Learn Spanish & Volunteer

Course description

Our most exciting program – volunteer in Cuba during the first two weeks of every month. Can be taken for one or both weeks.

Stay in a Casa Particulare in the heart of Old Havana. Spanish language lessons Monday to Friday in the mornings. While the afternoons activities alternate between volunteering and cultural excursions. Weekend trips feature the beach and helping out at the Paseo del Prado ‘arts & crafts’ project.

Accommodation included - accommodation, breakfast & lunch included throughout in either dorm rooms for solo travellers. Shared double, twin private rooms with en suites if booking more than one person. Single room supplement also available.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

* Live in the heart of Old Habana and enjoy a full immersion into Cuban life. A unique opportunity to volunteer in Cuba and really understand what makes this amazing country so special

* Busy program includes accommodation, breakfast & lunch and Spanish lessons throughout. Also volunteering in the community with Cuban people to turbo charge your Spanish

* Start dates first two weeks of every month - ideally arriving Sunday/during the weekend... we are open
365 days a year!

* 18+ program with no upper age limit. Minors welcome if accompanied by an adult - this program is family friendly!). We welcome all ages & nationalities!

* Program Managers and all Cuban crew will help you feel at home providing 24/7 support

* Support the Cuban People - volunteer in Cuba program complies with US travel restrictions

OVERVIEW

This program starts and finishes in Havana with airport transfers available on request. Our main language school/hostel – Casa Corazon Cuba – was purpose renovated in 2015 and features same sex dorm rooms. Separate toilet and shower facilities, dining & classrooms, two spacious roof terraces. Lots of other quality space to relax and enjoy the atmosphere and make friends with other program participants and our amazing local team. If you prefer your own space or book with a partner or friends then accommodation is at a nearby Casa Particulare where we have double, twin and triple rooms available with en suite/private bathrooms.

Wherever you stay Spanish lessons, lunch, program meetings and inpromtu social activities take place at Casa Corazon Cuba.

Monday to Friday features a busy daytime schedule of Spanish lessons in the mornings. Also cultural excursions and volunteer in Cuba activities in the afternoons. The weekends are more relaxed with trips to the beach and of course the legendary Habana nightlife!

LEARN SPANISH IN CUBA

Monday to Friday’s intensive Spanish lessons take place shortly after breakfast. Tuition is delivered by an accredited and licensed Cuban teachers and on day one you receive a short test to establish your level and objectives. Lessons take the format of 3 x 45 minute lessons each morning, with 15 minute breaks to refresh. This makes approximately 3 hours of learn Spanish each day – 15 hours per week. Lessons are held from 09:00 sharp, Monday to Friday.

* To help learn Spanish in Cuba ‘Cultural Immersion’ content features additional Spanish language tuition, oral comprehension and dialogue (approx. 4 hours per week).

VOLUNTEER IN CUBA

When you start packing we ask you to consider bringing something to donate; such as any sports items, children’s toys… and arts & crafts items. We’re not asking you to go shopping or break your budget, just ask around and see if there are unused or under used things lying around yours or friends houses that might be put to more productive use here. Cuba is still subject to heavy hitting sanctions and a trade embargo imposed by her next door neighbour! For more details about or main volunteer partners, see below;

InSurgentes
InSurgentes is our newest volunteer partnership with local communities in and around Habana Vieja. At the moment our volunteers are helping to create a green space at Sol420 – Aula Ecológica (Ecological Classroom). Other InSurgentes projects include recycling organic materials into educational games at Fábrica de Bicicletas y Juguetes. This ambitious collaboration with DVV International includes a commitment to produce bicycles with wooden frames and other initiatives to raise ecological and environmental awareness – Eco Urbanism – in this vibrant neighbourhood.

Arco Iris & Barrio Habana Vieja Community Centre’s
We work with kids, and support volunteer organisers with maintenance and kids activities in Habana Vieja & Centro. The kids include those from broken and troubled families. In addition to creating a fun filled space, our focus is to give its members better preparation for adulthood and parenthood. A variety of classes are given, but focus always remains on social skills and confidence building. Activities include acting, dancing and singing classes and we often make presentations with our volunteers.

Sports Complejo
The sports complejo has been the main sports facility for all the schools in Habana Vieja for generations. It is a very established facility but lacks basic facilities. Sports run at this location include; baseball, volleyball, athletics, wrestling, basketball and judo in the near future.

We support sports in Cuba whenever possible and the benefits sports bring to society are well known to Cubans. We follow their lead, improving facilities and donating equipment are where our support is most required.

DISCOVER CUBA

In its day Havana was one of the most important and wealthy cities on the planet. The source of this wealth is undoubtedly controversial and Cuba’s more recent history is testament to this controversy. The faded patina of Havana’s gorgeous neo classical architecture, rumble of classic American cars and curious soviet era high rise buildings force you to question – what is Cuba?

We would like to help you answer this question through a series of cultural excursions and encounters with Cuban people. These will comprise three ‘sessions’ per week, usually Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 14:00. The four week program includes a schedule of 11 different cultural excursions and the two week program includes 6 cultural excursions. The format is varied, for example, a guided tour of a museum, or a weekend excursion down ‘Paseo del Prado’ to see the free open air art classes and discussion groups, or a sporting event such as baseball or basketball game or other ‘event’ where there is a big social gathering.

These cultural experiences and excursions are with our trained local guides who will show you how to buy (and spend!) local peso’s, take local transport and generally make you feel at home and comfortable with your new surroundings.

WEEKEND EXCURSIONS

During the weekends we enjoy a daytrip to a beach directly east of Havana. Journey time is 30 minutes by bus and you can enjoy the exhilarating rollers that break on these pristine sandy beaches.

There is also the option to volunteer on the Paseo del Prado where local aritist's give free arts and crafts classes to local kids!