Volunteer Experiences - Meredith

In May of 2006, my friend and I traveled to Guatemala to volunteer at the Hogar Miguel Magone, an orphanage for abused and abandoned boys. I have been heavily involved in community volunteer work both in Nova Scotia, where I grew up, and in Vancouver where I am currently attending the University of British Columbia, but I had always been interested in volunteering abroad and hoped to one day find this opportunity.

At the Hogar in Guatemala, I found it. My experience volunteering at this orphanage was incredibly meaningful. Among the many other things my time in Guatemala has taught me, living in a country where 80% of the population falls below the poverty line led me to develop a tremendous respect for human endurance and compassion. It also taught me how special relationships built in the short time of two weeks can be, and that memories can truly last forever.

In the first few days since my arrival at the Hogar Miguel Magone, I was overwhelmed by the welcome I received from Karen, the boys and that orphanage staff. Needless to say, I was also overwhelmed with trying to learn the names of 40 boys! I spent much of my first couple of days getting to know the boys, and becoming familiar with the routines at the orphanage – when meals were served, when the boys had to get up, be walked to school, homework time and afternoon siesta for the little ones, to name a few examples!

As a volunteer, I was responsible for a variety of tasks, including serving meals, supervising the younger boys’ personal hygiene, chaperoning trips to the dentist, helping them with their homework, supervising their chores, making sure they kept their wardrobes tidy (wishful thinking), and occasionally administering medicine. In addition to this, much of my time was devoted to one-on-one and group interaction with the boys, playing ball, doing puzzles, or making castles out of building blocks. The boys also particularly enjoyed playing ‘monster tag,’ in which someone pretending to be a monster would chase the others as they laughed and screamed in delight (I was always the monster). This encouraged self-confidence, trust and teamwork that was highly rewarding to be a part of, not to mention lots of fun!

I would strongly recommend volunteering at the Hogar Miguel Magone to anyone who is motivated, willing to take initiative, and who has a love of children. The children of the Hogar have so much to offer, and are beautiful boys in every way. I wish you the best of luck in your volunteer experiences, and hope you find them as unforgettable as I have.

Guatemala is waiting for you!

Meredith