Accomodation
We offer three differnet accomodation options. Regardless of accommodation choice, all volunteers are welcome to visit the grounds, swim in the small pool, share a meal, play volleyball, use the gym or enjoy the view and a good book from our hammock area!
Option One: Cooperative Living
Living on the Aldeas de Paz Foundation Grounds
Located on a hill side on the edge of the small village of Santa Elena de Uairén in Venezuela, the Aldeas de Paz Grounds offer spectacular views of the valley below, the surrounding mountains and the wideness of the savannah. Roraima and Kukenan tepuy, the famous and impressive flattop mountains, can be seen from the terrace of the volunteers cooperative living residents. The village center is only 2,5 miles away and can be easily reached by foot. The village and its surroundings are very safe and generations of volunteers have been enjoying this wonderful path into the village center.
The best and most amazing thing about this whole trip were all the people I worked/played with.
∼ Dylan Jones / Phoenix, USA
Hikes into the virgin rain forest, starting on the Aldeas de Paz Grounds, can be an exiting adventure and there are trails which lead to a 360 degree sight seeing spot on top of a nearby mountain or to a wild river deep in the forest. You may also like to ride out on our horses and discover the savannah from the horseback or enjoy an excursion to a nearby indigenous village with refreshing rivers, amazing waterfalls or discover an ancient cave nearby. Mountain bikes can be rented. Besides the great bike tracks to be discovered around the foundations grounds, the bikes can also be used to get to your placement in the village.
Live and work in a cooperative and supportive environment
This very popular accommodation arrangement opens the possibility to live and work together with long-term local and international staff and volunteers. It is a great opportunity for cultural exchange between volunteers from all over the world and various cultural/ethnic backgrounds.
Cooperative living evolves through group decisions
With Aldeas de Paz the managerial level is more horizontal than in most NGOs or businesses, and many decisions are taken by consensus. If you choose this living option you can be sure that you will be included in some important decisions which will shape the future of Aldeas de Paz as a charity and a significant social experiment of co-living. Inspiring exchanges and discussion circles are the settings for future development decisions and often take place spontaneously. It's our committed volunteers who assist in determining the next direction Aldeas de Paz will go in.
Location
It should be noted that the foundations grounds are not in the town center but in a very nice residential area on the edge of the village. Anyone volunteering in the village will have to commute into town by foot. This walk takes approximately: 40 minutes one-way to the town center, 15 minutes to a store nearby, 25 minutes to a school where we work. The upside is that the path is beautiful, with very few passing cars and lovely neighbors which constantly offer lifts. It also presents a great time to share with your fellow volunteers! We are located on a beautiful spot overlooking the village and with spectacular views over the savannah and the famous table-top mountains.
Practicalities
Cooperative Living participants share a particularly enjoyable time-table whereby community volunteer work, cooperative living tasks, and organizational meetings combined do not extend to more than the amount of hours per week which each volunteer individually decides to dedicate. We cannot emphasize enough that the work you do within the house and the grounds will be just as important as the work you do within the community. The hours spent on the tasks which maintain the successful functioning of the house and kitchen are therefore taken into account during the week. This then allows everyone plenty of free time to enjoy themselves. A personalized weekly working plan distributes tasks based on necessity and personal preferences. Past volunteers confirm the special nature of this living convergence and have enjoyed it tremendously.
Great times, great experiences, great people. Will take away so much including my bad Spanish and deteriorated liver.
∼ David Gautier / Hull, England
Considerations
On arrival to Aldeas de Paz as a member of Cooperative Living, you are given a copy of the Cooperative Living Guidelines and the Volunteer Guidelines. These elaborate on our focus on motivation and commitment, and the standards which we aim to meet. If you feel that Cooperative Living may be for you, we would request that you read these guidelines before making your decision. Hopefully, having a more sound understanding of the "reality" of Cooperative Living will equip you to make the right accommodation choice.
We feel that it is important to highlight that Aldeas de Paz is an environment of respect and consideration. The Cooperative Living staff and volunteers are constantly making changes to improve the environment which they are creating for themselves. From experience, past and current volunteers have decided that the consumption of alcohol to the point of drunkenness compromises the objective of Aldeas de Paz. In addition, smoking is not permitted within the undercover areas of the house. If you feel that either of these factors may be overly restrictive to your sense of personal freedom, we understand this and would invite you to check out our Independent Accommodation option.
What is included
- Shared bedrooms (or a single room for 15% more)
- Shared bathrooms
- Community kitchen along with three meals per day prepared and served by volunteers themselves
- Recreational facilities
On a more personal note, commune living has been really enjoyable and very educational! I found myself discovering common ground and getting close to people I probably wouldn’t come across in my normal life. It’s been a good reminder that while people’s views and behavior might confuse or frustrate you at first, we’re all shaped by very different experiences and trying to understand these is fascinating.
∼ Alex Randall
Other Points
Aldeas de Paz counts with various facilities with the aim of making the Foundation grounds not just a really nice space for volunteers but also a large multi-faceted Therapy Center serving local children with various therapies, skills training, and fun activities.
Ground Facilities Include:
Vegetable & Flower Gardens
Hammock Terrace
Camping Grounds
Recreation Field
Wading Pool
Gym
Craft & Woodwork Workshop
Creative Kitchen Facilities
New to Aldeas de Paz! Home Theatre
Cooperative living photo gallery
Host Family Options
Option Two: Host Family Accomodations
Santa Elena
Host Family Santa Elena de Uairén
Our Host Family homes are a very nice and open-hearted place to be. The middle-class family homes are located within walking distance (20 min.) from the town center in Santa Elena.
In Santa Elena the family home is very close to a small mountain range and virgin rain forest, and not far (20 min.) from our Aldeas de Paz Grounds. The host family homes have a small garden and a nice terrace to sit on outside. Meals will be made by the family. You will share meals with them and there will be plenty of opportunity for cross-cultural involvement and participation. Enjoy Venezuelan family life and meet new people. There will frequently be friends of the family visiting and you will have plenty of opportunities to practice Spanish and learn about the Latin culture!
Although your room will be arranged every day, it is a sign of respect to keep it clean. Turn off your lights every time you leave your room, etc. If in your opinion something is wrong at your host family, you have the right to question it, but please do so respectfully! If you want, you can bring small gifts or souvenirs for your host family or children. Although these are not expected, they are appreciated. Some possibilities are t-shirts, pens, key rings etc from your country. It is also nice to share photos of your family and your home town or country. If you choose host family, understand that you are a guest. An extra bit of courtesy and friendliness will go a long way!
You will be staying with an Venezuelan Host Family. The family will provide two meals a day, and a room with a shared bathroom. They will speak Spanish most of the time, to help you learn the language. There will be at least one member of the family that speaks English if need be.
Chirykayen
Live with an Indigenous Community
This special assignment gives volunteers close insight into Pemón life, something which they find very rewarding.
Chirikayen has a population of less than 400 people and is located amidst breathtaking surroundings close to the Chirikayen Tepuy. The village enjoys a healthy climate and environment and has a primary school, a health care station, a community building for meetings, a basic shop, and a Seventh Day Adventist church. Chirikayen is a good site for those interested in contemporary indigenous issues and who want to watch and participate as locals decide on the future directions of their communities. Volunteers with a genuine interest in anthropology, indigenous rights, and cultural immersion will enjoy this placement. Integrate yourself into this strong community next to the flat-top mountains, enjoy the different pace of life and the fantastic views. Please click here for more details.
Amenities are basic. There is electricity for only 3(ish) hours a day when a generator is run. Clothes are washed in the river. There are no telephones but a community radio can call to the City Hall in Santa Elena any time if it is necessary.
Volunteers will be staying with a Pemón Indigenous host family. The family will provide three meals a day, and a private room. They speak Spanish and their indigenous mother language Taurepan - some neighbors speak English as well. All meals are eaten with the family. Volunteers can choose to sleep in either hammocks or beds but have to bring their own mosquito-net.
El Paují
Host Family in El Paují eco-village
The host family in Paují is within walking distance of town center, but also surrounds you with plenty of natural landscape.
In Santa Elena the family home is very close to a small mountain range and virgin rain forest, and not far (20 min.) from our Aldeas de Paz Grounds. The host family homes have a small garden and a nice terrace to sit on outside. Meals will be made by the family. You will share meals with them and there will be plenty of opportunity for cross-cultural involvement and participation. Enjoy Venezuelan family life and meet new people. There will frequently be friends of the family visiting and you will have plenty of opportunities to practice Spanish and learn about the Latin culture!
Although your room will be arranged every day, it is a sign of respect to keep it clean. Turn off your lights every time you leave your room, etc. If in your opinion something is wrong at your host family, you have the right to question it, but please do so respectfully! If you want, you can bring small gifts or souvenirs for your host family or children. Although these are not expected, they are appreciated. Some possibilities are t-shirts, pens, key rings etc from your country. It is also nice to share photos of your family and your home town or country. If you choose host family, understand that you are a guest. An extra bit of courtesy and friendliness will go a long way!
The family will provide two meals a day, and a room with a shared bathroom. They will speak Spanish most of the time, to help you learn the language. There will be at least one member of the family that speaks English if need be.
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Option Three: Independent Accomodation
Independent Accomodation
Hotel Michelle
Hotel Michelle (the Original) in particular seems to be a popular social venue to meet other volunteers. Staying in a hotel or posada is a good way to find out about town life and everyday happenings.
This option attracts individuals who value spontaneity and their own space. It caters to volunteers who have less of an interest in Cooperative Living, but still feel passionate about volunteering. Independent Accommodation is also a good choice for people who prefer the convenience of being located in the town center.
If there are some of the rules or requirements for Cooperative Living as described above that you don't feel would suit you, then Independent Accommodation may be the way to go. An advantage of not living within the volunteer cooperative is that you will perhaps meet more locals and other travelers in Santa Elena. Of course, individuals who choose this option are always warmly welcomed at the Foundation grounds and are invited to use the recreational facilities. Independent Accommodation allows volunteers to self-cater, encouraging you to try the delicious street food and local restaurants. Santa Elena has a good supply of quality fresh produce and a range of restaurants. (Cost: Eating three meals a day in restaurants: USD $ 10 - 25)
Private bedroom and bathroom in a local hotel or posada