Our aim here at G22 is to teach the people of Guatemala and hopefully the world about the importance of responsible, sustainable living that helps to conserve our natural environment. Ultimately, G22 believes that environmental education starts at home and should be taught using real solutions applied in both rural and urban settings.

Photo courtesy of Bonnie NortonHere at G22, we're on the prowl for funding.

G22 just completed its application for the Echoing Green Fellowship which provides seed money for individuals and organizations that have big, bold ideas for social change. The 2012 Echoing Green application cycle opened in December 2011 and will end in June 2012 when the finalists are announced. Applicants must go through a three- stage process including interviews in New York. Typically 20 to 25 organizations are selected each year to receive an $80,000 stipend over two years for program and organizational development.

The thrill and rush I experienced while discussing, writing, and imagining the ideas that we have at G22 really got me thinking about the future and the endless possibilities. This quote from Confucius really speaks to the process at G22: “If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 year, teach the people.”

Currently, we are in the seedling stage (beginning stages) of our growth process. We are piloting programs designed to find the 22% of students, entrepreneurs and workers that have the attitude to incorporate environmental awareness, thereby helping us to reach the other 78%. For example, we are working with several local schools to develop projects that reach the 22% of the student population. The idea is to test these ideas and projects on a small scale, in order, to expand the G22 program in schools throughout the country. We here at G22 feel very optimistic about the process thus far!

We have garnered media attention including TV appearances and radio spotlights, so we know that we have what it takes to reach the masses! For now, we are letting things develop organically. Instead of searching out specific grants, we are thinking of creative ways we can generate money and interest that goes beyond the norm. Of course it wouldn’t hurt if a little seed money came our way, to help jumpstart our efforts. Either way, we will continue to push ahead by planting our seeds, watching our trees grow, and teaching the people how to live in harmony with nature!

Mindi Batson is currenting living in Guatemala City, Guatemala and working for G22 as Co-founder and Green Connect Program Developer, as well as an independent English teacher, psychologist, and yoga teacher.

Walking on the road to Chaquijyá, Guatemala

This year, in order to further our understanding of global hunger, the Program Directors at all three MPI sites participated in the 30-hour fast organized by World Vision International. Though allowed to consume fruit juice, we were highly encouraged to not consume solid foods or coffee (eek!) from 1:00pm this past Thursday until 7:00pm the following Friday. In addition to the fast, PD’s also participated in service activities organized through their respective sites, and discussions concerning our personal sentiments regarding the fast. In Guatemala, we began our fast with an hour of service at a local feeding program and then conducted dialogues in house and with the Ecuador PDs via Skype. The fast was both physically and emotionally taxing, but we all persevered and I believed that we learned a great deal from the experience.

To be honest, when I first learned about the fast, I was not crazy about it for numerous reasons. Primarily, any given day, I probably spend more time eating than not, and I was not sold on the idea of forgoing food for an entire 30 hours. Additionally, I felt several moral qualms on the matter. Who were we to expect that a mere day-long fast would allow us to empathize with the suffering and turmoil of hunger victims? Watching movies on laptops, drinking clean water, and cozily sitting in our warm beds, we would be surrounded by numerous luxuries and we would have a kitchen stocked with food in case of emergency. We would begin the fast with the assurance of copious amounts of food in 30 hours and we would never suffer the anxiety of wondering the source of our next meal.

The fast also did not touch me initially at a personal level, as our physical experience of hunger could never resemble the experiences of the hungry in Chaquijyá. Many residents of Chaquijyá suffer from chronic hunger. While many of them may only eat one meal a day, they do eat. Our experience would more closely resemble the acute hunger of victims of natural disasters or war, whose food sources become cut off very suddenly. Like I said, there were numerous reasons. Overall, it seemed to me that our experience would not remotely resemble those lived by the impoverished, and I was hesitant to believe that the fast would affect my perspectives in working with the community members of Chaquijyá.

Having successfully completed the fast, I cannot say if the experience will affect how I make my lesson plans or teach my classes in Chaquijyá, but I can say that the fast did prove to be more enlightening than I had expected. Namely, even if the fast did not radically change my thoughts on world hunger, the experience did stimulate me to think. Though the fast was not “authentic” per say, hunger dominated my thoughts for 30 hours and compelled me to ask to ask more profound questions about myself and the larger issue. Indeed, I realized that is impossible for me to fathom the experience of chronic hunger. This realization excited in me both a rush of gratitude for the numerous blessings I am fortunate to enjoy, and also a larger appreciation for the resilience of people suffering from hunger. All over the world, people who survive on minimal food still work and struggle to support families. Often the most impoverished people possess the most physically taxing jobs, and millions of hungry people toil each day all the while still nourishing love for their families, religious beliefs, and/or inner determination.

I am so grateful for the smack-in-face, out-of-the-comfort-zone experience that was the fast. Sometimes I need a shock to my system to make me open my eyes and see the world around me more clearly. Global hunger is truly a world issue that cannot be fixed in a flash by one organization or government. Whether through monetary donations, volunteering, or spreading awareness, all of us must find our own ways to contribute to the struggle to insure food security for our fellow humans.

Ginny just finished a thirteen-month commitment as Program Director with Manna Project International-Guatemala and is returning to Guatemala to seek out other opportunities. For more on Ginny’s experiences in Guatemala, check out her blog.

In this season of giving, I tried to focus on giving presents beyond the sheer materialistic exchanges that entrap many in the United States but also here in Guatemala. Giving canbe inspired, creative, and ecologically friendly. I tried to pursue traditional eco-giving- but with a twist. The twist is that not only can you give gifts that promote saving our planet but also gifts that help to support local charities. By giving gifts handcrafted by locals, not only do you support local organizations, but your demand for gifts also helps to support producers who would otherwise be out of work.

Eco-Gifts that I gave this holiday season:

1. A bobble reusable bottle that uses a carbon filter to remove harmful toxins from the water, making it safe to drink. The bobble equals up to 300 single-serve bottles, which reduces the use of single-serve plastic- water bottles.

2. A pair of hand-crafted recycled earrings made by women living at a local garbage dump in Guatemala city. Purchasing this gift, will help women in the local community, as well as, support children through the organization called Safe Passage

3. A small painting that uses only sustainable, organic coffee and spices. This gift will help to support G22, an organization focused on environmental education.

4. A bar of organic soap that is locally made in Guatemala that will help to support the local economy.

All this wrapped in a brown recycled paper bag! Eco-giving is fun and easy! It provides a creative way to educate people on how they can contribute to local charities, the economy, and to saving the planet.

So, when you are preparing to give a gift in this upcoming year consider giving the gift that gives back to the local community and the environment! It is in these little ways that I believe we can make a small, yet powerful, impact in our world!

For other posts on giving responsibly this holiday season, check out “A Do-Gooder’s Guide to Responsible Giving: Kiva Cards” by Kate Bennett or “‘Tis the season to be… Giving” by Fran Talavera. Mindi Batson is currenting living in Guatemala City, Guatemala and working for G22 as Co-founder and Green Connect Program Developer, as well as an independent English teacher, psychologist, and yoga teacher.

I love my job.

Now, these critics have a point. If volunteering abroad could be a full-time, financially viable profession, I would jump on that boat in a heartbeat. Currently, I am home working my tail off, specifically so that I can afford to venture back to Central America and volunteer with another non-profit organization.

But working abroad can be a “serious” job too. As a 23-year-old American, I believe that my generation’s conception of a “real” job differs from that of my parents’. When my parents were in their 20s, the professional world existed largely within various office settings and occurred between the hours of 9am and 5pm. Sure, Mad Men, Pleasantville, and I Love Lucy have impressed upon us a generalization of professionalism in the 50’s and 60’s, but that generalization is grounded in truth.

However, in the globalized and tech-savvy world of today, “serious” jobs can have many different forms. While many young adults work the traditional 40 hour weeks in offices (which can be very productive and fulfilling), the advancement of communication technology enables many young professionals to work from home. Likewise, increasing numbers of young adults seek careers as consultants, which allow them to travel throughout the country and work with different companies. For me and many others, the most rewarding jobs are based in developing countries. Nonprofit jobs look very different depending on the country, the organization, the coworkers, etc., but they all require a commitment to development, and a passion for experiencing new lifestyles and cultures.

As fruitless job hunts and the media remind me frequently, the current job market in the US is uninspiring. Nevertheless, I feel so lucky to be part of a generation that has options in the types of jobs available. Any job is a “serious” job, if it supports me and allows me to pursue my passions.

Ginny just finished a thirteen-month commitment as Program Director with Manna Project International-Guatemala. For more on Ginny’s experiences in Guatemala, check out her blog.

When people ask me “how did you find that opportunity?”, my response goes something like this: I created it. After several failed job attempts, I decided it was time to blaze my own trail.

So, where did you begin? For me it was simple: I asked myself what I loved the most and went from there. As the Buddha said, “Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.” So that’s exactly what I did. I discovered what I knew all along: that I love to inspire and empower others. And so my goal became to first empower myself and then to go out and share what I had learned with others.

After some exposure and training, I proceeded to search out opportunities in the Guatemala City. Ultimately, if you are looking to create your own path, you have to put yourself out there.  First, I had a lead at a local psychology clinic.  I made an initial visit with the clinic and they seemed to be interested. Almost too easy, right? But after several weeks of waiting I realized that if I was going to be working with the clinic, I was going to have to create the position. Using my creativity, I designed a new program to help students preparing to study abroad. Creating this opportunity for myself- seeing a need and making myself useful- was my ticket in and everything else has flowed from that.

With that being said here are a few tips to help you create your own path in Latin America:

1. What are you passionate about? Figure it out and fire up your passions.
2. Attend workshops, trainings, and gatherings centered on your passion and build your network. If you haven’t relocated yet, consider researching for opportunities to network through the websites like Idealist, VolunteerSouthAmerica.org, KindMankind, or LaVidaIdealist.org!
3. Build contacts in country, through friends or acquaintances, and use these contacts to create your opportunities. Ask what they’re up to! Ask how to get involved! And most importantly, play up your skill set and passion! Make sure to think creatively if you are looking to blaze your path.
4. Above all remember to stay positive and persistent in your quest. The possibilities are endless!

For more thoughts on how to find an opportunity abroad, check out Six Simple Steps for Volunteering Abroad, Making It Happen For Yourself, A Job Search from Abroad…, How to Choose a Volunteer Placement Abroad, or LaVidaIdealist’s treasure trove of past posts on looking for opportunities abroad. Mindi Batson is currenting living in Guatemala City, Guatemala and working for G22 as Co-founder and Green Connect Program Developer, as well as an independent English teacher, psychologist, and yoga teacher.

For me, Manna Project International was the path illuminated. With only one week remaining in my college career, I was unsure of my plans after graduation. Juggling class assignments, extra-curricular projects, and my steadfast commitment to capitalize on the college social scene, I often procrastinated job hunting and instead became skilled at dodging career-related interrogations from my relatives and friends. In reality, I wanted to learn about international development first-hand and make a positive impact in a community abroad, but I had not found a program or job that felt right. I was an idealist without direction, and I worried that I would never find clarity.

One day, I was clearing my inbox, and I stumbled upon a message forwarded through my sorority listserv. Although often I would automatically delete the plethora of sorority emails that flooded my inbox, for some reason I decided to give the message a quick read. The email turned out to be from another senior named Katherine, recently hired as a Country Director for Manna Project International. She was seeking Program Directors to live in Guatemala for 13 months and help to found the organization’s third international site by building relationships and creating sustainable programs within a rural, Mayan village. The angelic, enlightenment music sounded, the light-bulb illuminated above my head, and I thought: “Wow. This is perfect.”

I met with Katherine (Kat, I later learned) for coffee, submitted an application, and the rest, as the cliché goes, is history. I lived in Sololá, Guatemala for 13 months, improved my Spanish, and created health education, English, and summer camp programs that continue today. Not only did I learn first-hand about international development and Mayan culture, but also the experience solidified my desire to pursue public health and enabled me to grow into a braver, more sensitive person.

So, all ye current and future idealists, I leave you not with job-hunting strategies, but instead with a message of comfort. As you research and apply to volunteer or job opportunities in Latin America, remember that serendipity happens; a path will be illuminated. It is only a matter of time before you find the adventure perfect for you.

Ginny just finished a thirteen-month commitment as Program Director with Manna Project International-Guatemala. For more on Ginny’s experiences in Guatemala, check out her blog.

“This yoga should be practiced with firm determination and perseverance, without any mental reservation or doubts. ” Bhagavad Gita

Yo soy una Maestra de Yoga (I am a yoga teacher). But I’m not just any yoga teacher, I’m a Spanglish yoga teacher! You may be wondering, what the heck is a Spanglish yoga teacher? Well, maybe that’s just because you haven’t heard the familiar phrase Spanglish- you know, Spanish and English in combination. Do you get it now? No? I’ll explain:

I have taken this creative (or so I like to think) approach to my work as a yoga teacher in Guatemala. Most of my students say to me that I can teach the class in English but I have found a fierce determination within myself to speak Spanish, even if it is broken Spanish. It is my belief that in order to reach people here in the city, that I must speak Spanish.

I never completely understood why some of my students at the end of each class would say I could speak in English rather than Spanish, until I went to my private Spanish tutoring session. To my surprise, I learned that I was making up words that did not exist in Spanish for my classes. You can imagine my horror in making this discovery. In the end, I just laughed it off and made the changes.

But I still keep coming back to the question of how will I become fluent in Spanish, much less instruct a yoga class solely in Spanish. Everyone tells me it is simply through practice. What I do know is that yoga itself has taught me how to be disciplined, how to quiet the mind, and how to find my balance. So if I apply my yogic philosophy on and off the mat I should find some success, right? Or maybe I just need to apply the same “firm determination and perserverance, without mental reservation or doubts” to my Spanish practice.

Either way, I will continue to forge ahead with a vision of myself speaking perfect Spanish to my yoga students! Success will be mine in the future. I just know it!

Mindi Batson is currenting living in Guatemala City, Guatemala and working for G22 as Co-founder and Green Connect Program Developer, as well as an independent English teacher, psychologist, and yoga teacher.

I get asked this daily from people in the city. Many immediately jump to conclusions and respond promptly by stating that it must be for l-o-v-e. I always answer with the biggest grin on my face. Why of course, I am here for love- love for Guatemala! I then proceed to say that I am “chapina en mi corazon”(Guatemalan in my heart). I shock many with my response.

What if the answer is, simply, that Guatemala chose me? What if I am answering a calling? Surely, my reasons for building a life in Guatemala must be very strong, right? Of course, I know that most acquaintances think I’m crazy for deciding to make my life in Guatemala. I’m sure you have read the headlines: corruption, murder, violence. But isn’t there a silver lining here? Where is the hope?

I know it is dangerous. I know I am making a choice that will impact the path of my life. But I come back to my passion- passion for the city, passion for this beautiful country. This keeps me grounded as I continue to build my foundation, grow my roots, and plant my flowers!

Each day I have the opportunity to meet people living and working in the city. They are everyday people. They were born and raised here and will die here. This is their country. I understand their pain! I know they are longing for transformation and for a new future for their children. It is my belief that it is possible, despite what may seem impossible to most.

With Guatemala in my heart each day, I journey forward with new resolve to touch people here through my work as a teacher, yoga instructor, psychologist, and career coach. I feel like a “lucky chapina” (Guatemalan) because I have been given many opportunities to work, serve, and inspire. It is easier said than done, for sure, but with each new challenge I am being transformed. I challenge myself each day to be a better version of myself, because ultimately change begins with me! For it is when we open ourselves up to change, to transformation that we discover the silver lining: the beauty amist the destruction, the hunger, the poverty, and the crime.

Mindi Batson is currenting living in Guatemala City, Guatemala and working for G22 as Co-founder and Green Connect Program Developer, as well as an independent English teacher, psychologist, and yoga teacher.

In many ways, Guatemala City is no different than most cities with regard to traffic but the pollution- yikes- very scary! Black smoke spewing from the back of old American buses, add to the traffic problems and decrease the visibility on the road!

So, what if there was another way to get around that did not require gas but only human energy? What if there was a way that was more economical, environmental friendly and just plain fun!

Well there is – drum roll please- biking! Most reading this will say, yeah right! Biking in Guat (Guatemala) is even more dangerous than driving! But there are creative ways to make biking in Guatemala City a sustainable, green family event. Plus, as I learned this weekend, taking a biking trip to the local market to get food for the week changes your perspective of the city, awakens the senses, and leaves you with a feeling of accomplishment to know that your doing your part to help the environment!

Creative Tips for Guat-a-Biking:

1.Weekends make for safer rides- especially Sundays.
2. Take advantage of biking on Saturdays at several locations in the city where there are road closing for biking, running, and walking.
3. Consider strapping on your backpack to pick up fresh fruits and veggies in a nearby local market or on the street corner!
4. Use sidewalks for safe riding.

So grab your bike and take to the streets for some adventurous Guat-a-Biking fun!

Mindi Batson is currenting living in Guatemala City, Guatemala and working for G22 as Co-founder and Green Connect Program Developer, as well as an independent English teacher, psychologist, and yoga teacher.

However, the other day, I was thinking about my Guatemalan friends, all in their 20’s, and I realized that I couldn’t name one, unmarried Chapin who is not living at home. Fun cultural fact: in Guatemala and numerous other Latin American countries, most children live with their parents until they get married. For an unmarried 25-year-old, living at home would be not only accepted, but also expected.

I began to wonder if this difference reflects an even broader dissimilarity in the structures of the American and Guatemalan culture, and I now suppose that it does. More specifically, I believe it reflects how the culture of United States hinges on its emphasis of the individual, whereas Guatemala possesses a group-centric culture. In the “self-made man” culture of the United States, individuals are encouraged to take ownership of their own futures. Success is the by-product of individual initiative, dedication, and resourcefulness. Individuals are seen as “adults” when they turn 18 and can legally become independent and begin to support themselves without their parents’ assistance. Accordingly while moving out of their parents’ houses signifies independence and earns praise, living at home implies dependence and often provokes criticism.

Conversely, in the group-based culture of Guatemala, most individuals never live completely alone. Attending local universities and starting careers in their hometowns, Guatemalans live with their families until they marry and start their own household with their spouse. Individuals are perceived as part of the larger group; they are not expected to “make” themselves but instead to contribute their families and communities.

Now, neither culture is “right” or “wrong;” they are simply different in this way. So maybe I won’t feel so embarrassed when I say I live with my parents. Heck, it’s just one more way to keep that fuego burning…

Ginny just finished a thirteen-month commitment as Program Director with Manna Project International-Guatemala. For more on Ginny’s experiences in Guatemala, check out her blog.