Light Up Guatemala
You’ll work with Open Windows Foundation in San Miguel Duenas, an agricultural community of about 12,000 people who live 15 kilometres from the tourist city of Antigua. Despite being located so close to the tourism industry, many San Miguel families barely get by. Open Windows is a dynamic, non-profit children’s learning centre that provides 2,600 kids with services and programs so they have more options and independence in their lives.
About The Project:
You will be installing clean-burning stoves with the guidance of Open Windows Foundation (OW) as part of DWC’s LIGHT UP GUATEMALA program. Most of the people who live in and around San Miguel Duenas are subsistence farm workers living in tin and cindercrete block houses. Volunteer will help create a healthier environment for these families in Guatemala.
The stoves might not seem like much, but families that can’t afford them end up using open fires in their homes for cooking. Those fires fill the houses with smoke throughout the day. Due to this, everyone from babies to elders ends up breathing in the smoke and Guatemala has a high rate of respiratory illnesses as a result. A stove also uses far less firewood than open fires, so that means families can spend less money on bundles of wood or less time collecting it from the forests. This results in the stoves helping to reduce deforestation.
You’ll definitely be doing work that builds a future for people who live off of hope. You’ll work alongside like-minded volunteers who are also passionate about travel and giving others a hand up, not a hand out.
Read day-to-day experiences from our volunteers on the Guatemala Blog »
It’s Not All Work:
You can expect a warm and humid climate during your stay in Guatemala; it’s an excellent time to visit as it is the dry season. Temperatures average around 20°C making it comfortable for indoor or outdoor pursuits.
There’s lots to see and do. Antigua, where our volunteers stay in a hotel, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its Spanish Baroque style of architecture and church ruins. The region was hit by several earthquakes in the 1700s (hence the historic ruins). Not to worry, though, there haven’t been any quakes of note in the past couple of hundred years or so.
Past teams have visited a chocolate maker, open markets, monuments, fountains, plant nurseries and even volcanoes. Some have gone for wilderness hikes or ziplining. There are lots of options for your free time.
Learn more about the Guatemala »

Itinerary:
- Saturday, August 15 to Sunday, August 16 – Team arrives Guatemala City airport; transport to Antigua and check in to hotel
- Monday, August 17 to Friday, August 21 – PROJECT WORK in San Miguel Dueñas
- Saturday, August 22 to Sunday, August 23 – Weekend for cultural activities
- Monday, August 24 to Friday, August 28 – PROJECT WORK in San Miguel Dueñas
DWC Team Leader:
Team leaders are essential on our volunteer trips. While they themselves are volunteers, they are also experienced travelers and who are willing to take on more commitment and responsibility.
We choose leaders who are knowledgeable about travelling in developing countries because they must understand the conditions they are leading people through. Additionally, we choose leaders who can be called upon in an emergency (they are required to have first aid training) and who want to make sure their team has the best experience possible.
Find out how to become a team leader with Developing World Connections
FAQs:
Are You Ready To Go?
Got questions? Email us at info@developingworldconnections.org.
Ready to apply? Fill out our online application. You can secure your place on this trip with a $500, non-refundable deposit that goes toward your total trip cost. After you’ve submitted your forms and deposit, our office will contact you and send you a welcome package.
We’re glad to have you join us.
Can’t go on the trip to be a part of the installation crew but still want to help the team achieve their goal? You can help buy stoves for the Light Up Guatemala Fundraiser.
Still have some questions? We’re here to help, please feel free to contact us now, or fill out the form.