenir.
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The community was incredibly welcoming and I found myself being greeted with a wave and a hug from nearly every child I passed on the street whether they were my student or not. The organization has a wonderful connection with the community and constantly takes steps to contribute more whenever possible. I was surprised by the safe and comfortable environment of the volunteer houses, town, and surrounding city in spite of what I had heard about the political and gang environment of Hunduras. The other volunteers that I lived with were from every corner of the globe with varying volunteering experience and by the end of the first week we already began to feel like old friends. I would recommend anyone to HCA because it is an incredible organization that provides life changing experiences for voluteers and makes positive and permanent differences for the children and community of El Porvenir, Honduras.
Sophia Magdalena
GERMANY
The time goes by so fast at HCA, and I just finished my six months volunteering with them in El Porvenir.
I had such a great time working and learning with the kids, along with so many inspiring volunteers from all over the world. El Porvenir became a second home for me and whenever I was away for any amount of time...
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I was so happy to come back and see my friends from town and the happy kids running towards me to give me a big welcome home hug. One of the most amazing things about HCA is that it feels like a family and everyone, including managers and volunteers, are so willing to help you when you need it. I also loved learning more about Honduras than just what the news was saying, as Honduras Child Alliance gives not only the kids a safe place in class and in our programs, they also give their volunteers a safe place to feel at home, at peace, and comfortable in a beautiful beachside community. I am so grateful for my time here in El Porvenir and will miss it dearly.
Homesick in Honduras - A Volunteer's First Week in El Porvenir
By Carly Hoecherl - Honduras Child Alliance Volunteer (USA)
"From this tiny airport in La Ceiba, our taxi driver picks us up and we are off to a supermarket to buy groceries and then head to our house in El Porvenir. The next 5 hours or so are a blur of emotions . . . "
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