Volunteer

Join Xela AID and Art Ambassadors on an Art and Service Trip! Art Ambassador and Xela AID present this exciting retreat for artists, photographers and people who appreciate art! Join us for a deeply enriching cultural experience where you’ll meet local people clad in the colorful attire of the Maya! Your journey will be rife with beautiful and varied landscapes and architecture on this highly recommended adventure where you will be able to “take thousands of pictures for painting reference for years to come,” notes Master PleinAir Artist Kevin Macpherson. Your expert guides will take you through Guatemala’s most beautiful places, and you will enjoy mentoring and critique sessions with Kevin. Participants can paint the stunning vistas and people of the colonial city of Antigua, the highlands Quiché-Maya city of Quetzaltenango (Xela), the rural Mám-Maya village of San Martín Chiquito, and breathtaking Lake Atitlan. Grow your expertise while you mentor budding young Mayan artists. All model fees are included. Accommodations: Antigua (Aurora Hotel), Xela (Bonifaz), Atitlan (Casa del Mundo) Trip Leaders: Kevin Macpherson/This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Joel Heger/This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with Mel Dinkel (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and Leslie Baer Dinkel (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) providing logistical support.

Orientation Date: Saturday, October 5, 2019 – 9 AM-Noon (call-in information will be provided

Trip Leaders:

Rotarian Orin Abrams, Anaheim Hills Rotary • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
District 5320 Foundation Governor, Kevin Padilla, Placentia Rotary • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Top-Rated Accommodations in 3 Locations:
• Quetzaltenango, Pensión Bonifaz
• Atitlan - Casa del Mundo
• Antigua - La Aurora 

Come as a Rotarian or a private citizen to collaborate on Rotary and community development projects that will take advantage of your interests and unique talents! We’ll enjoy fellowship with one another while volunteering and exploring the bounty of Guatemala’s most beautiful places. We will travel in comfort on this service trip which includes luxury accommodations, transportation, entry to attractions, tours and many meals across four distinct locations, as well as a deeply enriching service experience working side by side with the Maya of “El Area Mám”— a culture-rich, resource-poor enclave in the Guatemalan highlands. Airfare is not included. Cost $2880

9 Days, 8 Nights with Optional Add-On at Lake Atitlán

Dates: June 6-14/16, 2020

Group Orientation: Date to be arranged

Trip Leaders: Mel (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and Leslie Dinkel (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

Share your talents to help empower women, children and families in the Mayan village of San Martín Chiquito, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. This cultural immersion service adventure will introduce participants to the tremendous beauty, bounty and poverty that exist side-by-side in this country which, going south from Mexico, is the gateway to Central America. Meet and work side by side with the Mayan people as they share their rich culture and strive to overcome the great hardships inherent to many developing nations. Your participation will provide support for critical programs that improve health, promote and deliver education, and create job opportunities. Together, these opportunities empower Mayan communities to thrive, and make it possible for them to build meaningful live at home with their families.

Included: All lodging, transportation, many materials for service projects, in-country experts, many meals and entrance to many attractions. Airfare is not included.

Trip Cost (Double/Triple Occupancy): $1,598/$2,148

9-Night, 10-Day Custom Trip

Trip Leaders – Ashlee Palka (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and Molly Corbin (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) with Mel and Leslie Dinkel accompanying • Includes all accommodations, transportation, many meals and activities as listed. Air transportation is not included (see suggested flights below)

Group Orientation by Phone: Date to be arranged

Join us on this adventure in service across three locations, including: Quetzaltenango and the village of San Martín Chiquito in the lush Guatemalan highlands, and breathtaking Lake Atitlán. We will match your talents and interests to meet critical needs in this Mayan village where Mám is the native language. Click “Details” to learn more!

Trip Cost (Double/Triple Occupancy): $2045