2025 Humanitarian Experience
On July 12-19, 2025 the Independent Education Program will be taking a group of students/parents to Guatemala for an educational trip focusing on development and humanitarian work. We would love for you to come!
The trip will take place in Panajachel, Guatemala and surrounding areas and will be led by Sam Martineau. The trip is done in partnership with Cultiva International, an organization dedicated to alleviating chronic malnutrition in Guatemala (you can learn more about Cultiva here). The trip is humanitarian in nature in that it funds Cultiva and the work it does, but is different from what one may think of as a traditional humanitarian trip (to understand the differences in detail, you may wish to read through Sam's article on humanitarian trips here).
The Goals of the Trip
- Help fund the work of Cultiva International in creating sustainable development
- Learn about poverty from a societal, community, and personal level
- Learn about sustainable humanitarian work and how to help without causing harm
- Connect with individuals in indigenous communities, have the opportunity to be enriched by their culture, learn from their incredible ability to successfully navigate difficult economic and social hardship
- Experience significant personal growth through education and connection
- Experience the beauty and adventure that Guatemala has to offer
Activities
- A pre trip curriculum including readings and group discussion (online)
- Seminars by the leadership of Cultiva International on humanitarian work and sustainable development
- In trip curriculum focused on development from personal to societal
- Opportunities to connect with and learn from local indigenous people
- Cultural opportunities (e.g. food, visit Church of St. Francis, meet local artisans, etc.)
- Adventure elements (diving in lake Atitlan, etc.)