Our mission is to empower the local community to protect their own rainforests from destruction. We identified the needs of the community in order to preserve their rainforest; and those needs are health; education and opportunity. The idea that we had was to be able to support the people to become guardians of the rainforest because these rainforests are not going to be saved by people from Oslo; or Alberta; or Washington or someplace like that. The rainforests here will be saved by the people who live here in the rainforest. So since those were the three major necessities; first we started with the medical clinic; then we opened a library and a computer room and; at about the same time; we opened the women’s center. Year by year; Project Ix-canaan develops in new ways; working with everyone in the local community; from young children and doting grandparents to the town mayor and business leaders. The clinic is a staple to the village; as is the dentist surgery; women’s center and brand new children’s development center. The women’s center gives local women the chance to work together in their own space; away from the home; socializing and learning new crafts and business skills. The children’s center is an integral addition to the project; giving the region’s girls and boys; who often work in the family business from a young age; the much-needed space to just be children; to learn; to study; and to relax and have fun together in a safe and nurturing space. The clinic and dentist surgery have been providing safe and effective healing for illnesses and minor injuries for over two decades. While the clinic and children’s center are staffed by paid local professionals; Project Ix-canaan could not continue without the dedicated support of our partners; donors and volunteers.
Some areas that we particularly need help in are:
If you’d like to find out more about how you; too; could help to improve the quality of life and health for the people of El Remate; please check out our volunteering page or just drop us an email to say hi (anne@ixcanaan.com). We always want to hear from you!
Our project is not about micro-managing the local community. Its mission values are empowerment through education and opportunity; delivered through respectful collaboration with the people of El Remate and surrounding villages. We believe that intercultural exchange is an experience that benefits everybody; and the wonderful volunteers who have come from all around the world over the years have proven us right time and time again. El Remate seems to captivate volunteers and they stay from a week to months. The variety; knowledge and dedication of volunteers from all over the world have made an immeasurable difference to the lives of the local community.
El Remate; Peten; Guatemala. Close to Flores; Tikal and Yaxha – a few miles from the Belize border
Year round
1 week minimum
Children; teenagers; adults and seniors of both sexes (minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian)
We always welcome self-starting and enthusiastic volunteers with any skill set so please get in touch with Anne with your ideas.
There is no cost to participate but volunteers are responsible for covering their own living expenses. We provide low-cost accommodation (US$5-10 per week)!
