Volunteer Abroad

Volunteer with Project El Salvador, a program of Epilogos led by Mike and Susie Jenkins.

A Warm Welcome from Mike and Susie

Mike and Susie Jenkins have lived in San Jose Villanueva, La Libertad, since 2002. They will be your guides for your volunteer experience with Epilogos. You’ll eat with Mike and Susie, meet their neighbors, and work alongside villagers on projects to improve the community. In the process, you’ll make new friends and receive gifts beyond your imagination.

How to Volunteer

You may volunteer in El Salvador with Epilogos as an individual or as a group of two or more. The Epilogos volunteer site can accommodate up to 12 people; groups of more than 12 can be accommodated at a nearby retreat center. In addition, you may join a group led by Epilogos board members who organize a trip several times each year. All trips must be planned when either Mike or Susie Jenkins is present in the village, unless you’re working with other authorized agencies in San Jose Villanueva. We make every effort to meet your scheduling needs. Individual and group applications are available. Please provide more than one date preference for your trip. Applications are processed in the order received.

Guidelines for Individuals

• You must be at least 18 years of age to volunteer as an individual.
• In addition to completing an application, you will be interviewed by Mike or Susie Jenkins or their representative.
• Some ability to speak Spanish is desired, but not a must.

Guidelines for Groups

• Your group leaders must take initiative and responsibility for your group, unless your trip is led by members of the Epilogos board. Mike and Susie Jenkins are available as guides. However, Epilogos has no paid staff in El Salvador. Therefore, no one is available to lead your group on a daily basis.
• Mike and Susie will connect you with projects. There is always plenty for volunteers to do. However, you’ll need to remain flexible and open to schedule and project changes.
• All members of your group must be at least 14 years old. Those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian throughout the trip.

Cost of Your Trip

Your cost to travel to El Salvador to volunteer with Epilogos includes:

• Plane Fare: You are responsible for making your own plane reservations and paying the roundtrip fare to San Salvador, El Salvador.
• Meals and Shelter (Payment in Advance): $270 per week (5–7 days) or $40 per day for additional days. This covers your lodging at the volunteer house or a nearby retreat center in San Jose Villanueva, three meals daily at the Jenkins’ apartment (meals eaten out not included), and water. Transportation to and from the airport, plus 2 group excursions, is $50 per week. If you’re not staying at the volunteer house, but eating and meeting at the Jenkins’ house, the cost is $4 per meal plus $1 per day for use of the facility. At least two weeks prior to your scheduled departure time, send checks to Epilogos, P.O. Box 22, Nashua, NH 03061. If you are part of a group, please send either one check for the group or send all the individual checks together.
• Sightseeing and cultural trips in El Salvador: $30 suggested for various tips (cash only), which includes a suggested tip for the house administrator at the rate of $10 per week.
• Airport fees: $10 tourism visa fee on arrival at the San Salvador airport (cash only); and $29 exit fee when flying out of the San Salvador airport (cash only).
• Extra transportation: For transportation beyond airport transfers and to project sites, or if you are not paying the weekly fee of $270 (includes a $50 transportation allowance), the cost of transportation in El Salvador is $.485 per mile per vehicle.
• Donation for project(s): Epilogos requires that you raise $500 in your community to help sustain future Epilogos projects and to spread awareness of the many needs of the people of El Salvador. Contact us for suggestions on how you can raise funds.

Trip Liability

As with any travel, especially in developing countries, you need to evaluate potential risks. The volunteer Epilogos Board will help you coordinate your trip, but is not responsible for travelers. You assume all liability for your trip.   Read more about Liability Release, click here.

Etiquette for Volunteers with Respect to Villagers

The people of San Jose Villanueva who receive project assistance from Epilogos contribute either manual labor, a percentage of the cost of the project, or both. We ask all volunteers to refrain from helping individuals outside of specified Epilogos projects. Cash or other donations directly to individuals is a sensitive issue, given the enormous unmet needs in El Salvador. Please ask us about appropriate ways you can help.

We are happy to advise!

 
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