Casa Guatemala Food & Waste Development
In 2011, a team of 11 self-funded FMFM volunteers traveled to Guatemala with supplies, donations and their sleeves rolled up, ready for some VERY hard labor. The FMFM team helped build a slaughterhouse.
Despite the strong tourism draw to historical Mayan ruins and sacred sites, today’s Mayan communities don’t benefit. Most live in villages without water and electricity — in poverty. Casa Guatemala provides care and education for up to 300 children who mostly come from the surrounding Mayan villages. They were born into extreme poverty and many of them don’t have access to education. With Casa Guatemala, these children have a safe, loving home; proper nutrition and healthcare; and are receiving a solid education. FMFM decided to support the effort that gives these children a chance to break the cycle of poverty in their Mayan communities.
OUR ROLE
In 2011, a team of 11 self-funded FMFM volunteers traveled to Guatemala with supplies, donations and their sleeves rolled up, ready for some VERY hard labor. The FMFM team helped build a slaughterhouse. Our volunteers hauled rock and sand to the slaughterhouse structure and then mixed and poured the cement for the new facility.
- Donated Supplies: Basic medication, vitamins, shoes and clothing
- Volunteer Projects: Built new foundation for slaughterhouse
- Total Raised: $850
THE OUTCOME
Casa Guatemala needed to put more funding toward education, health and everyday care. Feeding Mouths, Filling minds helped create more renewable resources. We helped build a new slaughterhouse that has a safe and sustainable waste runoff system. The runoff water is used to produce methane gas, which becomes an energy source for needs like cooking. The leftover food waste is turned into compost and returned back to the pigpens as swine feed or compost for crops — completing the cycle of sustainability.
WHAT OUR FRIENDS HAVE TO SAY
“We were so happy to have your group with us. It wasn’t a glamorous job, but it had to be done they really stepped up to the plate.”
— Heather Graham, Director of Communications & Fund Development, Casa Guatemala
“It was hot and muggy, and filling sandbags with wet sand was hard work. But I soon discovered that I was having so much fun.”
— Mary, FMFM Volunteer
“Truly a rewarding and life-changing experience to be part of the sustainability project at Casa Guatemala.”
— Lisa, FMFM Volunteer
“I was filling sandbags when a young girl walked barefoot into the sand pile, picked up a shovel and began filling my sandbag. She smiled a beautiful smile.”
— Pat, FMFM Volunteer
“This was truly an eye-opening experience for me.”
— Steve, FMFM Volunteer
“Working with FMFM is really an opportunity to be the change that you want to see in the world, all by helping one child at a time.”
— Katie, FMFM Volunteer