Book now to reserve your spot on Angie, Jessica, Shelby and Eric’s bottle school trip: June 28th – July 4th, 2018
This will be the fourth time I come to Guatemala with Hug it Forward. Every time I come it is a new and magical experience. That’s the thing about Guatemala and Central America; it is enchanting. What the news doesn’t tell you is that the people here will make you feel like one of their own, that the food is made with love, that the war made people resilient and that it doesn’t need saving. Hug it Forward has helped in the building of over 100 schools in a hundred communities and those community members just need some extra man/woman power to get those schools finished.
I truly believe in lending my hands to those who ask for help. My favorite aspect of my volunteering experiences with Hug It Forward is that they want to make sure they’re listening to community needs and not assuming they need aid.
Coming to Guatemala will teach you why people have migrated, how a civil war affected generations and why their culture is so beautiful. Being Central American myself, I have a deep personal connection to the history of the land and people. The first time I came on a trip I thought I was going to help others but I left completely in awe of how my life was changed by them. Come immerse yourself in bottle school building with Jess, Eric, Shelby and myself!”
Shelby Williams:
This will be my third trip back to Guatemala, and most certainly not my last! Working on schools together with Hug it Forward has become a passion of mine. Every trip offers something different to learn about yourself and about others. These trips allow you to make amazing connections with the children and the families of the community.
I find myself fumbling upon my words when discussing these trips because they are truly a full body experience. Your heart will grow with such immense gratefulness. So let’s getting ready to climb the Mayan ruins, play with the children, laugh a ton as well as cry. Prepare for tons of hugs from me to you!
My first Hug it Forward trip was in June 2015. Before then, I had never volunteered with an organization like this one. It was something I always wanted to do, but didn’t know how. I applied for a trip through Lush Cosmetics and was over the moon when I found out I was going to help build a school. Not only would this be a chance for me to start volunteering, but I was also getting the opportunity to volunteer in Guatemala. That last part was a big deal for me because my family is from Guatemala and giving back to this community would also be like giving back to my own.
The trip was, in short, life changing and exceeded my expectations. There is more than meets the eye with these trips. You aren’t there to build a school FOR the community, but WITH the community. You get to hear their stories, play with the kids, laugh with the adults. You’ll be surprised how much you communicate even if there is a language barrier.
June 2018 will be my 4th time going back to Guatemala & my first time leading a group! Each experience has been more amazing than the last and this is definitely not the last. Hope to see you there!
Eric Kloss:
When I first heard of Hug It Forward and their Bottle School Trips I wasn’t sure what to think. My girlfriend, Jessica, had just gotten back from a trip and couldn’t stop talking about every aspect of the trip and how amazing it was. After hearing about how much the trip affected her, I had to go myself.
Flash forward to a year later and I was on my first trip in Guatemala in the community of Tioxya. We were greeted with smiling faces from young and old, a beautiful welcome ceremony and most of all, love. If there’s one thing you will have no shortage of on your trip, it’s love.
A bottle school trip to Guatemala will not be a typical vacation but so much more. You’ll get to see the beautiful landscapes, experience the traditional cuisine, and hear about some truly humbling first hand experiences of the members of the community.
This experience will not only allow you to assist the people of the community in building a school but allow you to get outside of your comfort zone and connect with the world outside your own. This will be my third trip to Guatemala with Hug It Forward and will certainly not be my last. Come join us in helping to touch so many lives, which includes your own!
How kids and communities build bottle schools
Want to know more?
Visit the Hug It Forward web site to find out all about bottle schools.
Information about your trip
Please make sure you read all the information on this web site, including the Information section and the FAQ.
Book now by Paypal, or by check
Your bottle school trip costs $1,299 per person. What does this include?
You can reserve your spot by paying a $650 non-refundable deposit by January 28th, 2018, with the balance ($649) payable in full by April 28th, 2018.
Please make sure you have read the Terms and Conditions before booking.
How to pay for your trip
There are several ways to pay for your bottle school trip. You can avoid paying fees if you choose Option 1 or Option 2. Choose Option 1 if you have a PayPal balance or if your bank account is linked to PayPal. If neither of these are the case, please choose Option 2 to avoid paying fees. If you want to use PayPal and don’t mind paying fees, please choose Option 3.
Option 1:Pay using Paypal’s “Send Money” feature”
- Log in to Paypal (www.paypal.com)
- Click the “Send Money” tab
- Enter our email address servetheworldtoday@gmail.com and the amount $1,299 (or $650 if you are just paying a deposit now)
- Before you click “Continue”, choose the “I’m sending money to family or friends” button. If you have a PayPal balance or your bank account is linked to PayPal, you will not have to pay fees. If neither of these are the case, please choose Option 2 or Option 3
- In the “Message” box on the following page, please enter which trip you are booking!
- That’s it!
Option 2:Mail us a check
- Mail a check payable to “Serve The World Today” to:
Serve The World Today
4600 Hampshire Dr.
Flower Mound, TX 75028- Please write on the memo line of the check which trip you are attending
- Send us an email to servetheworldtoday@gmail.com – please tell us:
- That you sent a check and what the amount was ($1,299 per person, or $650 if you are just paying a deposit now)
- Which trip the check is for
- The name on the check
Option 3: Paying by Paypal (this costs $39 in fees)
Click the “Buy Now” button on the right to pay the $1,299 cost of your voluntourism trip, plus $39 in Paypal fees.
Click the “Buy Now” button on the left to pay the $650 non-refundable deposit for your voluntourism trip.
Please read the Terms and Conditions!
Have you read the Terms and Conditions?
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.