Our middle school students learned a valuable lesson in food security when Jesse, a local Peace Corps volunteer, helped them begin a seed-bank. Yessenia Morales, LWH board member, organized her third annual Houston Rubbish to Runway in honor of her twin sister, Vanessa Morales. Our school got the thumbs up from the Guatemalan National Curriculum Board for groundbreaking work on a model of democratic education.
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Students' Plant Garden for Food Security
Vegetable seeds make up large agricultural expenses in Guatemala where farming techniques require growers to buy new seeds every year. In July, Jesse, a local Peace Corps volunteer, and our middle school students began preparing a garden designed to create a seed bank. Our new two-terraced garden will grow native plants that allow simple harvesting of seeds, saving on costs and attaining food security. The students began by building an efficient compost pile. Next was preparing the garden beds and testing the soil. We are now waiting for the seeds to be planted!! We are very excited to be part of this pilot program in Comalapa.
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Presenting Our Curriculum on a National Level
Our hardworking teachers presented this new curriculum that they have been developing to the Guatemalan National Curriculum (CNB) board this last month. The Comalapan team of Técnico
Chixot has been
developing the school
as a site of Democratic Education, as
inspired by the Master's level work of
Matt Paneitz, Founder and Executive D
irector of Long Way Home.
Democratic Education can be a
formidable force of change because it
establishes pathways for individuals to
think critically, work cooperatively, and
assume the roles necessary to build a
socially just and sustainable world. It
supports the creation of a democratic
society through an educational process where teaching and learning is participatory, empowering,
and emancipatory. "
In a Democratic Education setting, students, teachers, and community members can be
transformed into heroes who can courageously take their place in the world as responsible
citizens and creative entrepreneurs working for social change," Paneitz said.
During the presentation, the CNB board expressed interest in all the work our teachers have accomplished so far. They asked our team for their analysis of the national curriculum, and hope to be able to include that in their revisions coming up in the next year. Overall the board was very impressed and told them to keep moving forward con gusto!
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Rubbish to Runway Summer Success
This July, Yessenia Morales, LWH board member, organized Houston's third annual Rubbish to Runway ReFashion show in honor of her twin sister Vanessa, a Long Way Home
supporter.
Six thousand dollars was raised through a combination of ticket sales, silent auction purchases and charitable donations. Twenty-seven designs were showcased on the runway. R2R Houston welcomed five new designers in addition to all those who returned. A surprise entertainer who was a finalist on a national music competition television show treated the audience to a few songs. Way to go Houston!
More examples of beautiful trashion entertained crowds in Edmonton, Canada and Hermosa Beach, CA in July and September.
Our thanks to all the amazing organizers that keep these events thriving!
Let us know if you would like to extend Rubbish to Runway to a city near you!
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Welcome Back, Sarah Boege!
Sarah Boege, who interned for Long Way
Home in 2016, is excited to return as our new Volunteer Coordinator! During her internship with Long Way Home Sarah continued a vital community survey that previous staff member, Gabriela, began in 2015. She graduated this past June from Oregon State University with a Master's in Public Policy after completing a thesis based on data collected in Comalapa. Sarah is thrilled to be back in Comalapa, to work with and support volunteers in the volunteer program.
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Thank you for your interest in our work. We appreciate your support and always enjoy the opportunity to share our stories with you, the people that make them possible!
In Gratitude,
The Long Way Home Team
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7th Annual R2R Boston
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More than 30 stunning walks of original designs made from waste materials.
Live auction to win one week on Martha's Vineyard Island!
Buy a chance to win $1000 when you buy a ticket for the 50/50 raffle!
Date:
October 14, 2017
Time:
6:00-9:00pm
Doors Open at 5:30pm
Location:
Blue Ocean Music Hall
4 Ocean Front North
Salisbury, MA 01952
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Want to learn to build a home foundation to roof? Out of tires?? Don't miss out on LWH's first Academy in Comalapa!
Save the Date
May 2018
One month theory & practicum
Stay in touch for more info to come
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Get more frequent updates and construction photos by following us on social media!
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Get out of the gym!
Come volunteer with LWH in Comalapa and get a better workout with more fun, tell your friends!!
Fill out this form
here, share it with people you know to have a great experience with us at Long Way Home in Guatemala!
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