PHOTO BY CELESTE ALLEN Bryce Allen (left) and his dad, Eric, tie bottles together for the framework of a “bottle school.”
When Celeste Allen and her son, Eric, and grandson, Bryce, traveled to Guatemala last summer to help build a “bottle school” with World Ventures Foundation, they weren’t sure what to expect.
But they were impressed with the process of building a school from recycled plastic bottles and overwhelmed by the warmth and appreciation of the children and community members who worked with them.
The experience touched them so much that Celeste, Eric and their team is returning to Guatemala in early August to sponsor a school. (Bryce will be starting high school and can’t go, although he wanted to.)
Since Celeste and Eric have teaching backgrounds (Celeste retired from Perry Township Schools and Eric taught at Manual), they know what impact a school can have on the lives and country of the children living in that remote community.
“Children are not required to attend school because most communities do not have school buildings,” Celeste explained. “The country is still recovering from a brutal 36-year civil war. The children’s homes have dirt floors and families raise and grow their own food.”
“Our group is partnering with World Ventures Foundation and Hug It Forward to sponsor a three-room bottle school,” Eric said. “Empty plastic bottles become ‘eco-bricks’ when stuffed with inorganic trash. As a commitment to their children’s education, the community agrees to collect and fill the 10,000 bottles needed to build their school.”
The group is paying its travel expenses but has organized benefits to help fund the $25,000 cost of the school. Donations can be made by visiting https://impact.wvfoundation.org/fundraiser/989796.
But they were impressed with the process of building a school from recycled plastic bottles and overwhelmed by the warmth and appreciation of the children and community members who worked with them.
The experience touched them so much that Celeste, Eric and their team is returning to Guatemala in early August to sponsor a school. (Bryce will be starting high school and can’t go, although he wanted to.)
Since Celeste and Eric have teaching backgrounds (Celeste retired from Perry Township Schools and Eric taught at Manual), they know what impact a school can have on the lives and country of the children living in that remote community.
“Children are not required to attend school because most communities do not have school buildings,” Celeste explained. “The country is still recovering from a brutal 36-year civil war. The children’s homes have dirt floors and families raise and grow their own food.”
“Our group is partnering with World Ventures Foundation and Hug It Forward to sponsor a three-room bottle school,” Eric said. “Empty plastic bottles become ‘eco-bricks’ when stuffed with inorganic trash. As a commitment to their children’s education, the community agrees to collect and fill the 10,000 bottles needed to build their school.”
The group is paying its travel expenses but has organized benefits to help fund the $25,000 cost of the school. Donations can be made by visiting https://impact.wvfoundation.org/fundraiser/989796.
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