Guatemala Volunteer Trip
Donation protected
Hello friends.
I'm about to embark on an adventure with a few friends to Guatemala, where I get to use my carpentry skills and what little Spanish I know to help provide basic housing for a family in dire need, as well as assist in the continued survival of an endangered species.
We will be working with Constru Casa, a non-profit organization that works alongside local partner organizations to identify and select families of exceptional need.
"Guatemala is among the poorest countries of the Americas with more than half of its population living in poverty. Particularly acute is the problem of inadequate housing: a typical house is made of cornstalk walls, a dirt floor and a scrap material roof. Facilities for basic hygiene like clean water and bathrooms are most often nonexistent" (Constru Casa, 2014).
This is the gist of our purpose for the first week. The following week, we will head to the coast to work with an organization called ARCAS. ARCAS is a non-profit organization formed in 1989 by Guatemalan citizens. Their main concern is focused on natural heritage, especially wildlife. Guatemalans originally contracted this non-profit organization by building a rescue shelter to care for and rehabilitate wild animals that were being confiscated on the black market by the Guatemalan government. Since 1989, ARCAS Rescue Center has established its purpose and grown into one of the largest and most complex rescue centers in the world. Currently, they are receiving between 300-600 animals of more than 40 species per year.
Now, I thought awhile back, when this idea was conceived, that I would be able to come up with the funding on my own. But after calculating the cost of airfare/transportation, building materials, and general cost of living(the least of my worries), I realized that I need help. Not an easy thing for me, asking for help, but if you know me at all, or have any idea of how I grew up(no running water or electricity) you will have a good idea of what this means to me to be able to put my energy directly into this humanitarian and ecological aide.
My question is, "Can you help?" With all the amazing people in my life, it wouldn't take much from an individual, but it will mean EVERYTHING to me and to those we are able to assist. No expectations, really, just give what you can. And thank you, in advance, to all of you for your time and support.
Heart,
Christopher
I'm about to embark on an adventure with a few friends to Guatemala, where I get to use my carpentry skills and what little Spanish I know to help provide basic housing for a family in dire need, as well as assist in the continued survival of an endangered species.
We will be working with Constru Casa, a non-profit organization that works alongside local partner organizations to identify and select families of exceptional need.
"Guatemala is among the poorest countries of the Americas with more than half of its population living in poverty. Particularly acute is the problem of inadequate housing: a typical house is made of cornstalk walls, a dirt floor and a scrap material roof. Facilities for basic hygiene like clean water and bathrooms are most often nonexistent" (Constru Casa, 2014).
This is the gist of our purpose for the first week. The following week, we will head to the coast to work with an organization called ARCAS. ARCAS is a non-profit organization formed in 1989 by Guatemalan citizens. Their main concern is focused on natural heritage, especially wildlife. Guatemalans originally contracted this non-profit organization by building a rescue shelter to care for and rehabilitate wild animals that were being confiscated on the black market by the Guatemalan government. Since 1989, ARCAS Rescue Center has established its purpose and grown into one of the largest and most complex rescue centers in the world. Currently, they are receiving between 300-600 animals of more than 40 species per year.
Now, I thought awhile back, when this idea was conceived, that I would be able to come up with the funding on my own. But after calculating the cost of airfare/transportation, building materials, and general cost of living(the least of my worries), I realized that I need help. Not an easy thing for me, asking for help, but if you know me at all, or have any idea of how I grew up(no running water or electricity) you will have a good idea of what this means to me to be able to put my energy directly into this humanitarian and ecological aide.
My question is, "Can you help?" With all the amazing people in my life, it wouldn't take much from an individual, but it will mean EVERYTHING to me and to those we are able to assist. No expectations, really, just give what you can. And thank you, in advance, to all of you for your time and support.
Heart,
Christopher
Organizer
Chris Plowman
Organizer
Madison, WI
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