AS A SMALLER WORLD PARTICIPANT, you will work alongside local families, staff and other volunteers on a variety of projects that improve quality of living while restoring the environment.  Immersed in the local culture and language, you will see a part of Central America that most tourists never experience. 

A day with a host community might go something like this:
Wake up at dawn to the sound of the rooster crowing and your host mother and sisters starting the fire and grinding corn for the morning meal.  You lend a hand, placing fresh tortillas on the family's new wood-conserving stove.  After breakfast, meet with your fellow volunteers and group leaders to discuss the day's work projects.

Your group will help out with several projects that day including planting a garden at the school, helping a family build a solar dryer for their new crop of ginger and planting tree seedlings around the community watershed area.  You decide to take part in the tree planting and work alongside local families to transplant young mahogany, ceder, cacao, starfruit and avocado trees.  Take a break for lunch when the sun gets hot in the middle of the day.  Enjoy a traditional lunch of "caldo" (Mayan chicken soup) and maybe some fresh veggies from the families' new vegetable garden.  Take a quick dip in the river before returning to finish up the tree planting in the afternoon.

After work, stop by the community school and join in a soccer game with the kids or join a group of woman as they roast coffee.  Your group of volunteers gathers again in the evening before dinner to share stories of their activities that day and make plans for the rest of the week.  Return to your host family in the evening for a dinner of rice and beans and discussion by candlelight after the sun goes down.  Settle down for bed to the sound of howler monkeys calling in the distance above your host family's thatched roof.

You will experience firsthand how we implement sustainable farming practices and learn how SHI’s model of agriculture extension works. In addition to volunteer projects, your trip will also include excursions to local cultural and historic sites, including Mayan ruins and national parks with an emphasis on supporting local sustainable tourism practices (see our Mindful Travel Guidelines).

Our trips are open to individuals, families or groups such as schools, congregations, clubs or groups of friends.  SHI staff will travel with your Smaller World Tour to provide logistical support, translation and lead activities.  We do our best to match volunteers with projects that fit their interest and skills. We welcome you or your group to contact our office to arrange a trip around your schedule, interest or area of study.

We offer a variety of tours including: workshops for educators, sustainable chocolate tours, student trips, family adventures and trips with themes such as beekeeping, dairy goats and family nutrition. Accommodations vary depending on the trip you chose, but options include homestays, rustic community lodges, hotels and luxury eco-lodges.  Regardless of where you stay, our work areas are in rural communities and volunteers should be ready to be without the comforts of city living. Many of our participant families do not have electricity or running water in their homes.  Communities are close-knit and extended families live closely together.  Meals include traditional foods prepared by families but you are encouraged to lend a hand.

Our goal is to create long-term community partnerships that build greater understanding among participants of the issues of sustainability facing both cultures.  We are indebted to people like you who support our programs.  We think of our Smaller World Tour volunteers as SHI ambassadors and hope that you will share your experiences with your community when you return home.

Below is a sample trip itinerary.  Please see our schedule for upcoming trips or contact our office if you would like to schedule a trip for your group or organization.  We look forward to working with you in Central America!

SAMPLE SMALLER WORLD TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1: Travel
You will travel with your group to the work site and meet with local staff and participant families.  Attend an evening presentation by local staff.

Day 2: Orientation/Farm Visits
You and your group will tour family farms, see the scope of SHI's program and learn about the volunteer projects your group will take part in over the week. 

Days 3 - 7: Community Projects
Your work groups of 4-6 people lead by a local staff member will take part in projects at our demonstration sites, schools and on family farms.  Projects may include constructing wood-conserving stoves, chicken coops, planting gardens, building irrigation systems, tree planting and erosion control.  Work projects usually start early in the day.  Meals are prepared by local families and there is time each day for reflection and activities in the community (such as visiting the local school or swimming hole).  During the week, the you will have the opportunity to do homestays if you choose (in small groups of at least 2 volunteers per household). 

Day 8-9: R&R
You and your group will embark on a sightseeing excursion to another part of the country. Depending on the interest of your group and the country you are working in, this may include a combination of visiting ancient Mayan ruins, a volcano hike, bird watching, snorkeling, relaxing at the beach, touring the Panama Canal, salsa dancing, white water rafting, swimming, waterfall hikes, shopping and exploring national parks.

Day 10: Travel
You will now return home or continue traveling on your own.