What inspired you to work for your organization?
Long Way Home practices the kind of equitable partnership that I seek to support. Over the course of 15 years, relationships have been built between foreigners and Comalapans that seek out and support aspirations, rather than impose them.
Pizza Party with Green Building Academy graduates!
Describe a typical day at work.
I have the awesome job of working with volunteers from all over the world that come to Comalapa to support Long Way Home in its green building projects. This means that I ensure all lodging and food is set up for individual and group volunteers. I introduce the volunteers to our green builders and accompany them on the work site. Then I set up the cultural activities that happen after work, whether that's tortilla-making, weaving, painting, or visiting the many murals in town. Basically, I'm "the fixer".
Why do you do what you do?
My job rocks. I personally have benefitted immensely from expanding my "bubble" by traveling and living in another country. I hope to facilitate similar experiences for the people who come to volunteer with Long Way Home. Many of our challenges in the modern world result from detachment from the interconnectedness of people, animals, plants, and planet. Through meaningful travel experiences, my hope is that we can all re-attach ourselves to this interconnectedness and re-orient our lives to serve the health and happiness of our shared home.
What is your favorite part of your job?
The creativity of this place when it comes to trash. Our builders are constantly coming up with news ways to use trash in our construction projects. Our teachers are on the forefront of weaving local community challenges, like waste-disposal, into classroom lessons. At least once a week I pause for a moment to soak in the beauty of our "trashy" campus and curriculum.
A week of lots of awesome work—Two groups and seven academy students
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
I received my Masters while building a teacher-training program in Vietnam alongside US and Vietnamese educators. From this experience I developed the confidence to work on intercultural teams. I actually find that I thrive on this type of team. As my Masters was an applied degree, I was also able to understand how sustainable development is talked about "in theory" and how it happens on the ground, in a community, where decisions are made day to day. As an action-based person, I have decided to situate my career in sustainable development in that community sphere.
What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?
Working on a team of people from different cultures, who speak different languages, and work in different disciplines is tough indeed. However, it's also what makes this job worth while. This team comes together in amazing ways to generate innovative solutions to local challenges because we are different. I overcome the challenge of working on a diverse team by allowing processes to take time and not running away from, but rather digging into, the diversity.
What are some current projects you are working on?
We are currently working on perfecting our Volunteer Program recipe and expanding it. We are also brainstorming how best to share our organization’s unique development story and curriculum model.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
Pack less. I always say this but then always find myself with a stuffed bag(...s). Remember to smile, kindness radiates. An open mind and the least amount of expectations are a traveler's best friends.
Education trips in Vietnam—Applying sustainable development education to tourism
Why should someone choose your organization over competitors?
We are experienced when it comes to our Volunteer Program. We know what to do when you get here, how to place you in a meaningful volunteer position, and how to introduce you to our mission and community. Plus, we are building with trash in ways and at a scale not practiced anywhere else in the world.
What hopes do you have for the future for your organization?
I want Long Way Home's story to be launched out into the world. We are practicing development, education for sustainable development, and green building in a way rarely seen in the world. We have a unique story to tell and I am excited to help share it.
What is your organization's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
Long Way Home's mission is to use sustainable design and materials to construct self-sufficient schools that promote education, employment, and environmental stewardship.
Our builders lead our volunteers in the construction of these schools. Our teachers and staff work to develop and refine the curriculum that makes education relevant and action-oriented for local development aspirations and challenges.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
We hope that our participants take away an understanding of historical and current context of Comalapa and how that impacts what we do and why we do it. We also hope they bring home some muscles after working hard on the green building site and walking up and down the Comalapa hills.
How do you help support participants?
We have a volunteer position for all types of people. Tell us what you’re interested in contributing and what limitations you might have, and we can find a place for you.
Lacrossing in Borneo Malaysia
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
It increases your adaptability and mental flexibility. It also reveals to you that kindness and connection exist, even when you don't speak another's language perfectly.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel occurs when you have participated in an experience that takes you out of your bubble, introduces you to a new idea or new way of living, and does not bring harm to the community you visited.
What issues do you see in the world of international education that don’t line up with your values and expectations for mutually beneficial & educational relationships between providers/programs and the communities in which they are located within?
The travel and development world is filled with theories, organizations, and people who believe they know the aspirations and challenges of people. However, this is really an infinitely complex world, shaped deeply by the position we hold as a result of history. Assumptions can be harmful and are usually founded in one side's perceived superiority. Providers of international education opportunities must interrogate their starting points and embrace the complexity of working, collectively and equitably, towards a happier and healthier world for all.
