Honduras is the perfect destination for a great volunteering experience combined with almost guaranteed sunshine in a paradise location and have an interest in the environment, conservation and learning. Find out everything you need to know about helping in Honduras, including popular projects, what to take and how to get there.
Why the Need for Help
General Poverty
62% of Hondurans live below the national poverty line. More than 1 million on less the $1.90 a day. More than 60% are unemployed.
Malnutrition
In some rural villages around 90% of people (young and old) are malnourished.
Illiteracy
Enrolment rates improved since primary education became mandatory in Honduras. However, especially in rural areas, the attendance rate remains low and drop-out rate high.
Child Labour
Due to the general level of poverty, children are forced to contribute to the families income from a very young age. This stops them from receiving a proper education.
Child Migration
Since 2014 more than 43.000 children started the dangerous journey through Guatemala and Mexico to reach the USA. Most of the children get deported and sent back to Honduras.
Youth Gangs
Without education, reasonable paying jobs and prospects for a better life, youth often join street gangs who violently rule many parts of the country.
Programs
Community Work
Depending on your skills you may specialise in a certain working field, but be prepared to do whatever is thrown at you. Organisations especially welcome volunteers who proactively want to develop and improve things. You will have a lot of freedom to implement your ideas and your work will be highly appreciated. Generally, the tasks are very diverse and often things pop up spontaneously.
Education and Teaching
Even though education is so important, many children don’t rregularly attend school in Honduras. Some NGO’s goal is to counteract or irradiate the main reasons for children in Honduras not going to or dropping out of school. Namely, malnutrition, lack of school supplies and lack of health care. Creating an environment where all children have the opportunity and motivation to go to school regularly eventually solves many of the problems mentioned above.
You can volunteer to give underprivileged children in Honduras the opportunity to receive an education. Local organisations and NGO’s are always looking for passionate and motivated volunteers to help with day to day tasks, improve and further develop the organisation and share their culture.
Social / Healthcare
In order to solve the problem of malnutrition, organisations operate nutrition centres in places like Talanga which provide one healthy meal a day to all attending school children.
Wildlife and Conservation
Volunteers can help with the preparation of food for iguanas and other animals which live in the wild and in sanctuaries. Tasks can include maintenance of the enclosures and the project station itself. Volunteers are also needed to monitor local iguana habitats which can require walks and canoe trips into the dense coastal mangrove forests. Beach cleanups are also carried out to help keep the habitat an animal-friendly place to set up home! Local school children also make regular trips sanctuaries to learn about the threat to the local iguana population and what they can do to help spread environmental education. If you are here in June you can help with the preparation for a display for the island’s carnival parade or in July the parade itself, perhaps you have some ideas of your own!
Volunteering in Honduras FAQ
Working Hours
Volunteers help between Monday and Saturday 8am and midday and 2pm and 5pm with a rest break in between. On Sundays volunteers work on a rota to attend to tourist visitors at the centre.
Do I need a visa?
A visa is not required for British passport holders staying less than 90 days. Your passport will simply be stamped on arrival. Other nationalities should contact their nearest Honduran Embassy/Consulate for advice.
How will I get there?
For projects in the Bay Islands most volunteers fly to San Pedro Sula on the mainland, stay overnight in a pre-booked hostel then in the morning make their way to La Ceiba on the coast (2 hours form San Pedro, approx £3) followed by a ferry (twice daily departures, approx £20. There are plenty of backpackers hostels in La Ceiba if you want to spend an extra day there or miss the ferry! Occasionally volunteers will arrange a flight between San Pedro De Sula and the island. The current carrier used from the mainland to the island is Aerososa. Expect to pay in the region of £150 – £200 return. The local staff can organise pick ups from the landing strip on the island, but it is just as easy to jump in one of the waiting taxis, most people understand English and everyone knows the project so you can’t get lost. Some volunteers with trolley cases have even walked the 20 minutes to the project.
What health precautions are there?
Make sure you get all the relevant jabs and boosters you need. Malaria tablets are sadly required and it’s easy to forget that you will need to take them before, during and after travel to be covered. The sun is incredibly strong, and as you may be spending quite a lot of time in holiday clothes on beaches or on the water in your freetime, take a strong sunscreen and try to avoid the summer midday sun.
Climate
The climate in Honduras is tropical, with cooler temperatures in the mountain areas. The average high temperature is 32 Celsius and the lowest is 20 Celsius. The islands tend to be warm to hot all year round. The storm season runs between July and October but there can be many days or even weeks of brilliant sunshine and high temperatures between them.
Accommodation
Please keep in mind that Honduras is a third world country, some things around the housing will be very different from what you are used to. If any of this is an issue you can talk to your organisation beforehand and check to see if they can accommodate you somewhere that suits your needs.
Money
How should I organise my money?
There is an ATM on the islands but you don’t want to get caught out if it runs out of money, so make sure you have at least £200 or so in cash. It will be an annoyance to have to take the ferry off the island simply to change money. Travellers cheques are no longer accepted on the island. If you lose your card and need more cash, money can be sent from home using a wire transfer service like Western Union. La Ceiba on the mainland has lots of Western Union agents.
How much spending money do I need?
You should allow between £40 and £60 per week for all meals and evening drinks at the many seafront bars in the main street. Although there are few expensive temptations to drain your money, it is possible to hire boats, sea kayak and take a diving course on the neighbouring island of Roatan. So if you are a sports or water lover it is a good idea to take an extra £100 for a special activity.
Do I need to take anything special?
Once you have applied and registered, you will receive an Information Pack via email that will have further details on the project in Honduras; in this email there will be a list of items to take. A mosquito net is a good idea, strong walking shoes (preferably waterproof) for habitat checking in the island’s mangroves and plenty of the usual holiday clothes. It is also a good idea to bring a smart casual outfit or two for the evening or special days at the project. On rainy summer days the iguanas can tend to hibernate and they stop eating, leaving little to do other than occasional monitoring so do bring a book you’ve always wanted to get round to reading and some personal entertainment until the sun comes out again.
Language
Do you need Spanish to volunteer? No Spanish is needed at most projects as staff speak English and with so many English speaking tourists to the islands, most local people in the cafes and shops understand basic English. A basic phrase book in your pocket should be sufficient.
If would like to improve or learn Spanish, then bi-lingual staff will be more than happy to chat in Spanish if you would like to. Occasionally Spanish-speaking volunteers stay too offering more opportunities to practice. You could also search Spanish language schools in Central America to book classes.
What happens if I get ill during my stay?
There is a public health clinic and 3 private clinics in Honduras and should you need the use of one, the co-ordinators will help you with your transfer there. It should take only about 10 minutes to get to the clinic from the accommodation. You should ensure that you have adequate travel insurance to cover medical bills.
Are meals provided?
Most Honduras projects are self-catering. Local shops are within walking distance. Local shops are within walking distance. Usually volunteers pull together to get evening meals cooked in the communal kitchen, so no need to worry if you are new to cooking. Some volunteers also eat out in cafés nearby. In case you are vegan/vegetarian or have any kind of allergies, your host will make sure to provide a suitable option for you.
Safety
The Bay Islands are a friendly, laid back destination and away from the hustle and bustle of the mainland. In fact islanders think of themselves as Caribbean first, Honduran second. Will I be safe on a volunteer project? All volunteers live on site, with the live-in staff always around to show you what to do, to get settled in and for advice should you need it.
Free time in Honduras
All volunteers have plenty of free time between activities to explore.