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Current Programs and Projects at San Juan Comalapa Through Long Way Home’s work with the youth in Comalapa, we discovered that the failure of young people here to reach their potential has its roots in the many obstacles of simply surviving from day to day. For example, it is almost impossible for a child to excel as a student when their health is in jeopardy or when their entire day is spent acquiring food and water for their family. To get young people to the point that they are reaching their potential rather than just surviving, several basic concerns with the overall quality of life in Guatemala have to be addressed. Working to meet the basic needs of the local children provides an opportunity for Long Way Home to empower all community members by involving them in the processes of development work. Due to Long Way Home’s long-term presence in the community of Comalapa, the local people have come to see us as a resource for development projects. When Guatemalans solicit our help, we insist on their active participation in the project, rather than just doing it for them. Simply having projects donated to poor community members only teaches them that they must rely on outside help to improve their situation, thereby increasing their sense of powerlessness. Long Way Home seeks to end this cycle by skillfully developing programs that involve local and international volunteers in the design, implementation, and administration of each project. Community Development and the Environment Program Infrastructure Program The Guatemalan government does not provide basic infrastructure services that people living in wealthier countries might take for granted. Many areas of Guatemala lack running water, health care, and affordable education, and Long Way Home’s Infrastructure Program addresses the need for these services. Appropriate Technology Program Most Guatemalans do not have access to the resources necessary to provide for their basic needs. The government in Guatemala cannot support development here the same way it does in wealthy countries like the United States. The people in Guatemala must either find a way to pay for basic resources themselves or seek alternatives such as solar energy, water catchment, improved stoves, and recycling of waste. While there are many technologies that can improve the lives of people in poor countries like Guatemala, the technology is considered “appropriate” only if it meets certain criteria, such as:
By teaching appropriate technologies, Long Way Home aims to provide alternative and affordable ways for Guatemalans to provide for their own basic needs. NGO Development Program When funding or materials are available for development projects, these resources cannot arrive in needy communities if there is no local receiving organization. In Guatemala, even when there is a local NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) that can receive funds or materials, it often lacks the formal structure necessary for proper management of the resources. Through the NGO development program, Long Way Home aims to advise NGO’s in their management and help them establish their own successful development programs. Educational Outreach Program Comalapa has more than 20 schools serving thousands of children from ages 5 to 18 that need to be taught to make a change in the quality of their natural environment. This is the program where Long Way Home volunteers integrate their Spanish presentation abilities with super human energy and teach local students a variety of topics from geography to reforestation to reuse of trash items. Our volunteers also get involved in the local schools by teaching English as a Second Language to students of all ages.
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Updated
May 15, 2008->
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