What inspired you to establish Long Way Home?
I started LWH in 2004 to fulfill my moral obligation to those in the world in desperate need of the basics for survival. Guatemala is one of the poorest countries in the world, so one does not have to look far to find where one is needed. Because of my Peace Corps service, I landed in San Juan Comalapa and lived there from 2005 until 2017 (that is 14 years including Peace Corps years). After building Parque Chimiya, our pilot project, we saw just how much we could accomplish with so little and saw the direct effect first hand.
Lets build a house together, out of trash.
Describe a typical day at work.
Currently, I answer emails from about 10-15 different LWH staff members throughout the day. I file forms with the bank, the IRS, and Dept of Justice in Oregon to maintain our 501(c)3 status. I update spreadsheets to keep our team and BOD informed about the organization’s finances and operations. If there is any time left, I create content for our educational programs or website.
Why do you do what you do?
I am morally obligated. This moral code was hand picked from the best the world has to offer on the subject. And now we are starting to see some success as a result of our organizational efforts.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Green building on a job site out in the middle of nowhere with a great group of people is my favorite part of my job. I am almost always shocked to see how we transform garbage into homes.
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
At grad school in 2015 I studied philosophy of education. In 2015 I started the process by which our school would create an original (non-rote memorization) education model. Three years later our middle school curriculum is complete.
What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?
Funding is a challenge. To overcome funding challenges we explore new income generation (non-mission drifting) sources. With 136 pre-K to 12th grade students attending our school, the challenge is managing so many new challenges. To overcome them, we created a committee system and divided the responsibility.
What are some current projects you are working on?
There are a few: We are building a health clinic in an active volcano region; Based on the stats collected by our middle school students conducting a living condition survey, we are building stoves and water tanks in a nearby village; We are still developing curriculum.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
Learn the language. Bring ear plugs. Noise canceling headphones would help. Don't risk eating random foods. Clean everything you eat. Say hello to everybody you meet and have a great time.
What makes Long Way Home special?
Not only do we turn garbage into homes, school buildings, latrines, and more, our students are now more engaged than ever in getting a thorough education.
Another day at the office.
Why should someone choose your organization over competitors?
Our volunteers really appreciate how much LWH doesn’t have to stage anything in order for them to be involved with the locals and have a life-changing experience.
What hopes do you have for the future for your organization?
In 2021, when 350 students are attending our school and 60 teachers and green builders will have jobs, we will make the shift from a school to a movement.
Are there any developments with your organization that you would like to share with us?
With our students really responding well to our new curriculum, I get the feeling that soon we will get to hear our students’ voices and that the best is yet to come.
What makes your organization easy to market to potential participants?
Green building is a fun, interesting, and challenging topic and activity for volunteers. Comalapa is a quiet, safe small town with easy access to Antigua, Atitlan, and Guatemala City.
What is your organization's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
Long Way Home's mission as a registered US 501(c)3 is to use sustainable design and materials to construct self-sufficient schools that promote education, employment, and environmental stewardship. Behind this mission we will enhance the CETC school model and prepare for the next.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
LWH volunteers have an opportunity to get to know the locals through productive projects. This in-depth intercultural experience is not easy to find and is a source of developing greater understanding between cultures.
How do you help support participants?
I make sure that participants have interesting and engaging projects that align with our mission. I also do most of the fundraising for the organization so that projects are well-funded.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
Without new experiences, people don't have the opportunity to find out who they might become. If all you see is all that you have ever known, then opportunities for growth (the right kind of growth) will not be forthcoming.
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
How many people speak Mandarin or Spanish. Close to two billion people? If we do not make the effort to speak their language, we will never really know what a large portion of the world’s population really thinks.
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
Do not wait for the right moment or the perfect circumstances to venture abroad. Pack your bag, walk out the door, and see what is waiting. (Ok, first buy a ticket and make a few arrangements, like, get in touch with LWH.)
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel means going outside of the typical tourist destinations and really getting to know the people in the country you are visiting. That often requires working on something together.
Matt hanging out with community members.
What does ethical global engagement mean to you?
Ethical global engagement means to me that we are engaged in activities that are having a positive effect on our communities. Whether or not this effect is positive needs to be verified by third parties.
What hopes do you have for the future of international education?
According to the climate change science, we have 12 years to change the way we live. I would like to see international education shift its focus to this stark reality.
What qualities in program & host community relations are important to you? (And your organization?)
The most important quality is safety. Because of our impeccable reputation in Comalapa, our volunteers are not only safe, but cared for, by the community members. Cleanliness is #2—it’s no fun to be a sick volunteer.
