TRIP DETAILS > ITINERARY

The 2010 trip will be 9 days in length (Saturday through the following Sunday). Two days will be spent in travel, two-three in cultural excursions, & four or so in work at the orphanages.

Possibile destinations for cultural excursions: Lake Atitlan, volcano hiking, shopping, museums, Safe Passages tour, Mayan villiage visit, educational facilities visit, and/or orphanage for typical children.

Plans are in process for work at the “orphanages”. The following orphanages are among those likely:

• Anini
• Missionaries of the Highway
• Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos
• Marina Guirola

Our group of 24 persons will divide into two groups and those two groups into sub-teams. Each subteam will focus on play and sensory or technology. Likely, each group of 12 persons will stay at each site for two days and, then, for the other two days, go to an other site. In that way, continuity of care and education can be provided to the caretakers of the children, yet, offer Guatemala 2010 participants the opportunity to experience two of the four sites. Each sub-team will be comprised of students and practitioners who will work together as a team. Group and sub-team assignments will be made accordingly to experience, expertise, interest, and availability of Spanish speaking persons.

Transportation each day will be provided by Steve Osborn of Amour Del Nino. Steve, and his wife, Shyrel have an orphanage for about 50 children. They are dedicated to providing a home-like atmosphere for their children many of whom have been abandoned and literally “dropped off” at their doorstep. Go to their website at www.lovethechild.org to learn more about Steve and Shyrel and their children. Additionally, click here to see a recent clip that was on CNN about Guatemalan adoptions. Toward the end of the segment, Shyrel is interviewed about the controversy that surrounds some Guatemalan orphanages and the international adoption process.