Latest issue is now live!
The Thrifty Traveller Issue: Meaningful travel that costs less.
Not Just for Kids: Volunteering Abroad for Retirees
People with decades of experience bring valuable skills to a volunteer placement.
2025's Best Destinations for Sustainable Travel
From tourism laws protecting the natural environment, to support for ethical cultural tourism, these countries are leading the sustainable travel movement.
How to be an Amazing Volunteer: Q & A with Susan E. Gibson
With decades of field experience in the international development sector, author Susan E. Gibson knows what it takes to be a great overseas volunteer.
How to Become a Safari Guide
Looking for a life change? Try an accredited field-guiding program in one of Africa's biodiversity hotspots.
Top Study Abroad Destinations for 2025
Sometimes the biggest challenge is deciding where to go.
Tips For Making Study Abroad More Affordable
The perceived cost of studying abroad stops many students in their tracks. Here are 9 ways to avoid breaking the bank.
International Job Hunting Strategies That Work
Advice from recruiters and expats to help you land that job abroad.

Long Way Home: Building a school from trash

LW
0
Compare
Claim this listing Add to favorites

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

LW

Long Way Home

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.