BENNETT and MACKILLOP
GUATEMALA 2013
In the fall of 2008, just having returned from a Habitat Global Village trip to Costa Rica, Tony Bennett and Paul MacKillop decided to embarque on their own Global Village adventures. The team from Ottawa began to take shape. Since that day, the Bennett-MacKillop connection has enjoyed two trips to El Salvador, two trips to Nicaragua and are now preparing to head to Guatemala.
In November 2013, we will be celebrating our 5th year as Team Leaders and many of our dedicated team have volunteered with us since day 1. This year our team of dedicated volunteers will be leaving the comforts of their homes, for the adventures awaiting in northern Guatemala.
Habitat Global Village: http://www.habitatglobalvillage.ca
Habitat for Humanity Canada invites you to join the thousands of volunteers from around the world who are working hand in hand to eliminate poverty housing one house at a time. Work with a family to help them build a home, strengthen their community and enrich both their lives and your own.
Global Village teams bring invaluable support to the communities they visit. Their concentrated people power and enthusiasm give homeowners a real boost. More homes are built each year because of the donation Global Village teams make to the hosting Habitat affiliates. Volunteers do not need prior building experience. If you have a sense of adventure, are in good health and willing to work hard, you can be part of a Global Village team. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian or be part of an organized school, faith or service group.
A Global Village trip can be a life changing experience. It’s an opportunity to gain a greater understanding of development issues, to learn more about another culture and about yourself.
You will be more than a tourist. You will be welcomed into the community by your hosts and introduced to the local culture as a guest. You will work and laugh together, share stories, make friends. As you let go of many of the comforts of home you start to focus on things that really matter.
Habitat assists low-income families to build their home by providing volunteer labour, donated materials and no-profit, no-interest mortgages tailored to their income level. As mortgages are repaid the funds are used to build more houses.
Habitat for Humanity is made up of affiliate partners in 100 countries around the globe. Each affiliate has an ever expanding positive impact on their local communities. New homeowners assist with the construction of their neighbours’ houses and become members of a Habitat homeowners volunteer group which can work together to tackle other needs in the community. The new construction creates jobs for local tradesman and stimulates local business.
Habitat is a non-profit, faith based housing organization that works with people of all backgrounds, races and religions.
Guatemala:
The housing deficit in Guatemala is estimated at approximately 1.2 million homes. Many of these families live in poorly constructed houses made of unstable materials, such as adobe, corrugated metal sheets, wood planks or palm thatching. Others, who lack even this basic structure, pay more than half of their monthly income on rent or crowd into homes where several families occupy the same small house or room.
One of the most significant challenges to housing in Guatemala is access to land. Many low-income families have no legal proof that they own the land they inhabit; in other words, despite having viably purchased or inherited their land, they lack legal tenure. In other cases, informal settlements inhabit property belonging to the state or private enterprise, where families face the daily risk of forced eviction. These properties rarely have basic utilities and are often located in vulnerable areas, such as ravines and riverbanks.
Even when a family has moderate income or has managed to save a small amount of money, obtaining a loan to purchase land or buy a home in Guatemala is often still challenging. Many Guatemalan families attest that, without Habitat for Humanity, they would not have been able to build or improve their home.
Established in 1979 with the purpose of improving the lives of low-income families in Guatemala through the construction of adequate, affordable housing, Habitat for Humanity Guatemala was the first Habitat organization in the Latin America and Caribbean region. Since the construction of its first home in Aguacatán, Huehuetenango nearly 35 years ago, Habitat Guatemala has served more than 32,218 families and has extended its work to each of the country’s 22 states.
Many of these communities have served as home to the indigenous population for centuries. The traditional bead work, weaving and wool crafts either provide or at least augment the income of many families in the vicinity. In addition to becoming acquainted with the community of our build, visits to the local markets and surrounding villages will also give us a wider window to daily life and a greater opportunity to enjoy and appreciate their culture and heritage.
Example itinerary
Saturday:
Team arrives in Guatemala and is met at the airport by HFH Guatemala staff. Transportation to Antigua, Guatemala if in country by 4pm. Team welcome dinner.
Sunday:
Transportation to hotel in worksite community. Welcome ceremony with local affiliate and families.
Monday-Thursday:
Build 8:00-1:00. Lunch break. Build 2:00-4:00.
Friday:
Build 8:00-1:00. Lunch break. Goodbye ceremony with families. Saturday: Transportation to hotel in Antigua. Free day in Antigua. Goodbye dinner with team and Habitat staff.
Sunday: Transportation from hotel to airport.
*Groups often participate in cultural activities which can be anything from a traditional dance to a volcano hike to a boat ride around the lake. Options may change depending on the worksite or season of travel.
Lodging
All of your hotel arrangements are made months before you arrive by the logistics coordinator. All the hotel services are simple (some more than others) and basic, but comfortable. The majority of your meals in the worksite community are eaten in the hotel or prepared by the hotel and eaten on the worksite, so you can trust that your food is clean and safe. You can expect food to be typically Guatemalan (black beans and eggs in the morning and typical chicken and beef dishes in the evening). Your lunches will be hot, typical food similar to dinner or packed lunches with sandwiches and fruit. Many hotels do not offer air conditioning, hot water, or internet access. Also remember that cleaning staff enters your room everyday and will not only clean, but also tidy up any clothes or personal items left out.
Since The team will be building near Cobán, Alta Verapaz. The hotel is called Alcazar de Doña
