The cost to participate on service teams ranges from $1,500 to $2,500 depending on a variety of factors including whether. HELPS arranges your airfare and insurance, time of year, length and destination of trip, etc.
This cost includes in-country transportation, lodging, most meals, and a security team. A small portion of the cost also helps support the local leadership, field staff and program infrastructure in Guatemala which supports the communities where teams work and ensures the long-term success of volunteers’ efforts.
HELPS International does not currently have funding to provide stipends or scholarships, but some teams do. If you are interested in finding out if stipends are available, please fill out an application and in the comments field please write “Can only go if financial assistance is provided.” That way, the team leaders will be alerted and proceed accordingly.
Many volunteers also opt to seek sponsorship through their companies or raise funds among friends, family and churches.
You can pay for your trip by check, bank transfer or credit card. To pay online, simply click the orange “Donate” button and select the team campaign you will be joining. You can also ask your team leader for the direct donation link.
If you are paying with a check, please indicate the volunteer’s name and team number on the memo line. You may send your payment to:
ATTN Donna Stanley
HELPS International
15301 Dallas Parkway, Suite 200
Addison, TX 75001-4668
If you would like to make a credit card payment over the phone, please call us at 469-779-7101, and select option 2.
While teams are often primarily made up of volunteers from a specific city, volunteers do not need to be from that region to join a team. All the teams listed in the service trip dates page may accept volunteers from across the United States and beyond.
Teams travel to various destinations across Guatemala, primarily in rural areas where poverty rates are extremely high and there are few aid organizations. Medical teams typically travel to one of eight different locations where we have adequate facilities to establish temporary hospitals. Most community development teams travel to the Western Highlands of Guatemala, though they may travel anywhere in the country.
The number of days varies by team, but usually 10-12 days. Typically, teams arrive in Guatemala on a Saturday and travel to the mission location on Sunday. There, they work Monday through Friday (sometimes Saturday), and then they travel to the beautiful, colonial city of Antigua for a few days of R&R before returning to the U.S.
No. Recruitment is done by team leaders on a specific needs basis, and there is no guarantee that they will have room for everyone that applies. However, careful consideration is given to every applicant, and usually most are accepted.
No. Volunteers excuse themselves after applying and/or being accepted for a variety of reasons including medical, financial, and/or time availability. If you are accepted and cannot travel, we simply ask that you please alert your team leader as soon as possible so that they may act accordingly.
If a volunteer has paid service trip fees and cannot go on the trip, HELPS may offer a full or partial refund of fees. If you cannot go after your fees are paid, please contact your team leader immediately to discuss the best option to manage your funds.
Community development and education teams may have as few as 8 volunteers, while teams that perform both medical and community development services may have up to 120 volunteers.
Yes! If you are interested in starting a new education, community development or medical team, please contact us at [email protected]. We will answer any questions you have and guide you through the process from start to finish.
Absolutely, yes! We do not limit the amount of times that volunteers serve, so you are always welcome to join more than one team every year.
Have more questions? Email us at [email protected]
