Last summer was my first time I traveled to Guatemala. I was so excited to help build a bottle school, thinking that my work there would help people in a developing country. I am no stranger to service work, in fact, the happiest days of my life have been those in which I’ve spent helping others to help themselves. It did not take me long to realize that this experience would be completely different from my previous volunteer work. This time, it would be me whose life would change.

A Bottle School trip to Guatemala is not your typical vacation. It is more about connecting, serving, and giving back. It is about losing yourself in another culture to find yourself. Hug it Forward has helped empower the communities of Guatemala to help build over 60 schools since 2009. By participating in a Bottle School Trip, you can be a part of the movement for real social change. It is an opportunity to experience the Guatemalan culture first hand through the eyes of the members of the community.

You won’t just be facilitating the building of a bottle school, which is just one part of the beauty of this trip. You will get to eat their native dishes, walk their communal streets, hear their stories on civil war and immigration and above all, interact in a way that will leave you feeling like family.

This trip taught me so much about myself and that life is a never-ending learning experience! Come join us in this incredible adventure that will touch lives…including your own.

– Aileen David

I’m sure you’ve all heard the saying “get out of your comfort zone”, seen the sticker, bought the postcard, stuck the magnet to your fridge. But what about simply expanding it? Not just getting out of it, but truly expanding it? Widening your level of comfort, and changing the way you look at the world. I’ll be honest, it can be a bit intimidating to take that first step, but it is truly life changing, once you do.

A voluntourism trip gives you the opportunity to not only check out another culture, but also check in with yourself. It isn’t your typical vacation, but that’s what makes it amazing! As well as helping facilitate the building of bottle schools, you will get to immerse yourself in the culture of Guatemala. We will work alongside community members to not only help build schools and teach the lessons of sustainability (learning some much needed lessons ourselves in the process) but to interact and truly discover a whole different way of living.

We will walk the picturesque streets of Antigua, visit Mayan ruins, and experience the richness of Guatemalan culture. You will learn about their Civil War and their constant battle with immigration, hearing about it first hand.

This August 2016 trip will be my 10th time to this beautiful country. I have taken friends, friend’s children and my own kiddos as well. It is a trip not to be missed.
Come join us, expand your comfort zone and begin the amazing process of becoming a global citizen.

I can’t wait to get back down there, get a little dirty and see the faces of a country I have grown to love!!!

– Kautia Vaden

A slideshow of our bottle school trip in July 2015

Some pictures from previous bottle school trips

 

How kids and communities build bottle schools

 

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Fundraising for bottle schools

You might also like to fundraise for Hug It Forward bottle schools. Fundraising for bottle schools is optional – it is not a requirement of participating in a bottle school trip.

If you choose to fundraise, we suggest a $250 fundraising goal, but some people choose to do more or less than this. It’s really up to you – how much you think your friends and families can give, how creative you can be, and how much time you’re prepared to put into it.

See more information about fundraising.