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Long Way Home

Categories : Volunteer / Teaching / Work
Activities : Education Programmes / Work Placements / Combo Travel Placements / Teaching / Medical, Health, Medicine / Art / Drama / Music / Care Work / Community Projects / Humanitarian Projects
Countries : Guatemala
Continents : Central America

General Info

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.

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