Consciente was founded in 2012 as an initiative by committed people from El Salvador for creative and critical education for all. The organization is coordinated by a local team and funded by a Swiss support association. The vision is a good and accessible education for all, as a prerequisite for taking the future into the own hands and improving living conditions through own efforts. The organization is based in the northern province of El Salvador (Morazan). Various projects for and with children and young people from this region are coordinated from the provincial capital of San Francisco Gotera. The organization's three main areas of focus are :
- Scholarship program, which provides young people with a technical or university education.
- Program for educational innovation, which is strongly aimed at teachers and primary school children, in addition with creative ideas for mathematics and language, pursues the goal of mental health in schools.
- Program for Sustainability, which promotes knowledge and social engagement on key social issues such as gender, environment, health and democracy.
The projects are all implemented in an interactive way through theater, music, art and craft. The location of the various projects is diverse and varies from schools to cultural and youth centers to communities.
The first few weeks are pre-structured with project visits. The volunteer can then start their own project with the help of the volunteer coordinator and local staff. This includes leading regular courses, workshops or activities on the organization's existing focus topics. It is possible to implement your own small project, taking into account the organizational goals and vision.
Good to very good knowledge of Spanish is required. Independence in thinking and working, as well as independence in ideas. Volunteers are expected to be highly flexible and open to new ideas, restructuring and project planning. Volunteers observe, ask questions and then take action.
Experience in the key areas of education, sustainability and health or in coaching and teaching is an advantage for the volunteer assignment.
After consultation with volunteers, local employees organize a room in a student residence, shared flat with other employees or with a host family. The accommodation costs around 150 dollars per month and can be handed over to the organization's manager on arrival or on a monthly basis. If the accommodation is your own apartment, it will be more expensive. The costs only cover the accommodation with electricity, water and equipment. If the volunteer wishes transportation from the airport to Gotera, the transportation and fuel costs must be covered. During the stay, food and groceries must be bought and prepared by the volunteer.
Touristic visa of 90 days
If necessary, insurance must be taken out or adjusted by the volunteer before departure.
See "accomodation and food"
After interested volunteers have attended the preparation weekend and the criteria have been checked by the SCI, the application must be submitted to Consciente. The application form must be submitted in Spanish and a response from Consciente's volunteer coordinator will follow in the next two weeks. A videocall is scheduled to get to know each other and the next steps with the Consciente organization are discussed directly. If volunteers are asked to fill out an entry document on an airplane, please write as traveling reason “vacations”. Volunteering is not so common and well-known in El Salvador and could lead to problems upon entry the country. In addition to the work in the projects, getting to know the local culture, nature and environment should not be neglected and so excursions are undertaken with the volunteers from time to time. After a stay in the country of 90 days, you must extend your visa in San Salvador for a further 90 days. If you stay longer than 180 days, the local staff will help you organize a trip to Costa Rica by bus so that you can leave the CA4 countries and enter them again. On arrival at the airport in San Salvador, an entry fee of approx. 12 dollars is charged at customs.
- Find a project that interests you in our Open Projects
- Find your local organisation in your country of residence using our branch locator
- Get in touch with them with details about the project(s) you want to apply to. They will become your sending organisation.
- Any issues? Contact us!
