Fabretto Children's Foundation

Volunteering in Guatemala with Seeds for Progress

BY: Charlotte Stevens & Sage Stretch

Our names are Charlotte and Sage and we are sophomores at Dartmouth College who just returned from three amazing weeks in Guatemala. We volunteered with Seeds for Progress, a Fabretto impact partner organization, who works to bring education access to rural communities in Guatemala.

We chose to go to Guatemala on our winter break to learn more about this wonderful country, and we were fortunate to participate in a more locally rooted experience–where we traveled, enjoyed small towns, and worked alongside locals.

Since it was our first time in Guatemala, we were eager to see more of the country before starting our volunteer work at a school in the city of Esquipulas.

Some highlights were:

Lake Atitlán, Guatemala — The ferry boat across Lake Atitlán. The views from the lake were amazing!

Rostro Maya, Lake Atitlán — Hiking to catch this beautiful sunrise from the lake. We learned about the history of the Maya communities that live in the area and sipped local coffee at the top.

Antigua, Guatemala — Antigua! A UNESCO World Heritage Site with Spanish architecture and cobblestone streets.

Finally, it was time to journey to Esquipulas, where we’d be based for most of our time. Along the way, we stopped at three of the nine schools that Seeds for Progress works with. The school year in Guatemala runs from February to November, and Seeds’ Child Labor Prevention Program runs camps for students during the school break. These schools are in rural communities where the coffee harvesting industry employs many of their families. The camps provide education, two meals a day, and socialization so children have a safe place to learn, eat, and stay engaged during the harvest season.

Volunteers Sage and Charlotte Leading a Group Activity — Leading a group activity!

In our time, we were so impressed by the love from the teachers and the excitement of the students. From the moment we arrived, we were met with dancing, singing, laughter, and lots of hugs! We were amazed by what a joyous environment it was to learn in. We made connections with the students and loved hearing about their culture like favorite foods, games, and local phrases. They were excited to hear about our lives as well. Some of the younger ones were very entertained by asking how to say every object they could think of in English.

Teaching English with Seeds for Progress — Teaching an English class on basic sentences.

The teachers are energetic and loving professionals who truly change kids’ lives. So was the kitchen staff, who prepared delicious and filling meals we loved! Our favorite was the empanadas, corn patties with bean and cheese filling. It was so impactful to see how everyone–Seeds staff, teachers, and cooks–bring their talents to create a warm learning environment for each student.

We are so grateful for this experience and for the hospitality and welcome from everyone in Guatemala and can’t wait to return!