Spring cleaning, anyone?
minstrel70 and I will be going down to Guatemala in about a month. We're just going for a long weekend, but during that time, we will be visiting a grassroots volunteer organization called Mayan Families.
I found out about Mayan Families when doing research for our trip. They help the very poor indigenous people who live in the highlands of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala through various projects. Some of these projects are traditional types of help, such as student sponsorships and building homes. Others focus on the environment and health, including providing fuel-efficient stoves that prevent the respiratory diseases that often accompany a lifetime of woodfire cooking. Still more of the initiatives include animal cruelty prevention and pet spaying and neutering clinics, as well as preserving the indigenous culture through traditional dress (many people cannot afford to purchase traditional clothing, and instead wear cheap Western clothing).
minstrel70 and I are sponsoring two children, Candelaria and Juana. We are hoping to get a chance to visit them when we go.
Now to the Spring Cleaning part! We will be bringing things down in our suitcase to donate to the organization. Because these people are so poor, they can use anything we have. Since there are airline weight restrictions, though, I'd like to try to focus on donations of small toys or other light-weight/small space items.
Is there anything you were planning on getting rid of anyway? Small stuffed animals or knickknacks in good condition that are just cluttering up your space?
Here's your chance to kill three birds with one stone! 1) Help people living in extreme poverty - you can put a smile on the face of a child who does not have anything, 2) Reduce the amount of waste going to landfills, and 3) Get rid of excess stuff in your life!
minstrel70 and I will take pictures while we're down there, so you can see the results of your help in action.
If you'd like to do anything more to help, please let me know offline. I have a feeling once we meet the family we partially sponsor, we are going to want to do more to help them. You can read their story in the links to Candelaria and Juana above.
Thanks for listening! Just let me know if you would like to donate anything, and we'll arrange to get it.
Have a good night!
I found out about Mayan Families when doing research for our trip. They help the very poor indigenous people who live in the highlands of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala through various projects. Some of these projects are traditional types of help, such as student sponsorships and building homes. Others focus on the environment and health, including providing fuel-efficient stoves that prevent the respiratory diseases that often accompany a lifetime of woodfire cooking. Still more of the initiatives include animal cruelty prevention and pet spaying and neutering clinics, as well as preserving the indigenous culture through traditional dress (many people cannot afford to purchase traditional clothing, and instead wear cheap Western clothing).
minstrel70 and I are sponsoring two children, Candelaria and Juana. We are hoping to get a chance to visit them when we go.
Now to the Spring Cleaning part! We will be bringing things down in our suitcase to donate to the organization. Because these people are so poor, they can use anything we have. Since there are airline weight restrictions, though, I'd like to try to focus on donations of small toys or other light-weight/small space items.
Is there anything you were planning on getting rid of anyway? Small stuffed animals or knickknacks in good condition that are just cluttering up your space?
Here's your chance to kill three birds with one stone! 1) Help people living in extreme poverty - you can put a smile on the face of a child who does not have anything, 2) Reduce the amount of waste going to landfills, and 3) Get rid of excess stuff in your life!
minstrel70 and I will take pictures while we're down there, so you can see the results of your help in action.
If you'd like to do anything more to help, please let me know offline. I have a feeling once we meet the family we partially sponsor, we are going to want to do more to help them. You can read their story in the links to Candelaria and Juana above.
Thanks for listening! Just let me know if you would like to donate anything, and we'll arrange to get it.
Have a good night!