Travel Philanthropy Program: Be Part of the Story
Trek Guatemala works to improve the quality of life in the communities that we visit throughout our four-day adventure. Our Travel Philanthropy Program allows our staff and guests to work hand-in-hand in supporting community development projects in the small Mayan villages we visit. In support of our sustainable travel initiatives, we invite all guests and friends of Trek Guatemala to join us on our mission to help enhance education, environmental awareness and medical services in rural Guatemala.
Here’s how you can help.
A Two Pronged Approach to Giving
Pre-Trip: School Supplies
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.
Post-Trip: Financial Donations
Trek Guatemala has designed a way to give-back even once our guests have returned to their home countries. For those guests who want to contribute to our Travel Philanthropy Program, Trek Guatemala accepts donations via PayPal (info@trekguatemala.com) that are then used for community development projects like the ones described below. Please indicate in the payment process that the money is designated for our Travel Philanthropy Program.
Success Stories
We are proud members of Pack for a Purpose, an initiative that allows travelers like you to make a lasting impact in the community at your travel destination. If you save just a few kilos of space in your suitcase and take supplies for the projects we support in need, you’ll make a priceless impact in the lives of our local children and families. Please click here to see what supplies are needed for our projects.
Pachute Health Clinic
Through the generous donations of our guests, Trek Guatemala is currently supporting the construction of a health clinic in the remote and impoverished community of Pachute, our overnight destination on day 2 of the trek. The health clinic will help provide basic medical services to those in need in Pachute, particularly children and the elderly, and improve the quality of life of local residents.
Panibaj Foot Bridge
In 2017, Trek Guatemala helped finance the reconstruction of a hanging foot bridge over the Madre Vieja River. The project was a collaboration between Trek Guatemala, who uses the bridge during the trek, and the nearby coffee-producing community of Panibaj, who depend upon the bridge to access their fields and other nearby communities. Together, Trek Guatemala and the community of Panibaj reconstructed a bridge that is both safe and thrilling to cross!
