Long Way Home in Guatemala

Long Way Home is a small grassroots 501(c)3 non-profit organization working the rural Guatemalan community of San Juan Comalapa. LWH has been working in Comalapa since 2005 doing development projects with partner organizations such as Engineers Without Borders, Chuwi Tinamit, and AIRES. LWH offers a safe place for interns and volunteers to experience Guatemala's rich Mayan culture, learn and develop methods of alternative construction and get involved in a variety of local community projects. Our current project is the Tecnico Maya Vocational School which is built using Rammed-Earth as well as recycled materials, such as tires and bottles. For more information visit us @ longwayhomeinc.org.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Rammed-Earth Building
• Guatemala
• Vocational Schools
• Long Way Home

[longwayhome100]

puedes contactar Mateo con este correo, mpaneitz@hotmail.com

[TheJordano45]

lo coloque en mi FACEBOOK---- GENIAL

[abl263]

Mateo podrias comunicarte conmigo quiero llevar alumnos de la Universidad a conocer tu proyecto.

[shitty1one]

I wonder why they do not do this in the U.S.? I know communities in the states poorer than this one. Charity begins at home, but perhaps no minority in the U.S. is willing to trust a white. I think in other countries they have not learned that lesson yet.

[sad904]

there are very interesting critics about a good cause, the problem most of the times is that people complains are not doing anything.

Thanks to those people to give their time to help the less fortunate.

[sad904]

there are very interesting critics about a good cause, the problem most of the times are that people critizism is not what are they doing, but what are we doing to help others.

Thanks to those people to give their time to help the less fortunate.

[hapolian]

@cocomo2006

How the hell is that constructive?! Where do you suppose they find quality cement and iron rods to make for inground reinforcement? Good metal doesn't pop out of people's asses. In a place that's struggling to pull tin sheets together, you expect people to find iron rods for unnecessary purposes. A stronger structure doesn't always lead to a safer structure. The point of highlight straw houses is that it's not in the materials you use, it's how you use them.

[cocomo2006]

@hapolian

What I said makes perfect sense to anyone who has an awareness of what are

building codes. It makes a lot of difference, the quality of the construction, when an earthquake strikes. I am talking about unreinforced 8 feet tall walls of tires, not about straw structures. By the way if you can not appreciate a constructive criticisism given with good intention I am very sorry for you.

[hapolian]

@cocomo2006

That doesn't even make sense. The problem with earthquakes and buildings is that when the wave passes through, the structure is too rigid and causes damage and collapse. There are houses made out of STRAW that can withstand 10.0 on the Richter Scale.

[cocomo2006]

I commend your idea of using old tires. However doing this without the proper reinforcements (like iron rods) is looking for big trouble in a country with a long history of seismic activity. However if a good cement base is made in the ground with iron rods sticking out where the tires can be inserted and secured you will have a much safer structure in case of an earthquake.