Richmond Students Learning Through Service in Guatemala

I am so excited about the opportunity to work alongside students from Richmond Community High School to introduce them to the Mayan culture and provide opportunities for them to work alongside Mayan families to address needs such as access to safe cooking practices, efficient water use, and supporting projects for biodiversity. I am the director of Friends of RCHS, 501c3. We are partnering with Highland Support Project to make this possible.

The students attending this summer are committed to learning from indigenous Americans about their culture and sharing what they learn with their peers back in Richmond, VA. Students are raising funds through this Go Fund Me to cover the cost of service projects while they are in Guatemala. Funds for travel and accommodations are provided through by a grant obtained by Friends of RCHS. These funds will provide for tools and materials for building interior stoves with highland families who currently cook over open fires. Open fire cooking leads to chronic respiratory conditions for Mayan women. Students will be working with Mayan children on agriculture and dental health, learning and sharing ideas about sustainable agriculture, and planting to support migratory bird populations that are in Virginia and Guatemala.

Our students will be learning and preparing well in advance of the trip and most work in the RCHS Community Garden serving food insecure families in our area.

Because Richmond Community High serves primarily students from socio-ecomonically challenged backgrounds finding a pathway to college, we feel that giving them this opportunity for advanced learning and travel will better prepare them for their journey beyond high school. All funds raised go to the project needs and not any individual students expenses.

Thank you for your support of our students and their learning in and outside the classroom!