Transylvania University Alumni and Friends
Alternative Winter Break
Guatemala City
December 13 - 21, 2014
Come join several Transylvania students (and a few faculty) on a trip to Gautemala from December 13 - 21, 2014. We will be staying in Guatemala City and working in the Labor de Falla region. While we are there, we will have the chance to work on several projects. For example :
- Build a house
- Work at an orphanage
- Help supply clean water systems for some
families
- Play with the local kids at the school
- Build Chicken coops
- Stain previously built houses
- Serve lunches to the school children
Daily Itinerary
7:30 - 8:30 Breakfast at the facility
8:45 - 9:30 A bus will take us to the work site
10:00 - 4:00 Work on projects. A sack lunch
will be provided each day.
4:00 - 5:00 Return to lodging facility
5:30 Dinner
6:30 - ? Games and conversation
Facilities
We will be staying with a group called Catalyst Resources International. This group was started by Fontaine and Paula Greene (from KY!!). They have created a safe, wonderful oasis for groups to stay while in Guatemala. This place is called Mimi's house.
Mimi's House has a dormitory type setting for the groups, split into male and female dorms. Each dorm has it's own restroom facilities and beds. You will be provided with bedding, so all you need to bring is a towel, toiletries, and an extra pillow if you want it.
Mimi's House is also a shelter for 12 young girls ranging from the 1st - 12th grades. The Greene's (with financial help from several people) sponsor these girls so they can go to school. Upon graduation, the girls must move out of Mimi's House, but the Greene's will continue to offer limited financial aid so the girls can continue their education and go on to college.
CRI will also do all of the work involved in setting up the projects for the groups. We will need to get them the funds prior to arrival that will pay for the projects decided upon by the group.
Approximate Costs
Much of the costs is dependent on airfare. Currently airfare is about $850 leaving from Lexington. This will go up and down as the days go by. Housing is $55 per night. This includes almost all the meals while we are in Guatemala. There will be opportunities to shop and sight see, and those costs are up to you. I generally spend $100 on gifts for friends and family. There are also costs that arise that are unexpected. I will put a $50 placeholder in for these costs.
| Airfare |
$850 |
| Housing (8 nights) |
$440 |
| Sight seeing |
$100 |
| Unexpected |
$50 |
| Total |
$1440 |
Note that this is an estimate and could go up or down by the time we leave.
Fund Raising
We will also need to raise funds for our projects. These costs are as follows :
| House | $3300 |
| Chicken Coop |
$250 |
| Stain |
$50 |
| Water System (each) |
$60 |
We are asking that each team member raise funds to help cover the costs of the projects we wish to complete while on the trip.
Sight Seeing
We will have several options while we are visiting. We usually will spend the first Sunday in Antigua. This will allow us to get immersed in the culture, see a beautiful city, and visit some markets. (I hope you like to haggle!) We have also gone hiking on a volcano, gone zip lining through a jungle, taken a boat ride across a beautiful lake, and more. We will work hard while we are there, but we will get to see some unbelievably beautiful locations, too.
Come join us! We would love to take a large Transy contingent with us so we can help as many people as possible while we are in Guatemala. For more information, please contact me at the following :
Dr. Mike LeVan
mlevan@transy.edu
859-233-8603