The Hope Project Bottle School Trip to Guatemala: March 26 – April 1, 2015
Hello Friends!
Please join us for an amazing volunteer opportunity from March 26 – April 1, 2015 in Guatemala! In 2013, The Hope Project created a partnership to build a bottle school and now, it’s time to go to work!
The Hope Project co-directors, Jackie D’Souza and Emily Fissel, believe that this trip will provide innovative opportunities for cultural immersion and hands-on work. Participants will enhance their knowledge and increase the global perspectives, while simultaneously working to empower others. Additionally, by helping build The Hope Project Bottle School, participants will foster and enhance sensitivity to, appreciation for, and understanding of local Guatemalan communities.
Seattle natives Jackie D’Souza and Emily Fissel have always loved the idea of helping others. Intrigued with volunteer work and travel, Jackie took her first international volunteer trip in 2013. Throughout her trip she was eager to connect with local youth and spent time playing with children and distributing donations. As a teacher, Emily has lived, learned, volunteered, and taught in the northeast region of the US, locally in WA, and internationally. Since traveling to Vietnam in 2009, she has volunteered internationally every summer ever since, and is passionate about volunteer work, education, and cultural immersion. Combined, Emily and Jackie have raised over $54,000 towards sponsoring humanitarian projects including: building and opening The Hope Project Kindergarten, providing a breakfast program and clean water system for an ethnic minority village, renovating local schools, and providing beds and medical supplies for orphans in central Vietnam. Now, our focus is on Guatemala and we are dedicated towards building, completing, and opening The Hope Project Bottle School.
Together we look forward to working with locals and literally getting down to earth to build relationships and help promote a sustainable future for the people of Guatemala.
Together we are changing lives and can’t wait to volunteer and travel with you in 2015!
Big hugs,
Jackie and Emily
How kids and communities build bottle schools
Pictures from previous bottle school trips
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 $1,195 per person. What does this include?
You can reserve your spot by paying a $595 non-refundable deposit by September 26th, 2014, with the balance ($600) payable in full by December 26th, 2014.
Please make sure you have read the Terms and Conditions before booking.
Have you read the Terms and Conditions?
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 $1,195 (or $595 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
4307 1/2 Ocean Blvd
San Diego
CA 92109 - Send us an email to servetheworldtoday@gmail.com – please tell us:
- That you sent a check and what the amount was ($1,195 per person, or $595 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 $36 in fees)
Click the “Buy Now” button on the right to pay the $1,195 cost of your voluntourism trip, plus $36 in Paypal fees.
Click the “Buy Now” button on the left to pay the $595 non-refundable deposit for your voluntourism trip.
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.