Spread the Love!

Team Miracle, the first IEP volunteer team in over a year, truly lived up to its name in Guatemala last week. A miracle is what it felt like to arrive at the El Molino School near Tecpán and to be greeted by so many warm and enthusiastic faces, from the parents who have been working so hard to make ends meet during this pandemic, to the teachers and staff who have picked up the slack when outside support was limited, to the students themselves, who managed against all odds to THRIVE. Moreover, the team was able to give stoves and water filters to twenty families who will from now on enjoy smoke-free homes and clean drinking water!

The LOVE we received this first month of 2022 has invigorated us for the year ahead. Here’s what our calendar looks like so far:

And we’re currently accepting team members for ALL of our 2022 trips!

In a world where three billion people still cook over open fires, our smoke-free stoves are an important commodity. They reduce the risk of smoke inhalation and burns while freeing up the home from the danger and mess of an open fire. Installing these fixtures, along with EcoFiltro water filters, is a major part of what we call Community Infrastructure, along with various building projects. ALL of our 2022 teams will include this important mission.

International Esperanza Project also provides high quality medical care to those who otherwise would have no access. Both Surgical and Clinic teams are made up of passionate medical volunteers from all over the world. These groups also sometimes help our in-country staff to educate about health and nutrition, giving those in remote and under-resourced communities the preventative tools they need to stay healthy.

And at the end of the year, there’s no better way to spread some love than to celebrate Christmas with the El Molino community, Team Gratitude oversees the party, giving the children and their parents food, presents, and plenty of cheer at the end of the year.

SPREAD THE LOVE this February by SPREADING THE NEWS: volunteers are WELCOME at IEP, and signing up now is the BEST decision you’ll ever make!