Be a part of Constru Casa!

Volunteering at Constru Casa offers a unique cultural experience. Our volunteers will share intensive work time with the local masons, and have the opportunity to share the lives of an underprivileged Guatemalan family, all the while contributing to improve their lives through the building of a new house. You can also enjoy living in one of the most beautiful cities in Guatemala--Antigua! Why not take tours during your days off, hike up a volcano or visit Mayan ruins?

Constru Casa houses are built by paid local building workers and their assistants. The beneficiary family also helps build with usually at least one member of the family. Construction volunteers and the family member work with and under the direction of the masons. For volunteers, the works consists of digging foundations, carrying materials including concrete block, sand and rocks, mixing concrete, generally helping the masons in their tasks and an impromptu football game here and there.

It takes approximately two weeks to build a complete house. We encourage volunteers to work for two weeks in order to see the construction of a house from the ground up. The work sites vary considerably, depending on rural or community settings and the general context of the family. Generally, construction volunteers are placed in the Antigua area.

We want to ensure that our volunteers enjoy a safe, enriching, and fun experience in Guatemala. Constru Casa staff will help volunteers arrange accommodation (hotel, hostel or home stay), transportation and a Spanish school, if needed. Constru Casa will also provide a complete orientation to the project, the construction work and full assistance during your stay.

Construction Volunteers are asked to fundraise for the Constru Casa house that they help building before or after their volunteering experience in Guatemala. While the suggested about is $350 US for each volunteer, groups may be asked to fundraise more. We suggest that they organize a fundraising event or find sponsors through family, friends or other resources. We will provide them with all the information and promotional materials necessary to carry out such an event. These fundraisers are a crucial part of Constru Casa's success and we rely heavily on the spirit and activism of our volunteers.

Group / Service Trips
Constru Casa provides tailor-made tour packages for companies or student groups who would like to visit Guatemala and volunteer with Constru Casa.
We have the experience to arrange a tour for you that perfectly fits your needs and preferences. We have the local contacts to provide you with authentic culture, unique insights and an unforgettable experience in Guatemala.

You will be able to:
• Be part of Constru Casa and build a home for a family together with skilled local masons.
• Visit Constru Casa home sites, meeting families and learning first-hand about living conditions and housing needs in Guatemala.
• Learn more about Guatemalan culture, including the art of weaving, indigenous culture and religion, coffee fincas, museums, etc.
• Go on tours to see the natural beauty of Guatemala, including tours of Antigua, volcano hikes, etc.

We will arrange all accommodation, transport, and activities according to your wishes.

For more information, getting a quotation or booking a tour, contact us at voluntario@construcasa.org or give us a call: (+502) 7832 8348.

Volunteer Experiences
Read about Lindsey's experience volunteering at Constru Casa on her travel blog. Thank you Lindsey for all your help!

“I gained a lot from the experience and now have a different attitude, I am more grateful and appreciate of what I have and would like to help people less fortunate than myself again in the future.”
Robert Lea, helped building a Daycare Center in Santa Maria de Jesus, July 2009.

Internships
At Constru Casa, we also look for interns who help and assist us with work in the office. The following are all of the positions in the office that may be filled at some point. They are not necessarily empty at this time.

Positions include:

A Translator (English, Spanish, and especially Dutch)
The Translator provides the Constru Casa team with translation of all sorts of internal and external documents. This work can be done from anywhere in the world with internet connection.
For more information, please click here.