Caribbean Children's Home volunteering
Location: Ladyville village, near Belize City
Start dates: Every week on a Wednesday
Duration: 2 - 12 weeks +
Cost: From £495
How will I make a difference?
There is a huge need for and benefit from having international volunteers spending time with the children, helping to build their confidence and communication skills and supporting the day to day running of the home.
By volunteering at the children's home you will help children who have had an incredibly tough start in life. Your support helps them to be reintegrated into society and gain an education which can mean the difference between a life of poverty and a life of opportunity and freedom.
With up to 40 children there at any one time, the children’s home is always grateful for extra pairs of hands to help out and it allows the children to receive more one-to-one attention which is incredibly important.
Read what past volunteers have said about this project in our Belize Children's Home reviews.
Children's home volunteering in Belize: What will I be doing?
You will normally volunteer for 5 days per week, with weekends free to relax and explore Belize (although you may be required to swap these to two weekdays depending on the needs of the home, especially when the children are on school holidays). The children follow a daily routine during school term-time with breakfast around 7.30am, then off to school and back around 3pm. Volunteers work Monday-Friday for approximately 40 hours a week, so expect to be kept busy!
Volunteers normally get up early and have breakfast with the children, then help with the running of the home during the day before spending time with the children when they return from school. During school holidays the children are around during the day as well so there is additional time to spend with them. School holidays are normally 2 weeks at Christmas, 2 weeks at Easter and 8 weeks in the summer.
There is always a lot going on to get involved with! Most volunteers work on a number of different activities; wherever help is needed most at the time. Each day will differ but activities could include:
There are normally 2-6 volunteers at the project with a maximum of 8 (and a maximum of 10 over the summer holidays).
More about the project
Liberty Foundation is a UK registered charity that exists to provide care, rehabilitation and education for abused and abandoned children in Belize. The children’s home is licensed to house up to 40 children, all of whom have been physically/sexually abused and/or abandoned and placed with them through Belize Human Services. Some of the children also have disabilities, special needs and/or HIV/AIDS. Normally there are 25-35 children at the home at any one time and the children can be aged from babies through to late teens.
Liberty strives not only to provide a child with food and shelter but to provide an environment where children are respected, nurtured and treated as individuals. The priority is to ensure the health and happiness of every child in their care.
The Liberty campus consists of Liberty Children’s Home and Liberty Learning Centre. Liberty Learning Centre provides child-centred schooling to the pre-school age residents at Liberty Children’s Home, but the majority of its students live in the local community. The school draws upon the Montessori method of education that focuses on working with each child to develop independence, confidence and a desire to learn.
Location and free time
The Liberty campus is situated in the village of Ladyville, on the outskirts of Belize City. It's about 20 minutes to Belize City by bus so very easy to visit.
Belize has a lot to offer on the sea and mainland. There are 190 miles of barrier reef and three atolls for excellent diving, snorkelling, fishing, sailing, kayaking or relaxing with a good book on a hammock. Caye Caulker is a forty five minute water taxi from the Marine Terminal in Belize City. Ambergris Caye is one and a half hours by water taxi and twenty minutes by plane.
There are many great half day trips from Liberty House, including the Belize Zoo, cave tubing, zip lines and Altun Ha Maya site. The Museum of Belize and House of Culture in Belize City are both well worth visiting. Lamanai site is a full day trip by road and boat and combines Maya archeology, a jungle river trip, great birding, howler monkeys, crocs and manatees.
Volunteer accommodation
The volunteer house is located on campus; there are 4 volunteer bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The rooms sleep up to two people, so depending on how many volunteers are there you will normally share with another (same gender) volunteer. Internet and laundry facilities are available on campus. As the campus is shared with the children and staff it is completely smoking / drug / alcohol free and volunteers must respect this.
What’s included and where your money goes?
Child protection
GiveGo Travel is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults.
All volunteers are required to have a criminal records check, which we will arrange with you.
Start dates: Every week on a Wednesday
Duration: 2 - 12 weeks +
Cost: From £495
How will I make a difference?
There is a huge need for and benefit from having international volunteers spending time with the children, helping to build their confidence and communication skills and supporting the day to day running of the home.
By volunteering at the children's home you will help children who have had an incredibly tough start in life. Your support helps them to be reintegrated into society and gain an education which can mean the difference between a life of poverty and a life of opportunity and freedom.
With up to 40 children there at any one time, the children’s home is always grateful for extra pairs of hands to help out and it allows the children to receive more one-to-one attention which is incredibly important.
Read what past volunteers have said about this project in our Belize Children's Home reviews.
Children's home volunteering in Belize: What will I be doing?
You will normally volunteer for 5 days per week, with weekends free to relax and explore Belize (although you may be required to swap these to two weekdays depending on the needs of the home, especially when the children are on school holidays). The children follow a daily routine during school term-time with breakfast around 7.30am, then off to school and back around 3pm. Volunteers work Monday-Friday for approximately 40 hours a week, so expect to be kept busy!
Volunteers normally get up early and have breakfast with the children, then help with the running of the home during the day before spending time with the children when they return from school. During school holidays the children are around during the day as well so there is additional time to spend with them. School holidays are normally 2 weeks at Christmas, 2 weeks at Easter and 8 weeks in the summer.
There is always a lot going on to get involved with! Most volunteers work on a number of different activities; wherever help is needed most at the time. Each day will differ but activities could include:
- Caring for and socialising with the children
- Gardening / farming
- Animal care - looking after the chickens, ducks and pigs on site!
- Cooking and cleaning duties
- Assisting with admin
- Assisting with local fundraising events e.g. making posters, helping to organise an event
- Accompanying children and staff on trips outside of campus
- Reading books
- Art and crafts together
- Playing games outside
- Communicating with the children, listening to them and encouraging them to speak with you
There are normally 2-6 volunteers at the project with a maximum of 8 (and a maximum of 10 over the summer holidays).
More about the project
Liberty Foundation is a UK registered charity that exists to provide care, rehabilitation and education for abused and abandoned children in Belize. The children’s home is licensed to house up to 40 children, all of whom have been physically/sexually abused and/or abandoned and placed with them through Belize Human Services. Some of the children also have disabilities, special needs and/or HIV/AIDS. Normally there are 25-35 children at the home at any one time and the children can be aged from babies through to late teens.
Liberty strives not only to provide a child with food and shelter but to provide an environment where children are respected, nurtured and treated as individuals. The priority is to ensure the health and happiness of every child in their care.
The Liberty campus consists of Liberty Children’s Home and Liberty Learning Centre. Liberty Learning Centre provides child-centred schooling to the pre-school age residents at Liberty Children’s Home, but the majority of its students live in the local community. The school draws upon the Montessori method of education that focuses on working with each child to develop independence, confidence and a desire to learn.
Location and free time
The Liberty campus is situated in the village of Ladyville, on the outskirts of Belize City. It's about 20 minutes to Belize City by bus so very easy to visit.
Belize has a lot to offer on the sea and mainland. There are 190 miles of barrier reef and three atolls for excellent diving, snorkelling, fishing, sailing, kayaking or relaxing with a good book on a hammock. Caye Caulker is a forty five minute water taxi from the Marine Terminal in Belize City. Ambergris Caye is one and a half hours by water taxi and twenty minutes by plane.
There are many great half day trips from Liberty House, including the Belize Zoo, cave tubing, zip lines and Altun Ha Maya site. The Museum of Belize and House of Culture in Belize City are both well worth visiting. Lamanai site is a full day trip by road and boat and combines Maya archeology, a jungle river trip, great birding, howler monkeys, crocs and manatees.
Volunteer accommodation
The volunteer house is located on campus; there are 4 volunteer bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The rooms sleep up to two people, so depending on how many volunteers are there you will normally share with another (same gender) volunteer. Internet and laundry facilities are available on campus. As the campus is shared with the children and staff it is completely smoking / drug / alcohol free and volunteers must respect this.
What’s included and where your money goes?
- A comprehensive information booklet
- Support from your dedicated volunteer manager within the UK team
- Travel advice and assistance
- Return transfers from Belize International airport
- Induction
- Accommodation (a simple shared room)
- All main meals
- Support from the home director
Child protection
GiveGo Travel is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults.
All volunteers are required to have a criminal records check, which we will arrange with you.