Long Way Home: Building a school from trash

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!