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REPORT OF JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2008 TRIPS
by Jan Townsend, March 2008

Two projects were completed in late January and early February.

The first was a group of 21 stove builders and a dental team working in the village of El Pinal . Dr. Lloyd Evans and his 2 assistants (Kristin Drvaric and Arleah Bloxam) had a very successful week. Patients lined up at 5 AM to see Lloyd each morning and by the end of the week he had extracted 387 teeth. The team had many stories to tell at the end of each day.

The stove team serviced 100 homes in La Lagunita, Xejul and Baxil. The whole group was then treated to a farewell lunch in Xejul and a school visit in Baxil. Supplies were delivered while at the school.

The February group constructed stoves in 70 homes in the beautiful village of Salquil Grande . This was our first project in this area. The group worked quickly and the stoves were completed by late Thursday. Friday was then spent at a school in La Primavera to deliver more supplies. A game of soccer was played with the students, a program was presented and a farewell lunch enjoyed.

This was definitely a memorable project as the area is spectacular and accommodations superior at the Haciendas Mil and San Antonio . Everyone enjoyed the beauty and remoteness of Salquil Grande and Acul where the Haciendas are located.

As usual, both projects were followed by visits to Chichicastenango, Antigua and Tikal .

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REPORT OF OCTOBER 2007 TRIP
by Jan Townsend, October 2007

A group of 24 volunteers from Canmore, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, and Ottawa accompanied Jan to the village of El Pinal in the department of Quiche, municipality of Uspantan. Stoves were constructed in 120 homes by six teams of for volunteers each.

After training on Monday morning, the teams worked through Saturday morning completing the project. The conditions in the village were often difficult due to the muddy terrain from the frequent rains in this region this time of year. 

The volunteers enjoyed a warm reception by the families and enjoyed the interaction with the delightful children throughout the week. A visit to the two schools to deliver educational supplies was the highlight for the volunteers. A farewell ceremony was given by the families of EL Pinal which was very emotional for everyone. There were demonstrations of traditional dances by the children along with speeches and gifts given to Rebeca and Jan. 

The group departed Uspantan to further enjoy Guatemala through trips to Chichicastenango, Antigua, and Tikal .   

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REPORT OF JANURARY/FEBRUARY 2007 TRIPS
by Jan Townsend, February 2007

Two successful stove projects were completed in January and early February. Twenty-four people installed stoves in 120 homes in Uspantan. It was a nine–hour drive from Guatemala City to Uspantan, which is in the highlands at around10,000 feet. It was a long drive, but very scenic as we went up and down the narrow winding road with beautiful views around every curve. The team numbered 24 and from many different cities - Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Canmore, and High River. There were 6 teens in the group which greatly contributed to the experience of the team. It was interesting to hear their comments about their day at the evening meetings we shared every night before dinner. The team volunteers were overwhelmed as usual with the warmth and generosity of the Mayan families by their giving of food and/or drink at the completion of the stove. Many drinks of atol, with tortillas were enjoyed by all. A wonderful farewell lunch was given by the village for us with thanks from the all the people who were in attendance and shared the food. The group returned via Chichicastenango where they enjoyed a tour of the town, shopping at the greatest of all markets, and a night in the Hotel Santo Tomas, a lovely old hacienda. The group then traveled to Antigua for a few days. Many enjoyed the World Heritage Site through a walking tour. Many hiked Volcano Pacaya which was a great experience. Some rode a horse up instead of walking. Lots of shopping was done and the old  adage “shop till you drop” was experienced by many. A rare treat was the concert by the Big Band of the National Orchestra of Guatemala on the Saturday night in Central Park. It was amazing under the stars and music of Cuba, USA and Guatemala was fantastic. The first-timers went on to Tikal for two days.

The second project was in Jucanya, near Panajachel on Lake Atitlan. Thirteen volunteers returned to Canada on the January 28th, so the remaining eleven members built stoves in 26 homes. The plan was for 30 homes, but due to lack of parts, the remaining 4 homes were completed by Helps employees the next week.        

We received a great welcome from the village of Jucanya and the children at El Sala School.  We were treated to a program of traditional Mayan and modern Guatemalan dancing and songs. A real treat ! A very special afternoon was spent meeting with the students and their parents that we are sponsoring to Maya Escuela, a secondary school.

It was a very emotional event as the gratitude of these families was so apparent. Many photos were taken to share with the sponsors of these children. I am so thankful for this scholarship program as well as the elementary scholarship sponsors. 

The last, but certainly not least highlight was the visit to the village of Tocache, one of my favorite villages where we are funding the construction of a kitchen to the school.  We again received a warm welcome with a program by the students. Everyone enjoyed playing with the children. The kitchen is underway and the inauguration should be in about 7 weeks. 

Again, I am so proud of all the volunteers and the work completed. The attitude of the volunteers continues to amaze me. They go in total trust of me and put their hearts and hands into the project without complaint of anything. I can only hope the experience will be one they will always cherish. I certainly do.  

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HEARTS AND HANDS FOUNDATION PROVIDES HUMANITARIAN RELIEF IN GUATEMALA
By Julie Seibt, Calgary Herald, Saturday, January 21, 2006

There's a new face of travel that keeps its participants coming back for more. Destination takes a backseat to duty; pampering is replaced with purpose. No, it's not the Peace Corps and you don't have to be a missionary; all it takes is a strong desire to make a difference.

Hearts & Hands Foundation of Canmore gives Canadians the opportunity to provide humanitarian aid through travel in Guatemala. Two-week journeys include one week of guided visits to culturally significant sights and one week working in remote villages alongside Guatemala's indigenous people, the Maya.

Recent projects of this non-profit organization include school improvements, health and dental clinics. But the construction of new stoves for villagers in Guatemala's central highlands is the heart of the effort.

Traditional three-stone open-fire stoves contribute to health and safety concerns among the Mayan communities. Carbon monoxide levels in homes with these stoves reach 200 times normal levels, leaving inhabitants ridden with respiratory illnesses, eye disease and lethargy. Skin burns are another hazard, especially in children as they play near the stove pits. Women trek eight kilometres a day in search of wood to fuel the inefficient stoves. Deforestation is a tragedy that contributes to crop and life-ravaging mudslides.

Hearts and Hands volunteers work side by side with local villagers to build planchas - raised and ventilated stoves that are 70 percent more fuel-efficient than traditional stoves. Designed with cultural and environmental considerations by HELPS International, the stoves are made of cinder blocks, sand and ash.

But according to Hearts and Hands founder Jan Townsend, it's not just the work, it's helping others to help themselves and integrating with another culture that keeps volunteers inspired. "When we are finished a project, we know more about each other, we understand and accept our differences. We care." Cross-cultural understanding occurs naturally in the villages and is enriched with structured visits to intriguing sights.

The Tikal Ruins, an ancient Mayan ceremonial centre where pyramids rise out of jungle to pierce the sky, offer historical and cultural significance. The lakeside mountain town of Santiago de Atitlan, touted as the "bellybutton of the universe," teems with Mayan culture as the largest indigenous town in Central America. Chichicastenango market, a required stop for handicraft lovers, is perhaps the most colourful native market in all the Americas. The volunteers fly in and out of the colonial town of Antigua.

Who signs up for this unique combination of adventure and assistance? The first group of volunteers in 2004 were mostly women in their 30s and 40s. Recent groups included many couples approaching retirement. The common thread appears to be a keen interest in helping others and the financial means to pay their way. Most are afraid to, or don't know how to undertake such a journey on their own. Team leaders pave the way for a safe, enjoyable and productive visit.

Trip participants pay approximately $2,000 to cover the cost of airfare, local transportation, tours, accommodation, meals and two new stoves.

If you are considering such an undertaking, be forewarned by a message adorning a volunteers' ball cap, "The life you change may be your own."

Canmore resident Joan Lawton recalls her first trip to Guatemala - "I'd never been in a Third World country. On day one, the poverty, noise and diesel exhaust in the city was overwhelming," she says. "I was ready to go home. But when we reached the mountainous countryside, it was beautiful. I got down in the dirt and began to work and I felt better. I knew then I was going to make a difference, albeit in a small way."

It is Lawton's awareness that each new stove will allow for clear eyes, lungs and minds, cultivating health and education among people she has grown to love. Perhaps she has saved a child from a life-threatening burn. In this knowing, her own life has changed, inspiring her to do more to help others both at home and abroad. Lawton is planning to return to Guatemala early this year for the third time.

For more information, contact Jan Townsend at 1-403-609-2725.