Volunteer programme

There are currently no Down2Earth volunteer opportunities in Guatemala. If you are planning to visit or work in Guatemala, and would like to spend time in the community, email info@down2earthdown2us.org and we will put you in touch with local contacts.

Down2Earth has worked with the Taa Pit Kortess (the local Mayan Cultural Centre) and Humberto Corzo Guzman (a local school) in San Pedro La Laguna to develop and implement an ecology syllabus, which Down2Earth volunteers taught to 80 children during the summer months of November-December 2006 and to school children between the ages of 7-16 years from the start of the new academic year in January 2007 to March 2007. Thich resulted in the adoption of natural sciences as a core part of the school curriculum and the appointment of one full time ecology teacher.

The Humberto Corzo Guzman School was vandalised and threatened with closure in November 2006. It has now received legal protection as a cultural centre from the government and teaching continues; it has however lost its status as an education centre.

We are currently fundraising to provide 25 computers to the school, which will enable the children to learn basic I.T. skills, thereby equipping them with skills that will enhance their employment prospects.

Down2Earth has also been working with the community to encourage recycling of inorganic waste, which can be sold back to local businesses to provide people with an additional source of revenue. Waste disposal is a problem in Guatemala because there is no local or government utility. Those that are able to afford 1 quetzal (0.6GBP) can pay a garbage collector to dispose of their rubbish; however there is no designated disposal facility; waste is dumped up the volcanoes and in the forests or lake area. Guatemala city has a growing number of recycle collection centers and we have been working with these options and other more locally orientated recycling options to make a sustainable recycling collection project for San Pedro la Laguna.

In place of safe disposal of rubbish, it is common practice for families that do not have access to wood to collect plastic for use as fuel. We have distributed environmental health leaflets regarding the hazardous activity of burning plastic. Burning plastic is highly toxic to people and the environment.