Each year we try to make two excursions with groups. The first is with the school groups and parents. Many of these kids (and many of the parents) have never before left their villages and it is the first time they have seen a city of any type. We take the group to the capital, Guatemala City where we visit the National Zoo, governmental buildings, Museums, and Mayan historical sites. They have also gotten to meet with the mayor of their department and representatives of the national police force. When they return from these excursions, the participants are eager to tell the older kids, friends, and families about what they have seen.
The second excursion is with members of the women’s groups. Again many of these people have never been farther than the nearby city of Huehue, and some no further than the local markets. Our favorite trip with these women has been to the ocean, a scene these women had never imagined. Truly this is a moving experience for everyone involved. This also gives the women’s groups a chance to mix and get to know each other. They can share experiences as well as discuss issues that they are all facing. They get to encourage each other and find out about other subjects that their own group might be interested in learning.
In 2017, we realized a plan that was a long time in the making. We took a group of 5 of our scholarship graduates on a 5 day trip all around Guatemala to see some of the wonders of their own country. From the caves of Lanquin to the waterfalls of Semuj Sampei they climbed to the top of the ruins in Tikal and explored the marvelous history of Antigua. It was a once in a lifetime trip for the staff and students alike.
