Volunteer in Puerto Rico

“Over 90 percent of parents in Puerto Rico want their children to be totally fluent in English.”
– Luis Fortuno- former governor of Puerto Rico

Be the Change. Be a Global Volunteer in Beautiful Puerto Rico

Support Puerto Rican Children

The magnificent island of Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States, a popular destination for those seeking a beach vacation with a Latin twist. But beyond the seaside hotels and exquisite landscapes is a community asking for your help – students looking to sharpen their English skills, and community buildings in need of tender loving care. Lend your hands and heart; in just one you can make a difference and form lasting bonds with the warm and lovely people of Puerto Rico.

Get Started in Puerto Rico

Serve in Puerto Rico’s Northwest Shore

Local time:

Required Mobility Level:
Somewhat mobile

Minimum Age(s):

Aguada - 10

Call: 651-407-6100

Request Program Information

Quick Online Registration

FAQs:

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

Community Projects

Teach Conversational English to Students and Adults – English is the language of commerce, tourism, and opportunity – a critical skill for young Puerto Ricans. If you are a native English speaker, no teaching experience is required. All you need is a desire to visit with local people in English to help them improve their language skills through our local conversation circles.

Provide Outreach to Low-Income Residents — Prepare and serve meals or organize clothing and other donated items for distribution in the community.

Light Labor – Assist with the maintenance and rehabilitation of community buildings that serve area children and families when requested by our local host and partners.

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

Dates & Fees

Upcoming Volunteer Dates in Aguada, Puerto Rico

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Registration is quick and easy!

Choose program date and duration above.
Click on the option you prefer in the result list.
Complete the online registration and hold your place with a $350 deposit.

Be sure to select all applicable discounts. All payments tax-deductible.

Groups of 10 or more participants interested in dates not shown below should inquire with our Partnerships Department about adding exclusive dates to the schedule. Please email any inquiries to groups@globalvolunteers.org.

Arrival and Departure

Leave the details to us!

Your service program officially begins with the evening meal on the first Saturday. Most volunteers will choose to fly into San Juan and arrive at the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (airport code SJU). Volunteers flying to San Juan must arrive before 3:00 PM on Saturday and depart on the following Saturday. We will meet you and your teammates at the airport and transport you to your lodging. We’ll return you to the airport at the end of the service program.

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

Food and Lodging

Meals, rest, and comfort for a productive program.

Your health and safety as a volunteer in Puerto Rico is our top priority. Standard lodging is in a comfortable, safe, and air-conditioned hotel just a few minutes from downtown Aguada. Volunteers stay in double-occupancy rooms with a shared bathroom and shower. For those who prefer single accommodations, volunteers can pay an additional fee to reserve a private room. Multi-occupancy rooms may be available for families and groups. This lovely facility has beautiful grounds with a swimming pool, walking paths, and a stunning view overlooking the hills of Aguada.

Breakfast is self-serve at the shared kitchen space in the hotel and includes eggs, cereal, toast, coffee, and juice. Lunch is packed by the volunteer and taken to the work sites. Lunches include sandwiches and other basic items and snacks. Evening meals are prepared by a local cook at the lodging facility and served family style. Specialties are typical Puerto Rican cuisine such as rice dishes, empanadillas, and mofongo (mashed fried plantains). Vegetarian diets can be accommodated, but vegan and other restrictive diets cannot; however, you can bring or purchase your own food. Bottled water is always available.

Health and Safety

Your safety is our top priority.

While there are always risks in traveling anywhere, your lodging, food, and transportation are provided with your safety in mind while you are in transit, 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 serious risks, so we urge you to use sunscreen, wear a wide-brimmed hat, and have a water bottle handy. We strongly recommend you consult your 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

Your Puerto Rican Team Leader is Looking Forward to Welcoming You!

In addition to facilitating every aspect of your service program in Puerto Rico, Yanira (Yanni) Ocasion will share insights about cultural traditions, cuisine, language lessons, must-see attractions, and more. You will be in good hands!

Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Yanira moved to the island’s west coast in 2017 to work with communities in distress. She has over 30 years of HR experience and 20 years of humanitarian work in disadvantaged communities like Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina. She founded For Such a Time as This, one of our community partners and Global Volunteers’ host organization in Puerto Rico.

“I could write a book about the attributes of Yanni. She is a true leader with excellent communication skills, a thoughtful planner, and genuinely caring, respectful, and selfishly giving. She makes Global Volunteers shine. She’s truly a gem!” ~ Jorjanne Arnold Gausman, Puerto Rico Volunteer

“Yanni’s contribution to the program was unmeasurable. The knowledge of the culture, people, and area as well as the ability to build relationships made this the richest experience.” ~ Anne Gardner, Puerto Rico Volunteer

“Pleasant, fun, energetic, great communicator, dedicated, flexible, spontaneous there are not enough words to describe such an excellent leader. Yanni was a delight from start to finish!” ~ Debby Edwards, Puerto Rico Volunteer

Free Time

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 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 can fully participate in work projects, team meetings, and free time activities. They likely will create life-long friendships with local youth who share their interests and experiences. Please click here for minimum age requirements.

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.

To ensure a positive experience for everyone, you must comply with Global Volunteers’ minor supervision policy.

Minimum Ages for Family Service Projects

Parents and legal guardians of minors – under age 18 – must complete a Minor Registration and travel with their children. Children 15 and under must work closely with their parent or legal guardian on family service projects.

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Country	Community	Min Age	Notes
China	Xi'an	8
Cook Islands	Rarotonga	8
Cuba	Havana	12
Greece	Maleviziou, Island of Crete	12
Greece	Maleviziou, Island of Crete	6	English Camp (June through August)
Italy	Castelvetrano, Sicily	12
Italy	Castelvetrano, Sicily	10	Summer Camp (June through July)
Malaysia	Johor Bahru	15
Montana	Blackfeet Reservation	8	*15 for High School Groups
Nepal	Kathmandu	10
Peru	Lima	7
Poland	Reymontowka - School Year Program	6
Poland	Reymontowka - Language Camp Led by Ukrainian Team Leader	6
Portugal	Beja	12
Puerto Rico	Aguada	10
St. Lucia	Anse La Raye	8	* Preschool. 13 for Primary School
St. Lucia	Anse La Raye	11	Summer School (July through August)
Tanzania	Ipalamwa Area	13
Tanzania	Ipalamwa Area	10	(Jan through May)
Tanzania	Ipalamwa Area	10	(July through Nov)
Texas	San Juan	12
Vietnam	Hanoi	15
Vietnam	Hanoi	8	Summer Camp

Group Opportunities

Imagine your group here!

Global Volunteers’ Puerto Rico 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 details on group volunteering:

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.