There are many ways you can help Limitless Horizons Ixil achieve our mission to bring education and opportunities to the community of Chajul. Please explore the various options listed and contact us for more information!
Volunteers are often lifesavers for important initiatives and help us deepen our work in areas where we need additional resources and expertise. If you’d like to support youth and families, read on to find a good fit!
We are particularly in need of volunteers with Advanced Spanish language skills who also have experience in educational administration/teacher training/bilingual education, social work/psychology/therapy, mentoring or student support programs, adolescent/school/family counseling, and/or domestic violence or family issues, library or literacy programming, in addition to and any of the professional skills listed below. We would love for volunteers in these specific areas to be able to spend some time in Guatemala with us, but remote volunteer assignments could be possible.
A research volunteer with intermediate Spanish language skills is needed to gather statistics and info on Guatemala’s education, economic, and health sectors, as well as current events statistics on Covid and its impact on girls’ education.
Please email [email protected] if any of this is of interest to you!
Volunteer or Intern in Chajul
Limitless Horizons Ixil welcomes volunteers or interns who are highly proficient in Spanish and can commit to a minimum of 2 weeks of volunteering. We ask that volunteers contribute $200 as a volunteer coordination fee. This tax-deductible fee covers support from our staff pre-departure and on the ground in Guatemala; an information packet on the Chajul and the neighboring town of Nebaj; advice on life in the Ixil region including housing and dining recommendations; and orientations to Limitless Horizons Ixil, Chajul, and your particular volunteer project.
In addition to the needs detailed above, we need volunteers who can support with our Chajul technology and computer maintenance, researching appropriate technology, and helping address technology issues (e.g. supporting with computer repairs or updates, Dropbox support, etc.)
If you are interested in visiting and volunteering in Chajul as part of a larger group, click here to read more about our trips for groups and contact [email protected].
Lend Professional Expertise
Limitless Horizons Ixil seeks pro-bono professional services on an ongoing basis. In addition to the programmatic areas listed above (experience in educational administration/teacher training/bilingual education, social work/psychology/therapy, mentoring or student support programs, adolescent/school/family counseling, and/or domestic violence or family issues, library or literacy programming), we are in particular need of support from professionals with skills and experience in:
- Accounting and/or bookkeeping
- Various areas of marketing and communications such as graphic design, photography/videography, web design, and digital marketing (including Google AdWords)
Join Our Board of Directors
Our Governing Board and Advisory Board seek new members with certain characteristics, including those who can bring strengths to our finance and fundraising & communications committees, as well as those who identify as indigenous and/or Latin American. Board members are highly engaged volunteers, contributing actively to the sustainability and growth of Limitless Horizons Ixil. Please contact [email protected] if you are interested in learning more about board membership and possibly contributing your skills and time in this capacity.
Translate Student Letters
Our youth write letters a few times a year to the sponsors who support their education. Translating letters from Spanish to English gives you a personal glimpse into the daily lives, challenges, and proud moments of Chajul’s most promising youth.
If you have proficient Spanish skills, please consider volunteering your time to translate batches of our scholars’ letters (as few as five at a time). This can be done on your own time and is a huge help to our team! Contact [email protected] for more information.
Sell Artisan Goods
The sale of fair-wage Guatemalan artisan goods and handicrafts is an essential part of ensuring the financial stability of our programs. The sales generate thousands of dollars each year for Limitless Horizons Ixil, while offering us an opportunity to share the beautiful artisan traditions of Guatemala. We rely on a dedicated network of volunteer sellers to make this possible.
Volunteers can sell handicrafts at any point during the year, but most sales occur around Mothers’ Day and between October and December during the shopping season for winter holidays. Many people sell in their workplaces, religious institutions, community centers, and schools, while others host gatherings at private homes. The artisan goods vary to a degree but include traditionally hand-woven scarves, shawls, ponchos, bookmarks, and bags, and colorful intricately beaded ornaments and jewelry.
Goods are made by the artisans of Limitless Horizons Ixil’s Artisan Program (see a small sample of products here), and a few other Guatemalan artisans.
Please email [email protected] if you are interested in learning about selling artisan goods.