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Instead of taking a luxury vacation this year, consider a trip of service! There is no greater feeling than the satisfaction derived from making a difference in the lives of others.
Teams of Service are organized by Richard and Susan based on the annual needs in Guatemala. Over the past several years, teams have built school furniture for the following:
* A two room pilot project at Camino Seguro - the site at the Guatemala City Dump
*A preschool in Tioxya
A six room daycare at the Guatemala City Dump
* A preschool in Sacala Los Lomas
* Furniture for classrooms in Pastores, Santa Maria de Jesus, and Santo Domingo de Xenocoj (sites that are now operating independently of Planting Seeds and Oneness).
In addition volunteers have fed the homeless, brought food and clothing to the poor, and helped with teacher training projects. Several teams have also built homes for the poor working with the NGO "From Houses to Homes"
Oneness has also facilitated the annual visit of a sixteen person dental team "Dentistry for All", from Calgary, Regina, Edmonton and Chicago, to deal with the overwhelming challenge of dental health needs in the Guatemalan school system.
The Cost
Please note that the cost of a "Team of Service" experience can vary considerably. Costs are affected by your point of origin, changing gas and airline fees, the changing costs of goods and services and other unexpected expenses. The projected costs of the experience for each team will be determined when the team is formed.
- Return airfare
- In country transportation
- airport [arrival\departure]
(shared by the number of volunteers arriving at the same time)
- worksite transportation costs [depending on the work assignment and the location]
- special trips requested by the group
- Accommodations at the community House
- room and board included in the cost
- Weekend excursion
- transportation
- meals
- accommodations
Sample costs for a team of six who volunteered in January 2009 and chose to build a house for a poor family [please note that all prices are in US dollars]
- airport pickup $45 [shared by six persons]
- airport departure $45 [shared by six persons]
- Daily transportation costs to and from the worksite $100 [to be shared by the house builders]
- Accommodations at the community House
- double and triple occupancy
- two weeks $150 donation plus $100 cost = $250
- Weekend Excursion
- private shuttle to Lake Attitlan/Panajchel - Chichicastenango - Antigua $250
[shared by six people]
- accommodations at Volcano Lodge
- double and triple occupancy $20 per person
- dinner and breakfast buffet at the lodge including tip and tax $25 per person
- launch service to and from to Panajchel and Chichicastenango, largest outdoor
market in Central America - $8 per person
- lunch in Panajchel and Chichicastenango - about $6-$10 each for two lunches
[not to be collected]
- optional tour of the lake - $100 per team [to be decided upon by the team]
- expense of the guide(s) $80 [to be shared by the number of participants]
Summary
- in country transportation $32
- accommodations at community House $250
- weekend $108
- contingency $20
- Grand Total $400 each
[excluding airfare and the cost of the house construction]
Other
- personal spending -- snacks, drinks, e-mailing, telephoning, gifts, etc. will be an individual decision.
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