Volunteer El Salvador
El Salvadoran's are famed for their friendliness and hospitality but in the last 30 years the population has suffered a brutal civil war followed by a series of devastating earthquakes and hurricanes, leaving the country as one of the poorest in Central America. However, the war is now firmly in the past and with a free trade agreement with the US and increased tourism helping a steadily growing economy things finally seem to be looking up for the population of El Salvador.
In spite of the recent improvements many of the areas of the country remain devastatingly poor and there is a real need for volunteers to help with the countries educational and social development. Travel to Teach work in schools and orphanages teaching English and teaching computers and between September and December we also work with turtle conservation projects.
Despite being the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America, El Salvador offers a broad range of environments. A range of volcanic mountains run through the middle of the country and there are large areas of natural forest, volcanic islands and beaches that provide some of the most renowned surfing in all of America.
Volunteer Locations
El Salvador Facts
Inhabitants: 7,185,218Capital City: San Salvador
Official Language: Spanish
Dominant Religion: 57.1% Catholic
Literacy Rate: 80.2%
Female Literacy: 77.7%
Gini, inequality index: 52.4
GDP/Capita: 3,823
Our second volunter location in El Salvador is Meanguera Island which is situated in the Golf of Fonseca, and part of the volcanic archipelago which divides El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. Meanguera offers visitors the opportunity to visit deserted paradise beaches with jade coloured waters; to walk in the mountains with spectacular views across to the volcanoes of Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador; to visit archaeological sites; to watch sea birds; and best of all, to enjoy the island’s traditional fishing and delicious food.
Known as the "the City of the Hills" Santa Tecla is famous for its colonial houses, parks and mountains. Located 10 miles west of the El Salvadorian capital San Salvador City in a 900 metre valley, Santa Tecla provides an excellent base for volunteers to explore the rest of El Salvador.
Combine volunteering in El Salvador with stays in Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador or Mexico
Combinations
Liesl"As I haul my luggage out the doors of Comalapa International Airport, El Salvador a million thoughts run wild through my head. What if no one comes to pick me up? What if I don't like my host family? What if I don't like my project? Was I crazy to commit to 6 whole months in a foreign country? "
Read Liesl’s Volunteer Story