Volunteer in Guatemala this summer with Color My World,
Guatemala blends the untouched cultural beauty of Central America, the historic cities and sites, and the opportunity to learn and work with the people of the country all together to create a memorable, life changing experience.
While there, you will be staying in the orphanage that we will be working with, spending the day doing activities like working in the health clinic, helping on the farm, and teaching in the schools. In the downtime you will have the opportunity to play games with the children, practice your Spanish, and admire the beauty of the Guatemala highlands.
Guatemala is for the volunteer who wants to connect first hand with the people that they will be working with, and wants to spend their time completely immersed in the culture and community of the country!
Please do not book your flights until we have sent out the email that the trip is progressing.
Color My World will not be responsible for air bookings in any situation.
Guatemala 2018 Tentative Itinerary
* subject to change
This is a sample of what your week might look like-
Arrive in Guatemala and transfer to the highlands where you will work with orphans and at-risk children in and around the Lake Atitlan, Guatemala area.
We will spend time feeding moms and children who will gather for a weekly meal.
Various educational, recreational, and health projects are ongoing to support these children. Volunteers work to help keep children off the street and to help provide them with a happy and productive childhood.
Getting an education can be a challenge for any child in Guatemala, especially the Mayan Indians in the Highlands. One out of only eight girls get through the sixth grade. But it has become a necessity for these poor communities, as many parents cannot read or write or or even speak Spanish…they have to rely on their children. You will have the opportunities to work in local schools helping with the children.
Part of the week you may volunteer at the community medical clinic.
Depending on individual skills and interests, volunteers act as mentors, help children with their homework, organize sports and arts and crafts, and teach English. However, your care and support are the most important thing for these children.
You will also get a chance to get down and dirty as you help with the community gardens.
Spend the afternoon on the amazing Lake Aititlan!
We will take a boat ride on the famous Lake Atitlán. This Lake is the deepest lake in Central America and has been call "the most beautiful lake in the world” according to some explores. You will be able experience the natural beauty of the Volcano and mountains that surround this lake.
After the boat ride on Lake Atitlán we will take time to explore the town and do some shopping where you can buy many tradition Guatemalan souvenirs.
Volunteers will be staying in dorm rooms on property at the orphanage where we will be working.
At night we will have activities like game night, dance lessons, movie nights, and learning how to make homemade tortillas. 
On our way pack to Guatemala City we will make a stop in the colorful city of Antigua.
Formally known as the capital of Guatemala until it was destroyed by earthquakes in 1773.
This stop will also be another place to buy your gifts and souvenirs.
We will spend time walking around this cultured and colorful city.
Day 7 depart Guatemala or stay for our 1 day extension to TIKAL!
Stay an extra night and enjoy the beauty of the Mayan Civilization.
Take an early morning flight to to Flores to visit the Tikal National Park with an English Guide.
This all day adventure will dazzle you with history and culture never seen before.
Get lost in the jungles of Guatemala while learning about ancient ceremonies and cities.
Hotel, roundtrip air, admission and guide is included in the extension price.
Come to Guatemala and discover how you can make a difference.
About the Volunteer Program Director: A mother of four children, ages 12-222, Angela Hughes has been in the travel business both as a travel agency owner of Trips Inc. for over 30 years and as a former adjunct professor at both Brigham Young University in the Geography/Travel &Tourism Department and The New Hampshire Community College system teaching Travel &Tourism.
Hughes plans and escorts groups around the world and specializes in Europe, Asia and 3rd world Humanitarian Trips.
A humanitarian, Angela Hughes is the director and co-founder of her family foundation, Color My World (501c3) and personally arranges and escorts each group that travels with the foundation. She is engaged with each project from start to finish."
Angela's expertise include a masters degree in geography and hobbies include the humanities, photography and the Renaissance. She has taught her children on location throughout the world bringing to life art, history and science through travel education.
Brandon Leyva will serve as the volunteer c0-program director for all sessions in 2017.
Hillary Hughes will serve as volunteer co-program director for all of our 2017 sessions. Hillary is a co-founder of Color My World and is an international development student at Brigham Young University.
She can often seen behind the scenes creating our social media, creating our programs and coordinating our programs in many countries.
Morgan Lowe
Required Forms & Links
1. Download CMW ADULT Participants PDF Adult Agreement Form adults-cmw-agreements-participants-2017
2. Download CMW YOUTH Participants PDF Youth Agreement Form youth-cmw-participants-2017-1
3. Apply for a passport or make sure your passport is current
4. Register with Smart Traveler Enrollment Program
5. Download Fundraising Guidelines
6. Health & Vaccination Info from the Center for Disease Control & Prevention
7. Download Packing List - (Packing list will not be available until notified)
8. Buy required Travel Insurance from the link below
Application Process
Click on the tab apply for the program you are interested in. You will fill out the application and make the deposit through paypal.
April 1, 2018
You do not have to be a student to be a Color My World volunteer. In fact, Color My World welcomes all volunteers no matter their educational backgrounds. We encourage all volunteers to travel and share this experience with their families. Anyone can volunteer as long as they are over the age of 16 by the departure date and are prepared to serve with an open mind! If you are under the age of 16, you must travel with a responsible adult party or be approved by Color My World. We have accepted mature 14 and 15 years old without adult supervision but you must be prepared to fly and the airline you select must allow it.
Definitely! Color My World welcomes all eager volunteers. Just make sure to provide the Color My World office with your friends’ names and emails. You can invite your friends or email us names of people that you would like to recommend to volunteer with us at hillary@colormyworldkids.org
All ages are welcome on our program. Every age group can fit into this program.
Color My World requires all volunteers to be 16 years old by their departure date. We welcome everyone over the age of 16 years to apply (with a parent or guardians signature). Youth under the age of 16 are welcome when accompanied by an adult or approved by Color My World’s director, Angela Hughes. If you are under the age of 16, you must travel with a responsible adult party or be approved by Color My World. We have accepted mature 14 and 15 years old without adult supervision but you must be prepared to fly and the airline you select must allow it.
Absolutely! You will receive a packet to complete once you are accepted into the program.
Being a volunteer overseas is not a thrifty endeavor, and oftentimes to cultivate real growth and development, more than just time and effort are needed. A proportion of the money paid will also be donated towards sustainable projects carried out in the areas that you will be volunteering in.
Yes! Hygiene kits, school supplies, dental kits, newborn kits etc. are always needed in the countries that we travel to. Please visit our home page and click on create a kit to see some examples. Computers and iPads are always needed but some countries have restrictions on what can be brought into the country.
Important Notes
Yes, we will refund the deposit.
Volunteers can withdraw their applications or agreements by notifying Color My World via email to angela@colormyworldkids.org
Flights to Nicaragua are not covered in the cost of the program. The 1st meeting spot will be at the Miami Airport on American Airlines. The time and flight will be announced. In 2015, we had a second group meeting point in Houston on United Airlines that flew together.
Of course, you are free to book any flights that work with your schedule but we will have a meeting site in Miami for the majority of the participants who want to travel together.
We fly into the Managua Airport in Nicaragua (MGA).
If you are unable to meet the group in Miami, we will help set up the round-trip transportation to the Beach Lodge.
Consider using frequent flyer miles if you have them. We want to make this as affordable as possible.
Our village is 3 hours away from the airport and participants need to check in at least 2 hours prior to their flight. We don’t recommend participants traveling throughout the nights or transferring in the country during the night. Return flights must be booked after 12 pm on day of departure.
Please do not book your air until the trip is finalized. We will send you an email letting you know when the trip is “a go” and you can begin to shop for air. Color My World is not responsible for air travel–under any condition.
Most return flights do not arrive back into the United States in time to connect to many flights.
Color My World is not responsible for the cost of a hotel in Miami. Color My World will provide a block of rooms to book at normal industry hotel rate for participants who are overnighting. For example: Double-quad occupancy rooms start at approximately $155.00 per night with airport shuttle. We can group same sex participants together by age to form a quad to reduce the price. In the past, we have used the Miami Marriott Airport hotel in the past.
Absolutely not! There is plenty of time to enjoy the beach, ocean and the laid back feeling of Central America. This is a great combination of WORK HARD & PLAY HARD.
Yes. You can learn more about a passport here
Passports must be valid for 6 months after departure.
No, there are no visa requirements for entering Nicaragua for U.S. citizens. If you are not a U.S. citizen, then please inquire with the consulate.
Currently there are no immunizations or vaccinations required for entry/travel. This information is subject to change, so please consult with your physician at least two months prior to your departure. Please consult with the Center for Disease Control.
Yes. We require medical, air and evacuation insurance for every participant in the program.
We will send you more information to purchase travel insurance based on your individual needs. Most personal medical insurances are not valid outside of the United States.
Currently there are no immunizations or vaccinations required for entry/travel. This information is subject to change, so please consult with your physician at least two months prior to your departure. Please consult with the Center for Disease Control.
You do not need to know the language to volunteer with Color My World. The Color My World Team Leaders will assist you to communicate with the locals. Also, our local guides speak English. You will probably pick up some of the Spanish language during your trip – children love to teach volunteers new words! Come prepared with some basic Spanish greetings. The Color My World Team Leaders can also teach you a few greetings so you can greet the locals.
Yes! Color My World encourages all volunteers to fundraise to offset the program cost. Upon acceptance to the program and receipt of volunteer deposit, Color My World will provide fundraising information and materials for you to use to raise money to pay for the program.
Color My World suggests that you bring $200 to $300 USD, depending on whether you want to purchase drinks, ice cream, extra horse back riding hours, souvenirs, or gifts. Your accommodation and food are included during the program, but Color My World encourages you to experience purchasing and tasting the delicious local cuisine in the local market.
You will need extra money for food to and from Nicaragua at the airports.
Nicaraguan Visa fee is $10.00 cash paid at the airport upon arrival. Each participant will pay this directly to Nicaraguan customs at the airport.
We will provide you with a packing list closer to your departure date.
Don’t! Laundry can be done for $3.00 for 12 items. Things get dirty there and it is so hot that you will find that you are in a swimsuit and cover-up most of the time at the lodge and light clothing while volunteering. We will send you a packing list. Pack light and use the rest of your suitcase to bring school supplies, medical supplies, small toys for the kids or sports equipment.
Color My World provides a t-shirt that you will wear twice during the week. (Yes- we will wash them in between!)
You do not need any adapters for Nicaragua. They do have electricity in the rooms and the outlets are US.
That is no problem. We can work with most food requests! Just inform us on your application if you are a vegetarian or have any other dietary requirements. We will do our best to accommodate volunteers’ individual needs.
Itinerary
Color My World international volunteer programs are 7 days for the Nicaragua excursion.
Of course! We have access to the Internet so volunteers can email friends and family on one computer provided in the area. When we are in the city of Chinandega there will be wi-fi at the pizza parlor we are eating at with free access. Remember this is the 3rd world…..the net will be slower than at home. International phone service is each individual participant’s choice.
There will be approximately 15-25 volunteers on each international volunteer program. Color My World maintains a manageable group size to ensure you have a unique, personalized experience.
Yes, you will have roommates in same sex rooms so be prepared to share. Rooms for couples and families are organized upon request. If you and a friend are on the same program, we will do our best to put you in the same room, please indicate that you are traveling together. Shared same-sex bathrooms are the norm throughout the lodge we will be staying at.
Each bed includes a mosquito net to sleep under. Bring your own pillow if you wish. Light blankets and sheets are provided.
You can shower daily (we encourage it!) The water is not heated and short showers are requested.
Bring a beach towel and a washcloth.
In any beach location there are sand bugs and insects. Make sure to rinse off after being in the sand and ocean, especially at night to avoid discomfort.
CMW team leaders are prepared for emergencies, and assistance is always nearby. In addition, we work with the local fire department and members of the local fire department are on site. There are also hospitals nearby if needed.
Bring your guitar, ukulele, lap harp–you name it. Sharing music is a wonderful gift.
We try to incorporate into the experience your unique skills. If you have a mini-class you could teach let us know.
The turtles only come out at certain periods later in the summer. Our August 2013 group was lucky to work on a conservation program when the turtles came a shore. Spring dates do not have this benefit. This is a “hit and miss” seasonal opportunity based on the turtle and weather behavior.
Local Information
Yes. Our programs are in rural villages, and locals welcome volunteers! Moreover, you will be with Color My World Team Leaders during the program. It is important to be well informed when traveling and our Color My World Team Leaders are very well informed about both traveling and safety in the country.
Color My World provides all transportation while in the country, including vans, boats, and air travel if applicable. Remember this is a third-world country and the ride is often not luxurious.
We do not recommend drinking the local water. The lodge in Nicaragua supplies unlimited fresh/clean water for all participants 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We recommend you bring a water-bottle to refill throughout the trip.
The temperature varies between 72 degrees Fahrenheit at night and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. Nicaragua has a tropical climate that includes both dry and rainy seasons. The dry season is from January to June and, as it sounds, the climate is extremely dry. The rainy season is from June to September. In the rainy season, volunteers can expect tropical downpours for short periods of time (Usually 1 hour per day) but overall weather patterns are pleasant.
In 2013, we only had 1 day of rain that caused a power outage.
In 2014, we didn't have any rain.
In 2015, we had 2 days of light rain on our trip.
The national currency in Nicaragua is the córdoba. However, U.S. dollars are widely accepted. Volunteers may either exchange money in the U.S. Volunteers should bring small U.S. bills with them as large bills are difficult to break in rural areas.
Yes, they have normal toilets but you cannot put toilet paper in the toilets. To conserve water they only flush after #2 and after multiple #1’s. Water is a premium!
