The children of many Guatemalan villages lack access to basic resources needed to help further their education, both in and out of the classroom. That’s why Trek Guatemala has partnered with Pack for a Purpose, a non-profit organization built to link tourists to local communities. Even the smallest amount of extra space in your luggage can go a long way. For our guests, the process couldn’t be easier:
- While packing, fill those extra side pouches in your suitcase with school supplies like notebooks, pencils, calculators, markers, colored pencils, binders, crayons, or any other classroom necessities. You can see a complete list of needs here.
- If you’re a participant on one of our adventures, simply hand us the supplies during the pre-trip briefing that takes place the evening prior to the trek.
- If you aren’t a guest on one of Trek Guatemala’s trips, shoot us an email with your travel dates to Antigua and we’ll work around your schedule in finding a time to collect the items.
Rather than simply giving local school children the donated supplies, Trek Guatemala works in conjunction with the local environmental organization EcoActiva to host educational programs centered around waste management in the communities. Children and adults alike are given the opportunity to learn about the long-term effects that plastic and wrappers on their land, as well as better understand the separation of trash, recycling and compost. It is at these seminars when the school supplies are distributed.
