If you thinking of taking a break and do something different? How does 3-6 months volunteering in Honduras sound? Add to that not a word of Spanish? This is what I decided to do leaving an exhausting commute and boring PR job to see what this beautiful country had to hold for me.
I have never been a natural born leader, but I didn’t let that stop me so please don’t let it you! One of the biggest things which learnt whilst as a team leader is that I could do it! I could organise and motivate a team, comfort someone when it all got a bit too much. Having been lucky enough to do a bit of travelling before I knew not to panic at a tummy bug and how to get by and make some friends with even the smallest bit of the local language.
Having the role of leader, really brings out of all the skills which you have learnt in your life experience. Being given responsibility for something means that you become so invested in it. I think the realisation of what we had achieved came in the last week of the project for me. By week 12 we had all become a slightly dysfunctional family. We had several small but significant events that week which really drummed home to me how far we had come. One included the opening of the business ‘Lencas Unidas’ a micro-enterprise made up of local indigenous women, (if you do ever find yourself in Honduras and in need of a bag or cushion cover please do check them out!).
Seeing what we had achieved, the women so happy and knowing that the project is going to have a lasting impact on their lives is an experience which I will never forget. Then came the leaving day at the school where we had been teaching English and computer classes, seeing the groups’ relationships with all of the students that they had taught and the impact that had been made both ways was wonderful to see. Finally, for the rest of the week we had set up to sell or products in the local park, seeing the whole groups dedication sitting out in the sun and somewhat aggressively selling the bags ‘QUIERE COMPRA UNA BOLSA’ – I could see the dedication which the group had to the project and its success.
In my time in Honduras I saw the group and myself change so much over the 12 weeks. We had become exactly the definition of a team supporting each other and ourselves through the strange/challenging/fun experience of being a volunteer of in Honduras. The biggest piece of advice that I could give to a team leader is listen to your team, the national volunteers and everyone one else around. I learned so much for everyone, they gave the best ideas and inspired me every day.
So if you’re taking a break from work, study and have a bit of travelling experience or project management this is definitely something which you should consider. This country offers so many unique experiences every day. Plus, the fact that you can leave knowing that you have contributed something positive to the country that’s housed you for 3-6 months. The experience will push you far out of your comfort zone into something much more exciting. To end with one massively cheesy quote ‘try not to think about what you could loose but what you could gain’.
Blog written by Kathryn Kay: Team leader in Honduras Jan-March 2016.
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