GUATEMALA
guatemala
Location: Central America
Language: Spanish
Guatemala is home to rainforests, ancient Mayan sites, and volcanoes – you may have heard about the eruption of Volcan Fuego near the end of 2018. Guatemala is the most populated country in Central America. The capital, Guatemala City, is split into 21 zones and is home to over two million people. Guatemala is considered a biodiversity hotspot due to the large number of different ecosystems within its borders.
About el trebol, guatemala city
The largest dumpsite in Central America, El Trebol began in 1966 and receives about 300,000 tons of household, commercial, industrial and medical waste each year. It is estimated that 2,000 recyclers, or “guajeros” work at the site. Underground fires with acrid smoke sporadically break out at the dump. Pungent smells, insects and animals fills the residential communities surrounding the dump, and leachate from the dumpsite drains into the Zaila and Chinautla rivers.
What we do here
Give Scholarships
We currently support the education of over 100 students in Ethiopia through our Paso a Paso program.
Host Service Immersions
We host 30+ service immersions a year with high schools, universities, organizations, and churches.
Host Medical Missions
We go on several medical missions a year to bring medical care to communities that don’t have access to doctors.
Support Schools
We help pay for schools in garbage dump communities, so they can continue to run and hire excellent staff.
Build Homes
We build homes for families that don’t have them through a mix of volunteer work and contracting local businesses.
Advocate
We advocate for the individuals in these communities by bringing their stories back to the U.S.
About Us
International Samaritan is a nonprofit organization with the designation 501(c)(3). Our headquarters is located in Ann Arbor Michigan.
