Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any costs associated with volunteering?

Primeros Pasos is a grassroots, low budget organization that relies on the generosity of our volunteers and supporters to provide quality health care at the clinic.  Our programs depend on donations, both monetary and in-kind. We ask all volunteers to fundraise the equivalent of 300 USD on behalf our organization before their arrival so that we may continue to provide medical and nutritional services to the communities of the Palajunoj Valley. This goal can be met either by fundraising or collecting supplies or a combination of the two. As a volunteer, you will become a representative of Primeros Pasos and by fundraising not only will you contribute directly to supporting our programs, but also raise awareness about our crucial work in the Palajunoj Valley.

Are there any age restrictions?

Primeros Pasos does not accept volunteers under 18 years of age. We do not have an upper age limit, however all volunteers must be in good physical shape: able to walk mid-long distances, able to stand for hours of work, etc. This can be discussed on an individual basis.

Do you offer internships or research opportunities?

Most of our volunteer opportunities can be alternatively structured as an internship, just let us know what your requirements are in the application. During the COVID-19 situation, we are not accepting new research inquiries, since these are not possible to successfully accomplish remotely.

What services does Primeros Pasos offer?

Within the three main programs--medical, dental, and nutrition--Primeros Pasos offers a wide variety of affordable healthcare options to members of the Valley communities, including primary care medical consultations and treatments, dental consultations and treatments, prenatal care, chronic illness care, affordable pharmaceuticals, laboratory services. Through our community outreach, we also provide mobile clinics in 4 primary schools, nutritional recuperation in 4 high-need communities, and health education workshops.

I wouldn’t say my Spanish is intermediate yet - can I still volunteer?

Definitely! As a small Guatemala-based NGO with a staff of only 8 people, we have plenty of work you can support. Even if you are still a beginner speaker, you can volunteer with us in several activities supporting development, partnerships, communications, social media, or ongoing special projects that support the clinic’s programming.

Positions that require direct patient or community interaction, or direct collaboration with our other program directors (medical, dental, nutrition, general) do require an intermediate or advanced level of Spanish, a bit of speaking confidence, and the ability to recognize when you aren’t communicating perfectly, so that a language barrier never compromises our patients’ care or understanding.

Is there a minimum or maximum time commitment?

We ask for a minimum commitment of 4 weeks (20 business days in clinic) for all volunteers. There’s definitely no maximum! We occasionally have volunteers that stay 6 months to 1 year and basically become a member of the team! We have some exemptions in the form of university partnerships and group projects that support remotely for a longer amount of time and visit us once a year.

For remote work, please see the individual opportunity and include your restrictions and questions in the application.