Rasta Mesa Garifuna Cultural Center

Rasta Mesa is a Garifuna Cultural Center that focuses on improving the quality of life for the youth and community of  Livingston, Guatemala through arts, culture, education and agriculture.

Rasta Mesa's goals include:

• Preserve and promote the Garifuna Cultural Heritage

• Facilitate a safe, fun Center for Garifuna Arts where people from the community and travelers can learn about Garifuna Cultural activities like singing, dancing, drumming, cooking and handicraft

• Create the first environmental educational laboratory in Livingston where students can practice sustainable agriculture and farming techniques that use earth-friendly local food production methods

• Educate students about Permaculture principles, nutrition, and the medicinal healing properties of local plants

• Increase awareness of the importance of community and local agriculture and its relationship to food and nutritional security in Livingston

• Organize cultural events and educational workshops to share and appreciate Garifuna Culture through music, dance, art, craft, cuisine and agriculture. 
  

Volunteer Opportunities

We do not require our volunteers to stay for any period of time.  The longer you stay the richer all of our experience and the more we can get done!!!  You pick the area you want to help with, and we facilitate the rest.

Hospitality Services & Public Relations

Work in Rasta Mesa Restaurant & Bar.  Learn to cook Garifuna food and Caribbean style bartending/serving… occasionally get an opportunity to join in our local band, Tagule Falma (Aciete de Coco/Coconut Oil).  Also, work on our public relations team and with our tourist information representatives in downtown Livingston, on the beach and the river side.  Meet other travelers and have a chance to connect with locals here at Rasta Mesa.

Education

Help elaborate and execute one of the existing educational programs here at Rasta Mesa or develop your own project with our guidance.  This is your chance to work with the children in the community and open their eyes to new and exiting experiences.  Ongoing projects include our Garifuna cultural classes, beach clean up and JANKUNO costume construction.

Construction

Get your hands dirty!!!  Start building the Learning Garden behind the business.  Clear out the area, set up a natural drainage system, build some safe stairs, construct the greenhouse, build the raised beds and compost station.

If you work from 9 – 5 PM we feed you for FREE!!! 

What You Get in Return 

• A rewarding opportunity and a chance to do some positive work in our community

• ½ off all Rasta Mesa Food and drinks

• A unique, hands-on experience to learn about Garifuna culture.  Learn the language and customs or participate in cultural activities.  There is an infinite wealth of knowledge here; it is up to you to decide how much you would like to interact. 
  

Lodging

We have some lodging for the right person/people in a fully furnished secure house with hot water.  The price is subject to your length of stay and the number of people in the room.  The money you pay is recycled into the light/power bills, gas, maintenance etc.

Q40/Night ($5/ Night)

Q270/Week  ($4/Night)

Q500/Month  ($2/Night)