Looking for an interesting volunteer experience? Do you speak Spanish or are you willing to learn? Would you like to spend several months in Central America?
Upper Clearwater residents Bill and Linda Brierly recently returned home from several years doing missionary work among the Pokomchi Maya of Guatemala.
The organization they helped set up is called Hope for the Pokomchi, or Asociacion Sakombal Pokon (ASOSAP) in the indigenous language.
What would I volunteer for?
• Your title would be ASOSAP cultural liaison to Teams.
• You would be the “touch of home” person for all of our short-term North American teams while they are in Guatemala; we anticipate one team per month
• You would live in the ASOSAP mission center in San Cristobal, Alta Verapaz, and work hand-in-hand with the Pokomchi mission staff
So what would my time commitment be?
Be in Guatemala from June 1, 2011 until October 31, 2011 ... five exciting, challenging, fun-filled months
If you have no Spanish, add on one month for intensive one-on-one language training during May
What would it cost me?
• Airfare to Guatemala return
• Room and board - $200 USD per month
• If you need one month of intensive Spanish language training, add on approximately $500 for the training
What would my duties be?
• Along with one of the Pokomchi staff, travel to Guatemala City to meet each team at the airport, host them for their one overnight stay in the City; give them their arrival orientation
• Accompany the team at all times while they are in-country, usually 10 days - Guatemala City, Pokomchi mountain village, Antigua, airport for flight home
• You will live in a Village Camp with the team in basic but adequate conditions, for six days
• Your main function will be as a translator for the team
• You will participate, with the team and the Pokomchi staff in the daily running of the camp and daily work and play with the villagers
• Be the “go-to” person for the team members, responding to whatever needs or concerns may arise, including first aide
• Coordinate everything with your Pokomchi staff partner
• Have lots of fun and help the team have lots of fun, too.
Okay, you’ve got me hooked! Where do I go from here?
• Visit the Hope of the Pokomchi website: www.pokomchihope.org
• Email Linda Brierly, Hope of the Pokomchi international coordinator at asosapcanada@gmail.com or phone at 250-674-3222
• We will start a dialogue and take it from there!
Incidentally, Bill and Linda Brierly will be in Guatemala for the month of March. While there, part of their duties will be to co-host, along with Pokomchi manager Glenda Mo Koy’s staff, a village work team from Saltspring Island. This will be the first team from British Columbia to help out with the Hope for the Pokomchi mission, although individuals (including some from the North Thompson) have traveled there before.