Long Way Home: Building a school from trash

Volunteer programs

All programs

Countries

Requirements

Duration
  • 2 weeks or less
  • 2 weeks - 1 month
  • 1-3 months
Minimum age
18
Maximum age
0
Age notes
If under 18, needs to be accompanied by adult
Student status required
No
Language notes
Options for studying Spanish are available.

Certification

Certification
Certificates given to those who attend the full month-long Green Building Academy course in March or July.

Pricing

Price range
  • under $1000
Price includes
  • Accommodation
  • Orientation

Hidden fields

Date modified
July 30, 2019

Looking to participate in a radically green development project? Long Way Home is currently constructing a self sustainable 18-building K-11 school in the Western Highlands of Guatemala.

Using alternative methods and materials, we are empowering the youth of this community, the majority of whom are Kaqchikel Maya, to be the architects of their own futures. To date we’ve used over 400 tons of garbage in our construction projects and we currently serve 118 students in grades K-8.

Volunteers with Long Way Home will experience a variety of tasks which may include pounding tires with rammed earth, using bottles stuffed with trash to form fences, creating and placing glass bottle bricks for natural lighting, or harvesting cactus pads for a natural sealant.

Whether you’re learning Spanish, building alongside local workers, or harvesting rainwater for a bucket bath, we guarantee you’ll be challenging yourself and, with the right attitude, having a fantastic time doing it!

Organization details

Long Way Home's mission is to use sustainable design and materials to construct self-sufficient schools that promote education, employment and environmental stewardship. Our vision is to empower communities to break the cycle of poverty through innovative solutions to local challenges.

About

Travel with purpose; travel for good. Articles, resources and events for ethical and meaningful travel, volunteering, working and studying abroad.

Verge believes in travel for change. International experience creates global citizens, who can change our planet for the better. This belief is at the core of everything we do.

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