Since 2001 we have had over 200 people volunteer their time and share their skills and knowledge with the villagers. Lasting friendships and positive feelings of self worth are some of the benefits, as well as a deep appreciation for many of the material and social benefits that we take for granted. Truly, the village is hugged by the faithful arms of volunteers.
The organization will select airline and flight times for the group. Participants will book and pay for their own flight. If the flight schedule is different from the group schedule, the trip coordinator will be notified in advance. Charitable tax receipts for in-kind flight donations will be issued in February if a flight receipt is submitted to Guatemala Hope by December 1st.
The maximum number of people on a trip is 24, which is a workable number for the living conditions. Two cooks prepare all the meals but everyone takes a turn doing some of the chores. These include scrubbing the latrines and showers, washing pots and pans, and burning the garbage. Everyone is responsible for washing their own dishes and picking up after themselves. We try to share meal time but this doesn't always work out with people's schedules, especially if they are working with the villagers. We do try and have team meetings during the week to share experiences and concerns. Every precaution is made that participants are provided a safe environment in which to do their work.