Sample Itinerary

THURSDAY

JULY 19TH, 2012

Free time to walk around Antigua

6:45 p.m. Orientation and Opening Night Dinner

FRIDAY

JULY 20TH, 2012

7:20 a.m. Breakfast (served at hotel)

8:00 a.m. Drive to San Martin Jilotepeque

- Luggage drop-off and bathroom stop

- Drive to Los Cerritos

- Welcome ceremony

- Work in bottle school project

12:45 p.m. Lunch (served at the bottle school site)

- Work in bottle school project

- Presentation: Civil War –by a community member-

3:30 p.m. Community hike

COMMUNITY HIKE, get ready to walk around Los Cerritos and visit the home of a few local producers who will share with us their culture and lifestyle. The kids will come with us while we visit some of the most relevant places of their community.

5:30 p.m. Drive to SMJ

- Room distribution

7:00 p.m. Dinner

SATURDAY

JULY 21ST, 2012

8:15 a.m. Drive to Pachay

- Work in bottle school project

12:30 p.m. Lunch (served at the bottle school site)

- Work in bottle school project

- Presentation: Migration –by a community member-

5:00 p.m. Drive to SMJ

6:30 p.m. Dinner

SUNDAY

JULY 22ND, 2012

9:00 a.m. Drive to Mixco Viejo (Mayan ruins)

MIXCO VIEJO was the last Kaqchikel fortress conquered by the Spaniards. It was the capital city of the Kaqchikel Maya people. Prepare yourself for an eye-opening tour through the amazing Mayan culture.

The site was founded on a defensive location mountain top in the 12th century. The peak population in the early 16th century may have been around 10,000 people. It was conquered by Spanish Conquistador Pedro de Alvarado in 1525 after a siege of more than 3 months. The Conquistadors then had the city burnt and depopulated.

The ruins consist of 15 groups containing the remains of over 125 major structures, including temples, palaces, and courts for playing the Mesoamerican ballgame.

12:30 p.m. Lunch in Mixco Viejo (Mayan ruins) – bagged lunches

3:00 p.m. Drive to SMJ

6:00 p.m. Workshop Preparation

6:30 p.m. Dinner

MONDAY

JULY 23RD, 2012

8:00 a.m. Drive to Los Cerritos

- Work in bottle school project

- Workshop with the kids (hand washing workshop)

- Piñatas

- Closing ceremony

12:30 p.m. Drive to SMJ

1:00 p.m. Lunch in SMJ

2:00 p.m. Drive to Pachay

- School dedication

5:30 p.m. Drive to SMJ

6:30 p.m. Dinner

TUESDAY

JULY 24TH, 2012

8:30 a.m. Breakfast

9:15 a.m. Visit to School for Children with Special Needs

SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS was founded in 2005 by Profesor Telma Calan, who is currently one of the teachers and the principal of the school. The “escuelita” (“little school”), as it’s known by the locals, is located in the center of San Martin Jilotepeque.

95% of the kids come from nearby rural communities rather than from the town of San Martin. Besides the regular classes, kids are encouraged by the teachers to develop their skills in a way that is sustainable for them and can help them make a living. In the first semester of 2011 the kids learned how to make fancy jewelry, which is offered to the groups of volunteers. In the second semester, they learned how to make “piñatas” that are being sold in the local stores

The visit to the “escuelita” helps the school by giving you the opportunity to purchase some of the products the kids have made. More importantly, it helps the children’s social development by giving them the chance to interact with you, to connect and laugh and play

10:30 a.m. Visit to Tikonel

TIKONEL is an inspirational cooperative of Mayan women’s and men’s groups for business development, education intervention, and eco-conscious reforestation.

Founded in 2000, Tikonel works in 5 rural communities of San Martin Jilotepeque. Tikonel enables business development alongside social and environmental responsibility, generating employment and incomes.

You can support the local economy by purchasing some of the beautiful artisanal products that this non-profit organization has to offer, all of which have been handmade by women and men from San Martin Jilotepeque.

11:30 a.m. Drive to Antigua for luggage drop-off

12:45 p.m. Lunch (served at Hotel)

1:30 p.m. Free time to walk around Antigua

- Room distribution

6:45 p.m. Final Night Dinner

WEDNESDAY

JULY 25TH, 2012

Check-out and drive to Aurora International Airport