Casa Shalom Internship Program Application
Thank you for your interest in joining the Casa Shalom Orphanage internship program. Please read the information included in the following pages to find out more about the internship program. If you would like to apply for the program, please fill out the application below and return it to us at along with three letters of reference from non-relatives, and a background check dated within the last 3 months. Please note that application to the internship program does not guarantee acceptance. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
God bless you!
Drew & Cindy Metcalf
Directors of Internship Programs at Casa Shalom Orphanage
Name: ______Date of birth (All interns must be over 18):______
Address: ______
Email address: ______Occupation: ______
1. How did you hear about Casa Shalom? ______
2. Have you ever spent time outside of the United States? If so, how much?
______
3. Do you speak Spanish? ______
4. Do you have any special skills that you could use at the orphanage?
______
5. Do you have any experience working with children or teenagers?
______
6. What is your religious background?
______
7. What is your primary motivation for applying to the Casa Shalom Internship Program?
______
8. During what time of the year are you interested in volunteering at Casa Shalom?
______
I acknowledge that I have read the Casa Shalom Internship Program information packet in its entirety and that I agree to abide by the rules of the program, if I am accepted into the program.
Signature: ______Date: ______
When can I volunteer at Casa Shalom?
Casa Shalom accepts interns year-around. Internships are available for a period of 6 weeks up to 1 year. Casa Shalom accepts a limited number of interns at a time, so dates will need to be chosen with the help of the directors, and application to the program does not guarantee acceptance as an intern.
Where will I stay at Casa Shalom?
The children at the orphanage are in various houses based on gender and age, and volunteers may stay in the home of children of the same gender. Female interns may stay in the home of the babies, small girls or teen girls and male volunteers stay in the home of the small boys, pre-teen boys, or teen boys. We will provide you with training when you arrive, so no worries.
Where will I eat at Casa Shalom?
All interns may eat 3 meals a day in the orphanage cafeteria with the children. They should expect to eat a diet of typical Guatemalan food like black beans, rice, tortillas, eggs and vegetables. People with special dietary needs should not apply to the internship program as Casa Shalom’s kitchen will be not be able to meet their dietary needs. Casa Shalom’s interns are welcome to purchase their own snacks, but must provide their own transportation (public bus or taxi) to and from the supermarket, which is about ten minutes away from the orphanage, and must use their own funds to purchase snacks.
What jobs will I perform as an intern at Casa Shalom?
Interns will be expected to collaborate in any area of the home. Duties will include helping the children’s house mothers care for them, washing their clothes, cleaning the houses, and more. Interns may also work in the orphanage’s kitchen, chicken farm, gardens or as tutors. Work at the orphanage is not glamorous, but is very rewarding. Interns should be prepared to work with the house parents, tutors and maintenance crew at the orphanage. If there is a short-term missions team from the United States at Casa Shalom during the intern’s stay, the intern will still be expected to live/work/eat with their assigned home and will not be working/eating with the missions team.
How much does it cost to stay at Casa Shalom?
We ask a minimal cost of $300.00 for an internship. This helps us begin to cover the cost of food, transportation to and from the airport, and utilities used while at the orphanage. If interns stay for a long time, we ask that you consider a donation to help us cover more costs.
Of course, interns must pay for their own airline tickets, and any “extras” while at Casa Shalom (snacks, toiletries, medical care, internet café, meals outside the orphanage, taxi and bus fare, etc.) This fee must be paid prior to the intern’s arrival at Casa Shalom, and is non-refundable. Checks can be sent to (please put “Casa Shalom internship” in the memo line):
International Orphan Support, PO Box 641607, Omaha, NE 68164
We recommend that interns have at least $150.00 per month in spending money, not including funds to buy souvenirs and the $300 program fee. For all money you plan to exchange for Guatemalan currency (Quetzales) to spend at the market and purchase “extras”, the dollars need to be crisp, unmarked bills with no tears. Guatemalan banks will automatically reject any bill that has any markings whatsoever or any tears and you will be unable to exchange that bill or spend it while in Guatemala. The best place to exchange dollars for Quetzales is in the Guatemala City airport upon arrival.
Casa Shalom has a firm policy of not lending money to orphanage employees , interns or volunteers. We require you have to have access to a source of funding (credit card, bank account, etc.) in case of emergency. In case of emergency, the orphanage will not cover your medical costs, transport, etc.
Will I have access to transportation to and from Casa Shalom?
All interns should fly into “La Aurora” airport in Guatemala City. Interns arriving at La Aurora airport in between the hours of 10 am and 5 pm Monday – Friday will be picked up from the airport by a member of Casa Shalom’s staff. Those arriving outside of those hours will be responsible for arranging their own transportation to the orphanage, which is nearly an hour from the airport (by taxi, public bus, etc). Casa Shalom is located 10 minutes by car from the nearest town, and members of Casa Shalom’s staff make trips into town several times a week. Interns are welcome to accompany them in order to shop at the supermarket, go to the internet café, etc, but interns will not be allowed to drive Casa Shalom’s vehicles. If a trip is not being made by a member of Casa Shalom’s staff, an intern is welcome to call a taxi or take a public bus into town. Again, interns should not rely on the directors for transportation.
How will I communicate with my family and friends while I’m at Casa Shalom?
Most cell phones from the United States will not work in Guatemala, so interns are encouraged to purchase an inexpensive Guatemalan pre-paid cell phone, which can be bought for around $20.00, or look into one of several internet-based calling apps for smart phones. Minutes can be purchased in order to call the United States and no contract needs to be signed. While at Casa Shalom, interns will have access to wireless internet only if they bring their own device (smart phone or laptop) and only when the internet is functioning, as it frequently tends to go out. Interns should not count on having internet access every day.
Do I need a visa to travel to Guatemala?
While a valid United States passport is needed to enter Guatemala, visitors staying less than 3 months do not need a visa.
What clothing and supplies will I need while in Guatemala?
Although Guatemala is located in Central America, the orphanage is located at 6,500 feet above sea level, which means the climate is fairly cold. We recommend that all volunteers bring a mixture of cold-weather clothing (sweatshirts, long-sleeved shirts and pants, warm pajamas) and warm-weather clothing (t-shirts). In keeping with Guatemalan culture, we ask that if an intern of either gender wants wear shorts that they be at least knee-length. This rule applies to both inside the children’s homes and when working outside the home. Tank tops are prohibited. All volunteers should bring work clothes that they aren’t afraid to get dirty or paint-stained, and at least one dressy outfit to wear to church or on special occasions. Interns should not have facial piercings, as this is not acceptable in Guatemalan culture. Earrings are ok for female volunteers.
Along with all personal hygiene supplies, clothing and medicine, all interns should bring a flashlight, personal reading material, ear plugs, a camera and extra batteries, flip-flops for the shower and refillable water bottle. The Guatemalan rainy season begins in April and ends in October, so volunteers working during the rainy season should pack at least one umbrella, a rain poncho, and a pair of rain boots as it will rain heavily every day during these months. Volunteers should refrain from packing expensive, irreplaceable items like video equipment, jewelry, and mp3 players. The orphanage cannot be held responsible for the loss or damage of such items. Volunteers are encouraged to bring a camera and take photos with the children, but the camera should always be closely guarded.
Do I need to speak Spanish to be an intern at Casa Shalom?
While speaking fluent Spanish isn’t a requirement to be accepted into the internship program, interns should speak some level of rudimentary Spanish. The Directors and other English speakers at Casa Shalom maintain a very busy schedule and will not be able to accompany you throughout the day to translate.
What kind of shots will I need to travel to Guatemala?
In additional to regular vaccinations, we recommend that all interns have an up-to-date tetanus shot and typhoid shot. Malaria pills are not needed, due to the orphanage’s altitude. Please contact your local travel clinic for a complete list of recommended vaccinations.
What else do I need to know about my stay at Casa Shalom?
Tap water is contaminated all across Guatemala. Drinking it will likely make you very sick, so at no time should interns drink the tap water at the orphanage! Interns should bring a reusable water bottle and should refill their bottle from the water filter in the orphanage’s kitchen. Filtered water should also be used for brushing your teeth. Toilet paper must not be flushed anywhere in Guatemala. In all the bathrooms at the orphanage, you will find a small trashcan next to the toilet, where all toilet paper should be placed. Flushing toilet paper will always cause a clog! While the orphanage does have running water and electricity, both have been known to go out for extended periods of time. Interns should be prepared to survive without one or both – flexibility is the name of the game in Guatemala!
Casa Shalom is a Christian orphanage and is affiliated with the Church of God denomination, which is based in Cleveland, TN. While we do not require all volunteers to be Evangelical Christians, we do require them to adhere to Casa Shalom’s values. This means that smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages and using offensive language are all prohibited while at the orphanage. All interns will be expected to attend Sunday-morning and Wednesday-night church services with the children on the orphanage property. Interns will not be allowed in the houses of children of the opposite gender.
What kind of paperwork do I need to apply for the internship program at Casa Shalom?
Anyone interested in applying to the internship program must complete the attached application and return it to
Prospective interns must also provide us with three letters of reference from non-relatives. A background check dated within 3 months of application is also required. All information may be sent to the above email address.
We appreciate you taking time to read the above information. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any further questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Drew & Cindy Metcalf
Casa Shalom Orphanage