Volunteer Honduras: Undergraduate students (medical, global health, nursing) are welcome to join our health-related projects in La Ceiba, Honduras. These projects not only provide a hands-on learning opportunity in universal health care practices, you will also make a lasting impact on this Honduran community.
Pre-medical and Student nurses work side by side the local doctors and nurses at a very busy public, regional hospital in La Ceiba Honduras. This is the main medical source for thousands of people in the Atlantida region of Honduras. The hospital has both outpatient and inpatient services, including emergency care, mainly for low-income families. Some of the daily volunteer task may include
- Assisting in the maternity ward
- Charting patients, taking vitals, assisting with consultations
- Assisting with: cleaning wounds, changing bandages, sutures
- Outreach campaigns: preparing materials/and set up
Our program is open to volunteers of all educational or professional backgrounds. As our sites are open year-round, volunteers are welcome to travel at any time and for any length of time. Whether you're learning about tropical medicine in the local hospital, giving dental health education classes, working on the ambulance or observing surgery, your experience allows you to better understand the Honduran healthcare system as well as contribute to the improvement of health in La Ceiba and the surrounding Atlantida community.
REQUIRED
Mandatory: 4 to 6 scrubs, comfortable shoes or sneakers and bring basic tools as: oximeter, stethoscope, strip thermometer, blood pressure cuff, gloves, mask, cleaning wipes, blue & red pens (to use and donate).
17 years and over.
W/ parents if under
24/7 local staff
in country
Tax deductible and
fundraising options
Accommodations safe & friendliness
Spanish Lessons
available if needed
Work Schedule
4-8 hours a day
Airport Transfers
included abroad
Programs start
at any day
No Language
Requirements
Available for Special Groups
Overview
- Project length: From 1 week to 12 weeks
- Project dates: Year Round. Choose any date to arrive
- Arrival Airport: La Ceiba (LCE)
- Work Schedule: Monday to Friday. 4 or 8 hours per day
- Requirements: US$100 donation a month
- Accommodation: Local Host Family.
- Meals: 3 per day 7 days a week
- Age Limits: Minimum 17yrs or older
- Diploma of Participation issued by the Hospital. (Signed by the director of Hospital) Ministry of Health of Honduras
- Airlines: Taca, Air Viva, Cayman Air
- Vaccinations: Routine Vac, Hep-A and Typhoid wwwnc.cdc.gov
Program Schedule
- Program starts and ends in La Ceiba
- Airport or bus station meet in La Ceiba. Afternoon city tour and orientation
- Monday to Friday volunteering. 20/ 40 hours per week
- Weekends free to sightseeing
- Typical shift work hours are 8am-12pm and 2pm-6pm
- Support: Local ABV Director support 24/7 during placement
- Departure: ABV Staff Escorted Airport or bus station Transfer
Country Info
Honduras Introduction
Are you ready to help people in need, immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and culture of a new country and have the experience of a lifetime? With poverty, disease and a lack of skilled providers putting a strain on important services such as health and childcare in developing countries across the globe, there are many corners of the world which rely on the help of volunteer travelers like yourself.
Volunteer in Honduras with A Broader View Volunteers a top rated non-profit charity organization, which works tirelessly to support our wonderful volunteers and serve the local communities where our volunteer programs are located. Placements in Honduras are based in the city of La Ceiba. Program placements are tailored to the volunteers different interests and skill sets, but still allow volunteers time to explore the Central America local culture and activities during their free time.
The type of programs in Honduras vary widely, offering everything from education to health care. Volunteers can choose between 9 options in La Ceiba. International volunteer help is not only appreciated by the local community, it is severely needed by the millions of Hondurans living below the poverty line. With thousands of children living and working on the streets, as is so often the case in developing countries like Honduras, our volunteer programs are designed to support the needs of local teens and children in desperate need of assistance.
Many of our volunteer abroad programs cater to underprivileged women and children’s care, education and health requirements. Our extensive range of social programs in La Ceiba, Honduras includes: medical, nursing, EMT and dental, Elderly care, woman support, internships, teaching in primary and secondary schools and volunteering in orphanages and day care centers and many more programs. To help you settle into your placement, we also provide the opportunity to combine all of our programs with Spanish Immersion Lessons during your time in Honduras.
Volunteering in Honduras is an incredibly rewarding experience. We welcome volunteers of all ages and from all backgrounds to join us. Whether you’re seeking volunteer abroad programs for college students or voluntary work for over 60s, as a trusted non-profit organization which prioritizes the safety of our volunteers, we are the go-to for volunteers across the globe. We also offer customized programs with flexible arrival dates to best suit the needs of the remarkable volunteers we depend on to help us make the world a better place.
If you’d like to volunteer, Honduras is just one of the countries we’ve taken under our wing, supplying a steady flow of volunteers and providing year-round financial support to local projects in La Ceiba. Wherever you decide to volunteer, A Broader View give you the opportunity to participate in meaningful community service work, learn a foreign language, make lifelong friends and discover that one person really can make a difference. Your search for the best volunteer abroad programs ends here – volunteer in Honduras with us and gain A Broader View of the world.
Coordinator
Welcome to Honduras (Bienvenido (a) a Honduras 🇭🇳 ). My name is Rafael and I am your ABV coordinator while you are staying in Honduras. Our country has one big city, Tegucigalpa. But you will be working in La Ceiba. I will be ready for support 24/7 in case you need to contact me urgently. I will introduce you to your volunteer location and staff.
You are most welcome to seek my assistance and don’t hesitate to ask me questions while in country.
Safety and Security
The safety of our volunteers is paramount for A Broader View Volunteers. The majority of ABV Volunteers travel and serve without major incident. However, programs are based in some of the least developed countries and in some of the most remote areas in the world, health, safety, and security risks are an unavoidable part of life and international service. To address these concerns and to safeguard the well-being of our program participants, A Broader View has safety protocols and security procedures for all programs:
- Security: All project sites, local in-country staff and accommodation sites have gone through a rigorous filter and have been hand selected. ABV has spent almost 11 years cultivating and strengthening of our local partnerships & host family relationships. In-country staff visits, daily research of local conditions, as well as weekly checkup of our host families and accommodations are conducted. Site selection is based on criteria including; access to medical, banking, postal, and other essential services; access to communication, transportation, and local markets; availability of adequate housing and living arrangements.
- Pre-Departure Guide: Your ABV account will have a detailed volunteer guide. Volunteers are provided country information, packing lists, customs and language information, and much more. ABV also provides information about visa requirements, vaccinations, climate, weather, and safety and security issues specific to the country.
- Volunteer Summary: A full month before traveling volunteers are provided a detailed account of their volunteer project (including supply/donation list), arrival procedures, emergency contact information, accommodation details and the full name, phone and email of their local ABV Coordinator.
- Overseas Staff and communication: Our local staff support is immeasurable in their professionalism and dedication to the volunteers under their charge. The majority of ABV staff coordinators have been involved since the very start (over 11 years) and are well experienced handling the unexpected such as situations where volunteer students become ill, suffer accidents, are the victims of pick pockets. ABV staff is trained to react in a responsible and levelheaded way when emergencies do arise. They will do whatever is necessary to assure this, whether this means obtaining prompt and appropriate medical attention, embassy intervention or local authorities.
- Host Families and accommodations: Our local volunteer guesthouses, onsite project dorms and host families have been hand-picked. A Broader View accommodation have specific standards for the hygiene, cleanliness, location and comfortable living conditions for our volunteers. Telephone access is available 24/7 and most sites have internet access. Volunteers have to follow the curfew of the host accommodation.
- Arrival Meeting/Orientation: ABV programs provide a customized arrival plan. We can arrange your arrival/pick up at the airport, bus station or local hotel. Start your program with peace of mind, having the local ABV staff meeting you when you arrive in-country. Volunteers are provided orientation before starting their program. Orientation schedules vary from country to country but will include acclimation tours of the local town/city, accommodation neighborhood, geolocation map description, program location, main interesting points in the city or area. Emergency and medical protocols will be discussed and also address safety and security issues specific to the community volunteers live and work in.
Every staff member of A Broader View is committed to providing volunteers with the support they need to successfully meet the challenges they will face to have a safe, healthy, and productive service. The success of each ABV volunteer is our prime goal. We rely on volunteers to exercise personal responsibility and demonstrate both a keen awareness of the world around them and a willingness to adjust their behavior in a manner that will enhance their safety and well-being. In the end, your efforts will be rewarded with an incredible, unique experience.
The emergency lines are staffed by an A Broader View:
- Communicate late/missed/flight connections during travel days
- Notify a Volunteer of an emergency (e.g. critical illness or death of a family member)
- Respond to family questions about a Volunteer's status (if problem occurring in-country)
Weather
Honduras is located in Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea. The climate varies from tropical in the lowlands to temperate in the mountains. The central and southern regions are relatively hotter and less humid than the northern coast.
What's the best time to go to La Ceiba in Honduras? Here are some annual weather facts we collected from our historical climate data:
- On average, the temperatures are always high.
- A lot of rain (rainy season) falls in the months of: January, February, March, April, June, July, August, September, October, November and December.
- On average, the warmest month is May.
- On average, the coolest month is February.
- November is the wettest month. This month should be avoided if you don't like too much rain.
- May is the driest month.
City: La Ceiba | Population: 204000 | Languages: Spanish
Currency: Lempira (HNL) | Time zone: UTC−06:00
Reviews & Multimedia
Reviews
We were always provided with 3 meals a day. The majority of meals consisted of rice, beans, eggs and tortillas and were prepared by the maid. The house has a secure gate at the entry and we never felt unsafe. Rafael and his family were very accommodating.
Cameron
Nationality: Australia
Age: 26
I would not trade this month for the world. It has given me incredible into lives that are so far from my own. As cliche as it sounds, my life will never be the same and for that I am forever grateful.Absolutely amazing. Rafael and his entire family were warm, welcoming, and loving.
Hannah
Nationality: USA
Age: 21
Volunteering Honduras in the hospitals and walking through the neighborhoods vaccinating the community was one of the most unique and life changing experiences I’ve had. Our ABV Coordinator in Honduras helped us with everything we needed during our trip.
Allison
Nationality: USA
Age: 21
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Prices for Peru
Program Fees
Since A Broader View Volunteers is a 501c(3) charitable organization, You can fundraise (optional) for the expenses of the trip after you get confirmed in our programs. Prices are per person and in US dollars (US$).
| Length of program | Program Fee $USD |
|---|---|
| 1 week | $895 |
| 2 weeks | $995 |
| 3 weeks | $1195 |
| 4 weeks | $1195 |
| 5 weeks | $1395 |
| 6 weeks | $1395 |
| 7 weeks | $1640 |
| 8 weeks | $1640 |
| 9 weeks | $1790 |
| 10 weeks | $1940 |
| 11 weeks | $2090 |
| 12 weeks | $2240 |
| Country / weeks | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honduras - Language Immersion | $995 | $1290 | $1530 | $1790 |
Inclusions
- Accommodation: Host Families
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
- Arrival: Airport meet and greet by ABV Staff
- Orientation: Project Overview and La Ceiba Orientation
- Support: Pre-trip written guide, In-country ABV staff available 24/7
- Departure: ABV Staff Escorted Airport Transfer
Extra costs: Flights to La Ceiba. Visas and/or entry-exit fees. Vaccinations. Local Transportation. Travel & Health Insurance. Laundry and Internet
Meals & Food
Volunteers are provided breakfast, lunch and dinner at their accommodation during the week and weekends. Breakfast typically consists of toast, fruit, eggs, cereal accompanied with milk, tea or coffee. Dinner usually includes: meat (cow, chicken), beans, rice, vegetables, and a variety of tortillas, fish, plantains. Volunteers can be away from their accommodation mid-day so they take a lunch bag or they go back home. We recommend budgeting between US$5 and US$10 per day to purchase lunch if you don't return to the host family, let the host family know if you change the lunch plans. If you have specific dietary requirements, our local teams and home-stays can customize to you but be flexible as well.
Start Dates
Most of our programs run year round, you can start any volunteer/internship program on any day. When you apply you will lets know your start and end dates. Our programs run year round and have volunteers arriving almost every day from many different countries.
Since our programs sometimes depend on the local holiday calendar, there are brief occasions when normal programs work is suspended. For example, schools/daycares often close for long winter/summer vacations. During these times, we arrange for alternative work programs that are similar in substance to our ongoing programs, but address the short-term, direct needs of the local communities.
If you would like to arrange your start and end dates around the local holidays, please call us at 1.866.423.3258 or email us at [email protected].
Money Matters
A Broader View Volunteers work tirelessly year round to support our volunteers, and also to serve the local communities where ABV projects are based. As a tax-exempt 501 c(3) organization A Broader View receive 100% of our funding from volunteer contributions. Through your program fee contribution our non-profit charity organization can operate beneficial humanitarian aid programs which are successful and continuous supported year round.
Local, professional full-time coordinators, placement logistics, airport pick up and departure transportation, arrival orientation, food & local accommodations, are a major part of providing a safe, meaningful volunteer experience. When you join A Broader View, you will receive pre-trip visa and vaccination support, assistance with flights, fundraising planning, through our interactive online volunteer portal. Our local partners not only benefit from volunteers valuable contributions at the project, they benefit financially with year-round monetary support from A Broader View. In the last decade A Broader View has donated over 4.5 million dollars in international aid.
By joining A Broader View you are not only helping to make a difference during your own trip, your impact will last even after you go home.
Extras
Tour and weekend trips
Once in country our local coordinator can help you find the most reliable and safe tour agencies for weekend trips, you can pay in cash or in most locations with a credit card. These tours are not part of the ABV fees.
Cayos Cochinos [Full Day]
Launching off by ferry from la Ceiba , a one hour trip to the virgin white beaches of Cayos Cochinos will leave you in awe as you look back at the mainland with the magnificent ‘Cordillera Gracias a Dios’ towering in the distance. Coral reefs and pristine sandy beaches make up this archipelago of 13 cays – a “must see” on the Honduran North Coast. You will enjoy a tour of the islands, and a time of snorkeling while taking in the incredible tranquility of this marine biology reserve. Don’t miss trying a typical Garifuna style dish at Chachahuate Cay: fresh fish, plantains and fried rice & beans prepared with coconut milk. 7:00 am – 3:00 pm.
Pico Bonito [Full Day]
Leaving from La Ceiba at 8:30 am by 4×4, with a 20 minute ride, the adventure begins: In the tropical forest of Pico Bonito, several trails trek deep into the lush vegetation – en route discovering butterflies, birds and many other species of wildlife. Following the Rio Zacate trail, we’ll have a beautiful view of the Caribbean Coast, reaching the magnificent Zacate Waterfall at 1:30pm. Hiking along the magnificent ‘Cordillera Gracias a Dios’, which has it’s highest peak in Pico Bonito will leave you breathless at the natural and sweeping beauty of a park that has made Honduras famous as a destination for eco-tours. 8:30 am – 2:00 pm.
River Rafting at Cangrejal [Full Day]
A 30 minute drive from La Ceiba will take us up-river through an imposing valley, which reinforces our sense of smallness. From the outset, intense paddling is interspersed with calm stretches – to rest and also to do some cliff jumping. Hedged in by the tropical forest of Pico Bonito, we’ll also hike the Bejuco trail up to a refreshing waterfall; and afterwards regain our strength with a lunch of tropical fruit, before tackling the last cluster of rapids. Rafting the grade 3/4 rapids of Rio Cangrejal will leave you with a feeling of accomplishment at its completion, as you wait for the adrenaline to subside! 8:30 am – 2:00 pm
Cuero y Salado [Full Day]
Home to the Caribbean Manatee, an endangered species that lives within the network of creeks, lagoons and coast line. There is a mixture both fresh and salt water, the reserve being right at the ocean’s edge. From La Union, we catch a ride on the old railway to reach this wildlife refuge, and then by boat or canoe we explore the mangrove lagoons.
Festivals and Festivities
Semana Santa
Literally translating to “Easter Week,” this festival is a multi-day celebration in March or April every year depending on the Christian calendar. The best place to witness it is undoubtedly in the Honduran mountain town of Santa Rose de Copan, which is close to the Mayan Copan ruins. Here there are six separate parades reenacting biblical events from the Easter story, and the effort and detail is a true spectacle.
Punta Gorda Festival
A uniquely Honduran festival celebrating the Garifuna community, Punta Gorda takes place annually on April 12. It commemorates the day in which 4,000 Garifuna people were placed on the island of Roatan, thus commencing their settlement of the islands and Caribbean coast. Punta Gorda has the biggest celebration, with many gathering here to take part in the festivities.
Feria de San Isidro
Held annually in the town of La Ceiba the week preceding the third Saturday in May, this festival sees over a quarter million Hondurans flocking to the town to take part in the celebration. It is a lively fun-filled event full of street pageantry similar to Mardi-Gras in New Orleans.
Feria Juniana
Held the last week of June in San Pedro Sula, this festival has a host of live musical performances, eating and drinking. The climax is a parade down the thoroughfare of Avenida Circunvalacion on June 29.
National Garifuna Festival
Held on the third weekend of July, this festival celebrates Garifuna culture and draws in communities from Belize and Guatemala, as well as Caribbean Honduras. It is held in the town of Bajamar, near Puerto Cortes, and is a huge party of drinking and dancing.