Volunteer Testimonials

Teaching English

We led an English class 3 days per week for 7 weeks, and this experience was the best part of our time in Guatemala, by far. The kids showed up each day eager to learn English, and it was incredibly rewarding to watch them master each week's topic. I cannot say enough about the intelligence, kindness and character of each one of the kids who (little did they know) taught us more than we could have taught them. The staff at Open Windows share a genuine motivation to meet students where they are and ensure that they get the attention and education that every kid deserves. Serving as a volunteer with this group of students and staff was a privilege and we would encourage anyone who is eager to volunteer in a truly meaningful way to volunteer at Open Windows. Returning to the United States is harder because Open Windows is not there.   Michael and Masha

Eco-Stoves and Teaching

Volunteering at Open Windows was the highlight of my year. The experience was unfamiliar and familiar at once. As a middle-class American, I grew up taking for granted potable water, access to education, and free time to just be a kid without needing to work; in these communities I came face to face with the reality of what it means to grow up in a developing nation. At the same time, I found unexpected and beautiful common human threads that brought us close across the class and cultural divide.  I really think you can’t come here without the experience changing you as a person. It was so rewarding to donate both money to buy the community eco-stoves and my personal time to install them as part of the volunteer team. As opposed to just donating money, I gained the richness of interaction with and understanding of the families I served. 

 Beyond installing eco-stoves, I stayed on at Open Windows to volunteer teaching the children who visit the learning center each day. This too was an incredibly rewarding experience - I have gained such an appreciation for my own access to education and a new desire to learn more about development and how I can be a part of the solution for children in non-legacy areas of the world. Plus, it was so fun to use my Spanish and work with the kids, who were so open and loving. -Christina

Painting a Day Care Center in San Miguel Dueñas

We [high school teachers and students] just recently completed our fourth volunteer experience with Open Windows with our first in 2010. Each time we’ve partnered with them, the experience has been unique and always meaningful. Working with Open Windows has not only given us invaluable volunteer experience, but also the chance to develop meaningful relationships with the community of Dueñas and with the children and staff at Open Windows. The partnership with Open Windows has enriched the lives of each of our team leaders and students and we can’t wait to return!  -Lois

Teaching

Advice to the new volunteers: Don’t be shy, the children are all very nice and are eager to learn or at least play and read. I would recommend OW because I think that working with children with a different cultural background is an interesting and enjoyable experience.  -Lisa J.

Houses and Eco-Stoves

2020 is the fourth year Gail and I have worked on projects organized by Open Windows.  In 2017 we helped build a simple (by our standards) steel and wood frame home, two rooms plus a small toilet.  Seeing Yemi, the seven year-old daughter, doing a “happy dance” in the new kitchen was a vision that will stay with us forever!

In 2018 the team renovated the fire station roof in Dueñas, also adding a dormitory for the female fire fighters.  2019 saw the team construct a home for Marvin, Susie, and their two children. This time it was constructed of concrete blocks (900 of them) with the walls reinforced vertically and horizontally to “earthquake-proof” it.

Installing eco-stoves was the project that Open Windows had set up for us in 2020.  During this trip our team installed 30 eco-stoves, 22 in the neighboring village of Alotenango, and the remaining eight in Duenas.  Thirty families now have cleaner air in their homes, less daily labor collecting wood, plus the economic advantage of burning less wood. -Chris