There are many areas lacking in Roatan and the rest of Honduras, including medical care and education. Several non-profits are working to improve these areas, and you can help! There's no better way to enrich your stay than to give of your time. We love to support local charities: we donate 10% of each stay to one of the non-profits on the island with our 'spin the wheel' campaign.
You can also earn yourself a free hostel stay by helping out around the hostel.
You can also earn yourself a free hostel stay by helping out around the hostel.
Hostel Volunteer
Help out in the hostel in exchange for a free stay a shared volunteer room. It's about 20 hours of helping per week- mostly cleaning, laundry and gardening, wherever needed. You have the rest of the day to enjoy the island: head out snorkeling, do a dive, lounge by the pool, go ziplining, or any of the other great activities around Roatan. Minimum commitment is 6 weeks. Volunteers must be at least 22 and speak fluent English. Some Spanish is helpful. email [email protected] to see the next availability for a volunteer position.
Healthcare Clinic
Whether you have a medical background or not, Clinica Esperanza can use your help! The clinic provides extremely low-cost medical and dental care to anyone in need. Doctors, nurses, and medical students can assist with medical services, while non-medically trained individuals can help with cleaning, painting and other much needed jobs. If you have room in your bag, donated medications such as ibuprofen, baby asprin and vitamins are always welcome. The clinic is a 3 minute walk from Roatan Backpackers' Hostel.
Schools and Educational Programs
The SOL Foundation works with children, including sports programs and a community center for homework help and other activities.
If you'd like to help out in a school, Bay Islands International School is a short 5 minute walk away, and has great volunteer options working with various age groups.
Abundant Life Foundation in Flowers' Bay supports islanders through educational programs, a public -access park, library and computer lab, agricultural farm and through affordable housing community. Volunteers can help with the library, reading practice, maintenance and repair at the housing project, and farm work. Flowers Bay can be reached by taking a bus from the hostel to Coxen Hole, and then a 2nd bus from there to Flowers Bay
If you'd like to help out in a school, Bay Islands International School is a short 5 minute walk away, and has great volunteer options working with various age groups.
Abundant Life Foundation in Flowers' Bay supports islanders through educational programs, a public -access park, library and computer lab, agricultural farm and through affordable housing community. Volunteers can help with the library, reading practice, maintenance and repair at the housing project, and farm work. Flowers Bay can be reached by taking a bus from the hostel to Coxen Hole, and then a 2nd bus from there to Flowers Bay
Dwellings
Want to help build a home? Dwellings provides homes for underprivileged individuals who are nominated by someone: they have to own their own property, and fundraising is done to cover the materials. If you like to swing a hammer, this might be the perfect volunteer opportunity for you, if they have a build going on while you're on Roatan.
Roatan Because We Care
This wonderful organization distributes groceries to families in need, supplies school uniforms and backpacks, helps victims of fires and medical emergencies, and arranges yearly community activities such as seniors' luncheons and kids Christmas parties.
Roatan Marine Park
Roatan's beautiful coral reef is one of the main tourist attractions, and the Roatan Marine Park came into existence in order to protect this treasure. The marine park is responsible for several initiatives, including installing and maintaining mooring buoys for dive sites, doing patrols to ensure that the illegal harvesting of conchs and lobsters within the marine reserve does not occur, organizing beach and reef clean ups, and providing education in schools. If you'd like to be a part of their efforts, volunteers are welcome.
Animal Welfare
If you have a soft spot for animals, try contacting ROAR or Rescue the Rescue to see how you can help out. There are frequently spay-neuter clinics on the island that need volunteers.