6 Week Learn Spanish & Volunteer

Our most ambitious Cuban program! This is a 6 week program that comprises 4 weeks in Havana and 2 weeks on Cuba’s south coast. Two weeks in Havana learning Spanish, dance tuition and cultural excursions are followed by a two week placement at a beachside ‘Campismo’ on Cuba’s south coast. Finally you return to Old Havana to enjoy a final two weeks in the city.

Upon arrival Havana International Airport you will be picked up for a transfer to your Casa Particulares. This will be your home in Havana for your first two weeks, and last two weeks of your 6 week program. You will have a shared bedroom with en suite, and take breakfast and lunch in the family kitchen diner. As with most homes, this is also a popular place to hang out and enjoy conversation with your host family! You will also have use of the family living room which enjoys balcony with cool breezes and great views of the streets below. As with most of Havana you will enjoy taking in the atmosphere which is truly unique…

Spanish Lessons

Each morning Monday to Friday from 09:00-11:45 you will receive 3* x 45 minute intensive structured Spanish lessons (each lesson is followed by a 15 minute break). Tuition is delivered by an accredited and licensed Cuban teacher, and lessons take place in the Casa. On the first morning there will be a short test to establish your level and requirements.

* The Cultural Immersion content will feature additional Spanish language tuition, oral comprehension and dialogue (approx. 4 hours per week).

Dance Classes

There are 2 dance classes per week – each approximately one hour duration, during which you will be taken through your paces learning Salsa, Son, Rueda de Casino, Mambo, Cha Cha Cha, and Rumba and perhaps a few moves you haven’t heard of… The lessons are delivered a short walk from your Casa by a licensed dance instructor, and in the evenings there are MANY free live music venues where you can do your homework!

Cultural Immersion

In its day Havana was one of the most important and wealthy cities on the planet. The source of this wealth is undoubtedly controversial and Cuba’s more recent history is testament to this controversy. The faded patina of Havana’s gorgeous neo classical architecture, rumble of classic American cars and curious soviet era high rise buildings force you to question – what is Cuba?

We would like to help you answer this question through a series of cultural excursions and encounters with Cuban people. These will comprise three ‘sessions’ per week – it might be a guided tour of a museum, or a Sunday excursion down ‘Paseo del Prado’ to see the free open air art classes and discussion groups.

Jose Blanco Ramirez, also known as VIANKO, will curate these cultural experiences. University of Havana celebrated academic as well as painter, poet, humorist and writer, Vianko is multi-talented. We are privileged to know him and are ecstatic at the collaboration with Jakera.

Volunteer Placement at Punta Perdiz ‘Campismo’

After two weeks enjoying the sights and sounds of Havana, it’s time to head out of town to our residential volunteer placement. You will be placed about 200km southeast of Havana in a seaside town of Playa Giron called Punta Perdiz.

The ‘Bay of Pigs’ invasion in April 1961 that was the United States’ first Latin America military defeat took place in Playa Giron. This is located in Zapata Swamp, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the largest wetlands in the Caribbean islands. There is a wide variety of wildlife including plants and birds that are endemic to the region. Our experienced guides will lead you to explore and help you learn more about the history and present day of this unique habitat. Visit gorgeous beaches, a crocodile farm, Playa Giron Museum, Montemar Great National Park, Hatiguanico River Basin, and Laguna del Tesoro.

Cubans enjoy holidays and there are many ‘Campismos’, state hostels for Cuban holidaymakers, located all around. International tourists are not usually allowed to be housed in these properties.

However, we provided our volunteers with a special status that allows you to stay at the Punta Perdiz ‘Campisom’. Participate in several initiatives aimed at ecotourism and conservation. Work with the Cuban Red Cross and the International Dive School to aid reef and beach conservation efforts. You will also be involved with revitalizing sport and recreational facilities such as basketball courts.

Volunteer at Rafael Trejo ‘Gimnasio’

Return to Havana in week 5 & 6 to work in the renowned ‘Rafael Trejo Gimnasio’ gymnasium. This is another volunteer project and is the oldest boxing club in Havana. This has trained multiple Olympic champions. 32 gold medals have been won in this sport and it is the second most popular sport after baseball.

The facilities may not be the fanciest but the instruction is top-notch. Vinent Charon runs the class and he is a two-time Olympic gold medal winner. He shows the students how to take and throw punches. Our organization works to improve the overall property’s infrastructure as well as donates equipment.

These final two weeks will also include resumed Spanish lessons and on the weekend we will visit a new beach before returning to our home.

Combining the best of our 4 week Learn Spanish, Dance & Culture program in Old Havana with meaningful volunteer placements – conservation and community work at Punta Perdiz ‘Campismo’ on Cuba’s south coast next to Playa Giron, AND volunteering at a legendary ‘Gimnasio’ in Old Havana. These volunteer placements will help you connect with Cuban people, understand their culture and history, and give you an opportunity to make a real difference!

The contrast between the pace of Havana and the seaside setting of Playa Giron will give you an all round view of life in Cuba.

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