GoPhilanthropic

Spend a few hours to a few days learning about and assisting the following organizations during your trip

Guatemala Projects

Safe Passage: Safe Passage is committed to helping the poorest of Guatemala’s children. Hundreds of people spend long days scavenging at the Guatemala City Garbage dump. Safe Passage opened its doors in 1999 to provide assistance to the children of families working at the dump. The organization represents a refuge from a life marked by extreme poverty and dangerous conditions. Safe Passage offers support to cover the costs required by the local public schools. In addition, it provides educational reinforcement and social services so that the children can succeed in school.

AS GREEN AS IT GETS: As Green as it Gets (GAIG) is a charity working to support small independent coffee producers and promoting environmentally responsible agriculture in Guatemala. Have the opportunity to visit some of the families supported by this organization where you can meet coffee farmers and view them (also take part if you wish) in their daily coffee processing.

Centro Maya Center for The Disabled website coming... In Guatemala, families of disabled children receive little support from society as a whole and some families feel unduly burdened by the needs of their disabled family members. Centro Maya is a grassroots community effort that provides educational and physical support to these families yet the organization runs with little support from the surrounding community and municipality.

Habitat for Humanity Guatemala:
Next trip 2011 TBD
Habitat Guatemala offers a variety of solutions to families across the country. Full homesbuilt of concrete block and reinforced with rebar average about 50 square meters each and cost approximately $4,800. Recently, Habitat Guatemala has introduced alternate solutions for their families that can not afford the cost of a full home. Some of these include home improvements, or home additions. Others have a decent home but need a new roof, basic services such as water or drainage, or the reinforcement of an unstable wall. For these families, Habitat Guatemala offers medium-sized and micro credit loans. Also available is a two-room progressive home. After the family has paid 50 percent of their loan for their progressive home, they may opt to add additional rooms. This affiliate also provides financial educationand disaster preparation classes to all Habitat homeowners, striving for a secure, lasting solution.