- The Off-Grid Volunteer House! This is one of our green-designed houses (bamboo framing, glass-bottle lighting, and adobe/cob-plastered walls). The toilets are dry compost with toilet paper provided. It has a communal kitchen, stocked with all basic staples (drinking water, pots & pans, dishes, a sink, salt, oil, propane for cooking, dish/hand soap).
- Rooms: We have 20 beds divided between 8 rooms. 1 room is a dorm with 8 beds. If we can give you your own room, we will. Volunteers share rooms when we are full. Sheets and blankets are provided. There is running water for showers, but it is not heated with electricity or gas.
- Food: Typically, volunteers in the house share meals, but that is up to everyone on site. Food is a minimal cost here, $30-50 per week, depending on how you choose to cook or eat out. We allow time to go to the market during the week for shopping. The local market here has plenty of locally grown vegetables, fruits, juices, cured meats/fish, and candies. There are also local tiendas and supermarkets with packaged items. You will also have a 1 hr lunch break.
- Laundry: You can use our sinks to hand-wash your clothes, or pay Roberto, the volunteer coordinator, to wash them in a machine.
We’re excited to share a meaningful evolution in our volunteer experience. The Volunteer House is now also home to Roberto Peren and his family, offering you an enriching host family experience like no other.
Roberto Peren is the volunteer coordinator and isn’t just any host. He is a professional tour guide, a talented local artist, and a long-time member of the Long Way Home family. With over 15 years of experience in green building and deep roots in the Comalapa community, Roberto brings a wealth of knowledge, warmth, and cultural richness to your stay.
Living alongside his family, you’ll get a more authentic glimpse into everyday life in a Maya Kaqchikel household. Whether it's sharing meals, learning local customs, or practicing your Spanish, this new arrangement transforms your lodging into a space of genuine cultural exchange and connection.
Think of it less like a volunteer house, and more like joining a family—one that welcomes you into the heart of the community you’re here to serve.
LWH has other housing options. Please consult with the volunteer coordinator about staying in a hotel.
