Volunteer in Puerto Rico

“Partnerships are the biggest thing for us.
We want volunteers to understand our issues
here on the border.”
– Proyecto Azteca Director Ann Cass

Be the Change. Be a Global Volunteer in Puerto Rico

Support Vulnerable Children

The beautiful island of Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States, a common destination for Americans seeking beach vacations with a Latin twist. But beyond the seaside hotels is a community asking for your help – orphaned and vulnerable children needing psycho-social support, students looking to sharpen their English skills, and community buildings in need of tender loving care. Lend your hands and spirits to the efforts. In just one week, you can make a difference and form lasting bonds with the people of Puerto Rico. See Covid-19 requirements.

Get Started in Puerto Rico

Serve in

Local time:

Call: 651-407-6100

Request Program Information

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FAQs:

Genuine development projects to help children and families thrive. Exceptional service-learning for families, groups and individuals.

Community Projects

Teach Conversational English to University and Adult Students – Conduct conversations with small groups from the local universities or assist at a nearby language camp for people of all ages. English is the language of commerce and tourism and a critical skill for young Puerto Ricans. No teaching experience required, just a desire to talk to local people.

Provide Psycho-Social Support – Play with and care for infants and toddlers at a local children’s center. Your love provides critical nourishment to the most vulnerable members of the community.

Grant Writing – The community’s agencies need your help researching and writing grants to fund life-saving projects.

Building Repair – Assist with the cleaning and rehabilitation of an old school campus, food pantry, and children’s center or build a kitchen to serve area children. Our community partner has funding for these projects, but just needs help from volunteers to get the job done.

Dates & Fees

Arrival and Departure

Leave the details to us!

Your service program officially begins with the evening meal on the first Saturday. Plan your flight to arrive in Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (airport code SJU), before 3:30 PM on Saturday and depart after 12 Noon on the following Saturday. We will meet you and your teammates at the airport and transport you to your lodging in Agaudillo (a 1.5 hour drive). We’ll return you to the airport at the end of the service program.

You must confirm your flight/driving itinerary with us at least two weeks before the service program arrival date.

Food and Lodging

Rest and comfort for a productive program.

Your health and safety as a volunteer in Puerto Rico is our top priority. Lodging is at an air-conditioned guest house in Aguadilla. Group and double rooms are available, as well as selected single rooms on a first come first served basis. Each living area has a private bathroom and shower. The property has a game area with a swimming pool, foosball table and billiards as week as a basketball hoop, hammocks and a great view overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

Motel accommodation can be arranged for an additional fee.

Breakfast is self-serve at the dorm, with packed or provided lunch at the work sites. Evening meals are prepared by a local cook at the lodging facility. Specialties are typical Puerto Rican cuisine. Strict vegetarian and other restrictive diets may not be easily accommodated. Bottled water is available.

Health and Safety

Your safety is our top priority.

Your lodging, food and transportation are provided always with a mind to protect you while at the work site and in your lodging. Your team leader is trained in CPR and first aid. Read more about health and safety here.

Puerto Rico can be hot any time of year. Sunburn and dehydration can be risks, so we urge you to pack sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat and a water bottle. You likely will not encounter wild animals or poisonous insects or snakes at the work sites or at lodging facilities. We strongly recommend you consult your own physician, public health clinic and/or travel clinic for detailed travel health information, and make sure your tetanus shots are up to date.

We also suggest you purchase trip cancellation insurance in the event you must cancel your participation on the service program. Your travel agent can refer you to travel insurance providers.

Team Leaders

Excellence in team management so you can focus on service.

Your team leader is a Global Volunteers staff member or volunteer alumni who has completed our comprehensive team leader training and is skilled in leading diverse groups of people. All team leaders are certified in CPR and First Aid, and have served on or led multiple service programs – some up to 50 times and more! Further, they’re evaluated by the volunteers on each service program, and must consistently achieve a high level of performance in order to continue leading Global Volunteers teams. All of our team leaders are exceptional and delightful people. You’ll receive background information on your team leader approximately four weeks before your service program begins.

Free Time

Explore the beauty of Puerto Rico.

Aguadilla is home to many beautiful Caribbean beaches, including the famous Crash Boat Beach, as well as museums, lots of water sports, shopping, exploring downtown Aguadilla, and learning about the history of Puerto Rico. Farther afield is the spectacular city of San Juan with its centuries-old fortifications, historic cobblestone streets, and fantastic restaurants. Please note that a car may be necessary to visit these free time destinations.

Family Opportunities

The family that serves together, learns together.

Research shows that volunteering helps teens gain/improve new abilities including leadership, communication skills, dependability, time management, and decision making. Teens engaging in community service have been shown to have higher self-esteem and improved resilience. Moreover, working with people from different cultures and ethnicity, reinforces the lesson that people the world over share common hopes and interests – that we are all far more alike than different. In Puerto Rico, your daughter or son aged 13 and older can fully participate in work projects, team meetings, and free time activities.

Parents and guardians are expected to supervise their children and collaborate with our team leader and local partners to maximize the service experience for everyone. They likely will create life-long friendships with local youth who share their interests and experiences.

Group Opportunities

Imagine your group here!

Global Volunteers’ USA service-learning programs provide meaningful and stimulating volunteering opportunities for groups of students, professionals, educators, employees, and like-minded people. Because of our on-going relationship with our community partners, every member of your group can fully engage their unique skills and interests in meaningful service. We work with you to customize your program to learn about each other in a non-traditional way as an intact volunteer team. With advanced preparation, you can be certain that your unique contributions on genuine development projects advance the futures of those you serve.

Many groups return year after year to our programs to serve the local people and further understand the history, language, culture, and modern life in a decidedly “non-tourist” manner.

Opportunities for high school and college groups

Read on for details on group volunteering

Proyecto Azteca was established in 1991 in the spirit of Cesar Chavez as a means of respond to the housing crisis in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley colonias located in Hidalgo County.

The children consider themselves “los olvidados,” the forgotten ones, who live with social, economic, health and political oppression.

Texas has both the largest number of colonias – substandard housing communities – and the largest colonia population -approximately 400,000 residents. More than 75 percent of colonia residents were born in the U.S. and 85 percent are U.S. citizens.

A colonia is a neighborhood of 30-200 homes outside of the normal city structure, often without public utilities such as sewer, water, paved roads, garbage collection etc. 81% of people in colonias are food insecure.

Proyecto Azteca is one of some 35 organizations in Hidalgo County addressing housing, health and education needs for under-served area residents.

About Global Volunteers in Puerto Rico

Be The Change.

Through important, full-day volunteer assignments and free-time activities, you learn about culture and the significant ways you improve children’s and families’ lives. Our time-tested and proven philosophy of service ensures your efforts help advance the host community’s development vision and goals. You contribute to genuine community-based projects, and in doing so, you’re accepted as family. Our commitment to engage short-term volunteers on long-term community projects in partnership with local people enables you, in just a short time, to serve as a critical link in a chain of volunteer support spanning three decades.

Volunteer in Puerto Rico

Be the Change. Be a Global Volunteer in Puerto Rico

Get Started in Puerto Rico

FAQs:

Upcoming Volunteer Dates in San Juan, Texas

Registration is quick and easy!

Leave the details to us!

Your safety is our top priority.

Excellence in team management so you can focus on service.

Explore the beauty of Puerto Rico.

The family that serves together, learns together.

Imagine your group here!

About Global Volunteers in Puerto Rico

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Volunteer in Puerto Rico

Be the Change. Be a Global Volunteer in Puerto Rico

Get Started in Puerto Rico

FAQs:

About Global Volunteers in Puerto Rico

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