Volunteer to save the children from the Guatemala City garbage dump

October 28, 4:03 PMPhoenix Volunteer Travel ExaminerDebbie Norwitz

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Safe Passage/Camino Seguro was founded in 1999 by Hanley Denning, a young woman from Maine, U.S.A. Sadly, in January 2007 Hanley died in a car accident.

From its humble beginnings when Hanley, encouraged by a friend, visited the garbage dump in Guatemala City. She was horified when she saw children working in the garbage dump to find anything that could be sold to make some money to help feed their families. They were the poorest of the poor, none of the children attended school, they were uneducated, desperately poor, and hungry. That same week Hanley sold her computer, her car, and with some savings started Safe Passage/Camino Seguro.

The first enrollment was 40 of Guatemala’s poorest children. They received tutoring, a healthy snack, and lots of love and attention. Another 70 children participated in a drop-in program, when they weren’t working in the dump.

Now, Safe Passage/Camino Seguro, through the combined efforts of staff, volunteers, and donors, offers a wide variety of services at two major sites to over 500 children and their families.


Volunteers wanting to apply to help Safe Passage are assigned to a particular job through a discernment process of their skills, interests, and capabilities, as well as the needs of a particular project. All volunteers are required to wear the Safe Passage Camino Seguro shirt at all times, and must comply with the dress code, volunteers must be consistent in their manner, commitment, and responsibilities, which are enumerated in the Volunteer Handbook. Volunteers usually work a full day with an hour lunch break. It is recommended that volunteers speak Spanish fluently, otherwise it would be frustrating to work with the staff and children. Both long and short term volunteer positions are available in Guatemala and in their U.S. office in Yarmouth, Maine.

Volunteer housing is inexpensive. To live with a family in a homestay approximate cost is $400/week, includes rent and food. Independent housing can cost approximately $300/week. Additional costs include paying for Camino Seguro bus transport, two uniform t-shirts, communication and laundry costs.

For information email volunteers@safepassage.org, Volunteer Coordinator cell phone (502) 5649-7639. Office (502)7832-8428.

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