In 2005, we started building. First, a park area, then a school teaching students through project-based education, situated on a campus built from trash and natural materials. At the school, we teach not only the standard curriculum but also education for sustainable development. At the school, the community is at the forefront. We create jobs for teachers and builders, provide access to education, combat poverty, and build projects to offer basic support, including water tanks, composting toilets, tire retention walls, efficient stoves for improved respiratory health, and more.
During the workshop, we typically build a classroom. We leave for the jobsite at 715 am and start construction at 8 am. The jobsite is normally located in a village near Comalapa and the drive time is about 30 minutes. We provide transportation. We sometimes do classroom sessions on building aspects, but that depends on whether the students want them or not. Most students feel like they learn enough while doing the actual construction. Then lunch is prepared by a local chef. The work day ends at 4 pm. During free time, people often watch the sunset over the volcanoes, wander around the town, play games, or unwind.
GBW participants will learn, build, and live alongside staff from Comalapa and other volunteers from around the world. Students will live in a green-designed home (if that is what they choose) and help maintain a zero-waste household, an experience that can foster life-changing habits.
During the GBW, we cover a range of concepts relevant to eco-building and sustainability principles. From October 10 to November 7, we will be building a classroom for a local school in our community. You will learn to green-build step-by-step, from the foundation up!
