PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Communities and Environment International Study Tour is crafted in partnership with local Guatemalan organisations to help you develop your skills in cross-cultural community engagement, sustainable development and design thinking.
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LEARN FROM LOCAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS
We work alongside local artisans, designers, and community workers on practical projects to explore the natural environment and community sustainability. IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY You'll have the opportunity to develop and enhance existing community projects, or create new ones while ensuring that local communities are at the heart of each project. WORK COLLABORATIVELY IN SMALL, MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAMS Partner with a team of other Australian students, local 'design for development' experts, and communities to develop projects with a Guatemalan focus. |
FAST FACTS
Program Length
14 days Dates Not Offered in Mid 2020 |
Cost
AU$3,250 Payable as $250 deposit + $3,000 balance Information on funding, scholarships and OS-HELP loans. |
Application Deadline Not Offered in Mid 2020
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We use rolling applications and reviews and applications will close when programs are full, so early submissions are encouraged.
Note that universities have internal deadlines for funding programs like OS-HELP, so apply early.
Note that universities have internal deadlines for funding programs like OS-HELP, so apply early.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
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WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
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YOUR IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE
Could look something like this...
Could look something like this...
EXAMPLE ITINERARY
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Days 1 -3
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Days 4 - 6
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Days 7 - 10
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Days 11 - 14
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Day 1 – Arrival and Program Kick-Off
Arrive into Guatemala’s capital city, Guatemala City, a place where history collides with modernity. The city is home to historical monuments, palaces and cathedrals, as well as brand new malls and quiet, leafy gardens and squares. We’ll meet for a welcome dinner in vibrant Zona Vivo, the hipster capital of Guatemala City and a area with the best night-time vibe. Then overnight together in central Guatemala City.
Day 2 – Orientation and Exploring Colonial Antigua
After a traditional Guatemalan breakfast, we’ll visit the city campus of Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG University) and their brand new innovation space, a Mecca for designers, makers and innovators. We’ll begin our journey into design, and innovation here, with local staff and students. In the afternoon we’ll head to the old capital of Guatemala, Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage town filled with colourful old casas, courtyards and monuments. A jewel of Latin America, Antigua is a beautiful base for further workshops and for beginning to conceptualise our Action Projects. We’ll have a walking tour, where you can taste bizarre ice cream flavours (beer and bacon, rice, or parmesan cheese), visit ruins and historical buildings, and discover the best of Antigua. We stay in a beautiful old, courtyard hotel in Antigua and enjoy traditional Guatemalan food – expect homemade tortillas, fresh queso (cheese), so much avocado Melbourne would be jealous, and frijoles (beans) galore.
Arrive into Guatemala’s capital city, Guatemala City, a place where history collides with modernity. The city is home to historical monuments, palaces and cathedrals, as well as brand new malls and quiet, leafy gardens and squares. We’ll meet for a welcome dinner in vibrant Zona Vivo, the hipster capital of Guatemala City and a area with the best night-time vibe. Then overnight together in central Guatemala City.
Day 2 – Orientation and Exploring Colonial Antigua
After a traditional Guatemalan breakfast, we’ll visit the city campus of Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG University) and their brand new innovation space, a Mecca for designers, makers and innovators. We’ll begin our journey into design, and innovation here, with local staff and students. In the afternoon we’ll head to the old capital of Guatemala, Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage town filled with colourful old casas, courtyards and monuments. A jewel of Latin America, Antigua is a beautiful base for further workshops and for beginning to conceptualise our Action Projects. We’ll have a walking tour, where you can taste bizarre ice cream flavours (beer and bacon, rice, or parmesan cheese), visit ruins and historical buildings, and discover the best of Antigua. We stay in a beautiful old, courtyard hotel in Antigua and enjoy traditional Guatemalan food – expect homemade tortillas, fresh queso (cheese), so much avocado Melbourne would be jealous, and frijoles (beans) galore.
Day 3 – Antigua Sustainability Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Today we’ll visit Antigua’s Impact Hub and meet local social entrepreneurs who are at the forefront of innovation in Latin America, and we’ll have guest lectures from organisation’s working in sustainable development to learn about Guatemala’s solutions to its development challenges. We’ll have a site visit to learn about a highly successful water filtration business, and sustainable construction techniques. This afternoon we’ll begin Spanish lessons, then you’ll have the chance to try your hand at buying food and handicrafts in Antigua’s colourful local market, or artisanal shops. Tonight is our last night in beautiful Antigua and we’ll make the most of it watching the sun setting over the surrounding volcanoes and over Antigua’s colonial roofs from a restaurant balcony.
Today we’ll visit Antigua’s Impact Hub and meet local social entrepreneurs who are at the forefront of innovation in Latin America, and we’ll have guest lectures from organisation’s working in sustainable development to learn about Guatemala’s solutions to its development challenges. We’ll have a site visit to learn about a highly successful water filtration business, and sustainable construction techniques. This afternoon we’ll begin Spanish lessons, then you’ll have the chance to try your hand at buying food and handicrafts in Antigua’s colourful local market, or artisanal shops. Tonight is our last night in beautiful Antigua and we’ll make the most of it watching the sun setting over the surrounding volcanoes and over Antigua’s colonial roofs from a restaurant balcony.
Day 4 – It’s a Long Way Home
Say goodbye to beautiful, colonial Antigua and say hello to village life. Today we visit Long Way Home (LWH), an organisation focused on education, employment and environmental stewardship. The Long Way Home is building a community hub and local school to educate the Comalapa community on sustainability, reusing waste, and to investigate construction using locally available waste and other materials. We’ll have a chance to explore the local village, meet community members, and their growing cohort of students, but the main focus will be to contribute to LWH’s local projects. You’ll hear from their team about their projects, and get stuck into their local community development projects and construction. Tonight we’ll stay close to the school and will be treated to a community dinner cooked by our local hosts.
Day 5 - Upcycling, Reuse and Sustainable Construction
Today we continue on our collaboration in Comalapa, working with local students and community members to further their construction and appropriate technology projects. We’ll help to construct their school, which is using waste from the village such as tyres, rubbish bricks and bottles, so get ready to get your hands dirty! This afternoon we’ll explore the local community to identify design challenges, and opportunities for Comalapa to create their own Action Projects. Think water filtration, improved sanitation, food security and community-based tourism as a source of additional income. Add your own insights and knowledge to suggest appropriate technologies, or choose one of the projects for your team Action Project to support the work of Long Way Home.
Say goodbye to beautiful, colonial Antigua and say hello to village life. Today we visit Long Way Home (LWH), an organisation focused on education, employment and environmental stewardship. The Long Way Home is building a community hub and local school to educate the Comalapa community on sustainability, reusing waste, and to investigate construction using locally available waste and other materials. We’ll have a chance to explore the local village, meet community members, and their growing cohort of students, but the main focus will be to contribute to LWH’s local projects. You’ll hear from their team about their projects, and get stuck into their local community development projects and construction. Tonight we’ll stay close to the school and will be treated to a community dinner cooked by our local hosts.
Day 5 - Upcycling, Reuse and Sustainable Construction
Today we continue on our collaboration in Comalapa, working with local students and community members to further their construction and appropriate technology projects. We’ll help to construct their school, which is using waste from the village such as tyres, rubbish bricks and bottles, so get ready to get your hands dirty! This afternoon we’ll explore the local community to identify design challenges, and opportunities for Comalapa to create their own Action Projects. Think water filtration, improved sanitation, food security and community-based tourism as a source of additional income. Add your own insights and knowledge to suggest appropriate technologies, or choose one of the projects for your team Action Project to support the work of Long Way Home.
Day 6 – From Ancient Mayans to a New Guatemala
Before you know it, it’ll be time to say goodbye to our new friends at Comalapa as we head into Solola, central Guatemala. We will experience a complete contrast to learning about new construction techniques using locally available materials, by seeing how it was done in the old days. Visit Iximche Ruins and learn about ancient Mayan rituals, customs and traditions. You’ll be awed by the ancient structures and advanced Mayan culture that, despite years of struggle against colonisation and civil war, still lives on today in many Guatemalan communities. After exploring the ruins and ancient Mayan culture, we’ll arrive at UVG’s Solola campus, taking us to 21st century Guatemala. Misty, forested and at a higher altitude, the Solola campus will be our home for the next few nights.
Before you know it, it’ll be time to say goodbye to our new friends at Comalapa as we head into Solola, central Guatemala. We will experience a complete contrast to learning about new construction techniques using locally available materials, by seeing how it was done in the old days. Visit Iximche Ruins and learn about ancient Mayan rituals, customs and traditions. You’ll be awed by the ancient structures and advanced Mayan culture that, despite years of struggle against colonisation and civil war, still lives on today in many Guatemalan communities. After exploring the ruins and ancient Mayan culture, we’ll arrive at UVG’s Solola campus, taking us to 21st century Guatemala. Misty, forested and at a higher altitude, the Solola campus will be our home for the next few nights.
Day 7 - University Life in Latin America
It’s all about collaboration as we meet local staff and students. Visit the new innovation space and use the workshop and tools with the students to create prototypes and technologies together, combining knowledge and forces to contribute to Guatemala’s sustainable community development. Today is a great time to take your Action Projects to the next stage using local insights and knowledge as well as the tools available at UVG. If the weather is good, tonight, after a delicious dinner, we have a bonfire and share camp stories while watching the fireflies.
Day 8 – Santa Catarina de Popolo Amazing Race
You’ll get a chance to see how Mayan traditions live on, as today we visit one community surrounding one of the most picturesque parts of all of Latin America. Santa Catarina is a beautiful, small town on the edge of stunning Lake Atitlan. You’ll need your Spanish today (or perhaps the help of team UVG) as we set challenges for everyone to explore the town, chat to locals, and experience traditional family tasks. After lunch in town where you can try local comida, we’ll hear from some families about new technologies that have been developed to tackle local challenges. Ask questions, observe and chat to locals to understand community life in Guatemala, and gain inspiration and field research for your Action Project. This afternoon we have more time to work on our Action Projects and spend our final night at UVG together. Tonight is guaranteed to be a highlight with Show and Tell around the fire.
It’s all about collaboration as we meet local staff and students. Visit the new innovation space and use the workshop and tools with the students to create prototypes and technologies together, combining knowledge and forces to contribute to Guatemala’s sustainable community development. Today is a great time to take your Action Projects to the next stage using local insights and knowledge as well as the tools available at UVG. If the weather is good, tonight, after a delicious dinner, we have a bonfire and share camp stories while watching the fireflies.
Day 8 – Santa Catarina de Popolo Amazing Race
You’ll get a chance to see how Mayan traditions live on, as today we visit one community surrounding one of the most picturesque parts of all of Latin America. Santa Catarina is a beautiful, small town on the edge of stunning Lake Atitlan. You’ll need your Spanish today (or perhaps the help of team UVG) as we set challenges for everyone to explore the town, chat to locals, and experience traditional family tasks. After lunch in town where you can try local comida, we’ll hear from some families about new technologies that have been developed to tackle local challenges. Ask questions, observe and chat to locals to understand community life in Guatemala, and gain inspiration and field research for your Action Project. This afternoon we have more time to work on our Action Projects and spend our final night at UVG together. Tonight is guaranteed to be a highlight with Show and Tell around the fire.
Day 9 – Sustainable Communities on the Mystical Lake
Today we cross Lake Atitlan is one of the most beautiful places in all of Latin America. It is a vast blue lake, surrounded by cloud-shrouded volcanoes and small, picturesque villages. We board the main form of transport in the region: a boat, to cross the lake to San Juan La Laguna. Our home for the next few days: San Juan La Laguna, a small but mighty with a strong community organisation and cooperative. The cooperative is committed to sustainability and environmental stewardship, and they have developed unique activities to show outsiders their traditional and balanced way of life. Here we’ll stay in local homes where local hospitality makes the experience all the better.
Day 10 – Village Life in San Juan La Laguna
This is the perfect place to understand local life and try your hand at cooking tortillas, fishing for dinner, and learning about how famous Guatemalan coffee is grown and processed. In the afternoon, we’ll visit cooperatives to learn how the women are carrying on the age-old weaving traditions using complicated backstrap weaving and how they use unique techniques of natural dying. We’ll visit a neighbouring village to visit Atitlan Organics. This amazing organisation teaches permaculture and living in balance with the environment. We’ll explore their initiatives and also learn about natural construction.
Today we cross Lake Atitlan is one of the most beautiful places in all of Latin America. It is a vast blue lake, surrounded by cloud-shrouded volcanoes and small, picturesque villages. We board the main form of transport in the region: a boat, to cross the lake to San Juan La Laguna. Our home for the next few days: San Juan La Laguna, a small but mighty with a strong community organisation and cooperative. The cooperative is committed to sustainability and environmental stewardship, and they have developed unique activities to show outsiders their traditional and balanced way of life. Here we’ll stay in local homes where local hospitality makes the experience all the better.
Day 10 – Village Life in San Juan La Laguna
This is the perfect place to understand local life and try your hand at cooking tortillas, fishing for dinner, and learning about how famous Guatemalan coffee is grown and processed. In the afternoon, we’ll visit cooperatives to learn how the women are carrying on the age-old weaving traditions using complicated backstrap weaving and how they use unique techniques of natural dying. We’ll visit a neighbouring village to visit Atitlan Organics. This amazing organisation teaches permaculture and living in balance with the environment. We’ll explore their initiatives and also learn about natural construction.
Day 11 – Back to Beautiful Antigua
After a final swim this morning, today we say goodbye to our wonderful local hosts and cross the lake for the last time. It will take us a few hours to travel back to Antigua this afternoon through Solola. Once in Antigua, we’ll check into our accommodation and have some free time to allow all that we’ve experienced in Guatemala’s rural communities to truly sink in. This afternoon we’ll practice perfect pitching so that you can articulate your ideas and amazing new projects, and we’ll work on professional development such as CV hacking. Tonight we stay in another of Antigua’s historical casas, with hipster Guatemalan fusion food guaranteed for anyone interested.
Day 12 – Projects in Action
A big Action Project day, today is the last day to work on our projects and final presentations. In between teamwork, make sure you fill up on Guatemalan food and coffee while you can, or if you’ve finished you can get more historical monuments / local markets / weird ice cream fixes. We’ll have our local design team on hand to help with translating, design tips and finalising prototypes before our big showcase tomorrow. Today we’ll cover business models and scaling your projects so you can build big ideas from small beginnings.
After a final swim this morning, today we say goodbye to our wonderful local hosts and cross the lake for the last time. It will take us a few hours to travel back to Antigua this afternoon through Solola. Once in Antigua, we’ll check into our accommodation and have some free time to allow all that we’ve experienced in Guatemala’s rural communities to truly sink in. This afternoon we’ll practice perfect pitching so that you can articulate your ideas and amazing new projects, and we’ll work on professional development such as CV hacking. Tonight we stay in another of Antigua’s historical casas, with hipster Guatemalan fusion food guaranteed for anyone interested.
Day 12 – Projects in Action
A big Action Project day, today is the last day to work on our projects and final presentations. In between teamwork, make sure you fill up on Guatemalan food and coffee while you can, or if you’ve finished you can get more historical monuments / local markets / weird ice cream fixes. We’ll have our local design team on hand to help with translating, design tips and finalising prototypes before our big showcase tomorrow. Today we’ll cover business models and scaling your projects so you can build big ideas from small beginnings.
Day 13 – Graduation and Project Showcase
Showcase the project that you have been working diligently on for the last two weeks. It’s graduation day, with presentations to our partners and new friends, and a chance to hand over your project to live on in Guatemala. A day full of celebration and pride at what you’ve come up with as a multi-disciplinary, diverse team, contributing to sustainable communities in Guatemala. We promise there will be some spare time to do any last minute souvenir shopping before we head back to Guatemala City, for our final celebration night together with a special graduation dinner.
Day 14 – Hasta Luego Guatemala
Today is our farewell day. After a final breakfast, say hasta luego to your friends as this program will inspire you to come back to visit again for sure. Board your flight today, or continue onward travel for those with a bit more time.
! NOTE: Program is subject to change depending on local community availability, national events and weather conditions. Depending on the group size, the program may split to visit different communities to ensure small teams and a personal experience.
Showcase the project that you have been working diligently on for the last two weeks. It’s graduation day, with presentations to our partners and new friends, and a chance to hand over your project to live on in Guatemala. A day full of celebration and pride at what you’ve come up with as a multi-disciplinary, diverse team, contributing to sustainable communities in Guatemala. We promise there will be some spare time to do any last minute souvenir shopping before we head back to Guatemala City, for our final celebration night together with a special graduation dinner.
Day 14 – Hasta Luego Guatemala
Today is our farewell day. After a final breakfast, say hasta luego to your friends as this program will inspire you to come back to visit again for sure. Board your flight today, or continue onward travel for those with a bit more time.
! NOTE: Program is subject to change depending on local community availability, national events and weather conditions. Depending on the group size, the program may split to visit different communities to ensure small teams and a personal experience.
"Working with local community partners that are passionate about sharing their lived experiences alongside students excited to learn and engage is an amazing experience. I wish I had the opportunity to do a program like this when I was at university."
Facilitator, Unbound |
PARTNERS
KEY LOCAL PARTNER
LINK 4 International Development Design Summit Organisers Link 4 are a local social-impact design and education organisation and have previously led programs, including the Hogares Sostenibles (Sustainable Homes) International Development Design Summit. The Summit brought expert development designers and community members together to develop solutions to local challenges. Some of the projects included creating brickettes for cleaner cooking and heating, an improved cook-stove and hanging gardens to improve nutrition. |
OTHER FRIENDS AND PARTNERS
ATITLAN ORGANICS
Atitlan Organics is located in the small Mayan village of Tzununa, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. They focus on building and maintaining a fully-functioning, profitable, organic, permaculture farm. See diversity that includes dairy goats, pigs, chickens, vegetables, coffee, bees, and well over 200 useful plant species, and learn from their permaculture and natural building expertise.
UNIVERSITAD DEL VALLE GUATEMALA (UVG)
UVG has over 4,000 students studying on three campuses in Guatemala. The university focuses on technology and technical programs. The university has received a grant to develop Maker Spaces, innovation hubs for the university and its wider community, to create, design, and build. It is a key institution in Guatemala for social impact design.
LONG WAY HOME
Long Way Home uses sustainable design and materials to construct self-sufficient schools that promote education, employment and environmental stewardship. They reuse community waste, and use resources available locally for construction, and have created a community space and school to provide quality education to both adults and children in Comalapa.
BICITEC
Bicitec is a social enterprise centred around the design and application of bicycle machine technology. Bicimáquinas – bicycle-powered machines – are a labour-saving, human-powered and culturally appropriate technology for rural areas. Designs include: deep well water pumps, maize degrainers and grinders, blenders, vegetation choppers and coconut shredders. Bicimáquinas are a middle ground between the artisanal and the industrial, and offer a sustainable and appropriate energy option for small farmers and producers.
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