Long Way Home

About us

Long Way Home (LWH) is a non profit organization run by a group of dedicated volunteers and staff who give their time, energy, and resources to help at-risk youth, particularly indigenous Americans. LWH was founded in 2004 by a small group of development workers who have been touched by the generosity, industry, and open-mindedness of the less fortunate. We help young people by recognizing our global responsibility and fostering small-scale community development.

Long Way Home's mission is to break the cycle of poverty among youth in developing communities by creating educational opportunities, cultivating civic interaction, and encouraging healthy lifestyles.

Our Goals:
• LWH is a bridge for bringing expert technicians from different international organizations together with communities whose needs match their abilities.
• To execute sustainable community development projects.
• LWH wants to train others to be development workers, both the why and the how to work towards breaking the cycle of poverty.
• Provide a base for other org to use our models (share successful models) as they are proven successful.

Projects:
• Tecnico Maya Vocational School: The purpose of the Vocational School Project is to provide the young people of Comalapa with marketable skills. The Vocational School will offer coursework in carpentry, masonry, mechanics, electrical, welding, and horticulture, along with the business and technology aspects of alternative energy production.
• Parque Chimiyá: The purpose of Parque Chimiyá is to bring together young people, families, and everyone in Comalapa for educational activities, community building, and increased environmental awareness.
• Educational Outreach: To inspire Comalapa's young people to conserve their limited resources and protect their natural environment.
• Reforestation: To address the specific problem of deforestation in Comalapa and its surrounding areas, Parque Chimiyá features a nursery where native trees are sprouted from seed and grown until they are ready to be planted in the ground.
• Water Distribution: To provide consistent and safe running water for the people of rural Guatemala.
• Wood Burning Stoves: To provide affordable and healthy wood burning stoves for families in Guatemala. One goal of this project is to reduce smoke inhalation in adults and children.
• Water Harvesting

Matt Paneitz is the Executive Director of Long Way Home.

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.