Guatemalan Stove Project and Street Kid Program

Hello! I am going to be volunteering in Guatemala through Global Crossroads from December 12 - 21. I will be located in the city of Quetzaltenango where I will be working on their "Stove Project" in a nearby village and "Street Kids Program". I am so excited to be given this opportunity, and with your help we can really make this trip a success.

I have been wanting to internationally volunteer for a long time now. Being able to experience another culture, getting new perspective outside my own (and yes, getting some adventure) all while working on a positive project with a good cause that really helps people are all reasons why I have been inspired to to do this.

The Stove Project - Millions of people around the world suffer from cooking with coal and wood indoors, many for hours at a time with no ventilation. Woman and children are some of the most effected. The immense smoke and pollution causes lung disease, blindness, and early death. A stove completely changes this and literally saves lives - it really is the simple things.

The stove project will include me and a contractor working together to build a stove for a family in a near by village. I am so excited about this project because the stove is completely dependent on our funds, so some of your money will be going directly to a stove being built with immediate life changing impact on a family - Literally changing lives and giving better quality of life for women and children in a few days. It's something you will be able to see and know you are directly connected to as a special gift for a Guatemalan family.

For the remainder of my stay I will be working in the "Street Kids program". This program helps children who live in impoverished areas and are in need of clothes, food, education and emotional support. I will be working with them at a youth center.

My goal is to raise $1,400.00 for the volunteer trip. Even a small portion helps. This can also act as a tax ride off - as the end of tax season is coming up soon.

To all who donate, I will be sending you photos of the trip and the family for who's stove you help get built. Please email me at [email protected] to be put on the email list for photos and updates of the trip.

THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN!

Some stats

• Over 4 million people die prematurely from illness attributable to the household air pollution from cooking with solid fuels.
• More than 50% of premature deaths among children under 5 are due to pneumonia caused by particulate matter (soot) inhaled from household air pollution.
• 3.8 million premature deaths annually from noncommunicable diseases including stroke, ischaemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer are attributed to exposure to household air pollution.