Help School fight Climate Change w/ Green Building

Jauary 2009 ushered in the new year and a ground breaking for the Tecnico Maya School being built on two acres of land in the aldea of Paxan.

38 volunteers showed up for digging bringing shovels, azidones and wheel barrows.

Among this group we welcomed two groups of returning students from North American Universities. Saint Benedict's College and St. John's University from St. Cloud, Minnesota retuned as did the crew from the University of Illinois at Urbana.

Also joining our volunteer staff is LEED cerified architect Erick Temple from Newton, MA. Ericka will be filling an "Architect in Residence" position until May 2009.

A '06 graduate of the Syracuse University School of Architecture Ericka hopes to bring community architecture to Comalapa. Ericka thinks Guatemala is a perfect social setting for this inovative architectural approach where the neighborhood is asked to be involved in the design process. She will also work closely with construction manager Adam Howland on final design decisions. We look forward to Ericka's work.

Three Long Way Home staff made an epic journey through all of North America bringing almost a ton of donated firefighting equipment, recreational supplies and medical equipment. These donations were driven over 4,000 miles in a trip lasting almost two weeks and driven by Matthew Paneitz ED, and new volunteers Ben Smith and Aaron Colvin.

The equipment and the drivers were greeted with a hero's welcome of a parade and banquet in their honor when they finally arrived. The equipment has already seen its first fire and Comalapan firefighters are most appreciative of this great community contribution.