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| Delivery Tours |
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 Come
to Guatemala to help deliver vital, first-ever textbooks
to rural towns and villages. These books are greatly
valued and make a big difference in the lives of Guatemalan
schoolchildren.
"The trip FAR exceeded our expectations in every way. It was inspiring to be with such a fine group of caring people and to have an opportunity to make a difference in a hurting and needy world."
–Judy & Dick Martin, Glendale-Kachina, AZ Rotary
"We have been on many tours and cruises with various national tourism companies and you equal and surpass any of these in efficiency and professionalism."
-Dick & Bert Tepe, Cincinnati, OH
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| General Information | Sample Itinerary | Sign Up | FAQ | More Travel Information |
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| 2009 Tour Dates |
Jan 30-Feb 8, 2009: Guatemala Literacy Project Delivery Tour
(members of Rotary International & spouses only)
Feb 13-22, 2009: Delivery Tour
(open to everyone over the age of 21)
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Cost
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US$1,375 plus airfare for double occupancy*
US$1,575 plus airfare for single occupancy
NOTE: Trip expenses may be tax deductible.
*If you do not have a traveling companion, we will happily match you with a roommate in order to secure the Double Occupancy rate.
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| Details |
- Each tour is limited to 35 participants; acceptance is on a first-come, first-served basis.
- The minimum age for delivery tours is 21.
- A non-refundable deposit of US$200 is required at the time of application.
- To request an application, click here for details or contact Jessica Stieritz, Tour Coordinator, jstieritz@fuse.net or 513-731-2595, ext. 5. |
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Sample Itinerary:
Friday: Arrive in Guatemala City
Saturday: Panajachel, Lake Atitlán
12:00pm Check into Hotel Porta del Lago
4:00pm Free time & dinner in Panajachel
Sunday: Santiago Atitlán, Lake Atitlán
9:00am Boat to Santiago Atitlán
11:00am Free time in Santiago
5:00pm Dinner & shopping in Panajachel
Monday: Chichicastenango
9:00am Book delivery at Chichi Experimental School
3:00pm Book delivery at Sacbichol Cooperative School
7:00pm Dinner and free time
Tuesday: Xela (Quetzaltenango)
1:30pm Book delivery at Tierra Blanca Cooperative School
7:00pm Dinner and free time
Wednesday: Xela
11:00am School supplies delivery at Chorjalé Primary School
1:00pm Book delivery at Chorjale Cooperative School
7:00pm Dinner and free time
Thursday: Xela
9:00am Book delivery at Sija Experimental School
12:00pm Lunch meeting with Xela Rotarians (GLP/Rotary Tour only)
2:30pm Trip to Fuentes Georginas (natural hot springs)
7:00pm Dinner and free time
Friday: Chimaltenango
8:30am Depart Xela for Chimaltenango
1:00pm Celebrate El Tejar Computer Center inauguration
4:00pm Depart Chimaltenango for Antigua
7:00pm Dinner and free time
Saturday: Antigua
10:00 am Historical tour of Antigua
11:00 am Free time and shopping in Antigua
3:00 pm Depart Antigua for Guatemala City
6:00 pm Dinner reception at the Hotel Radisson
Sunday: Depart Guatemala City for home |
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How to Sign Up for a Delivery Tour
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Request a tour application from Jessica Stieritz at the Cooperative for Education: jstieritz@fuse.net or 513-731-2595, ext. 5 or download the application in Adobe Acrobat PDF format:
 Click here to download the application for Jan 30-Feb 8, 2009: Guatemala Literacy Project Delivery Tour (open to members of Rotary International only) (PDF)
Click here to download the application for February 13-22, 2009: Delivery Tour (open to anyone over the age of 21) (PDF) |
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Fill out the application and return with a non-refundable US$200 deposit (payable by check made out to "Cooperative for Education"). Or click here to pay your entire tour balance by credit card (including deposit). |
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You will receive written confirmation that your application and deposit have been accepted and that you have a secured place on the tour. Along with the confirmation, you will receive an information packet containing advice concerning immunizations, packing and other helpful information. |
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After you receive confirmation of your place on the tour, purchase a plane ticket to Guatemala City (GUA). There are resources to assist you in finding lower-priced airfares (click here).
- Guatemala Literacy Project/Rotary International Tour participants should arrive in Guatemala on Friday, January 30 and depart on Sunday, February 8 .
- Textbook Delivery Tour participants should arrive in Guatemala on Friday, February 13 and depart on Sunday, February 22.
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Email or mail your flight itinerary to the Cooperative for Education office as soon as you have this information. Please include airline, flight number and time for both your outgoing and return flights so we can make arrangements for your transportation from/to the airport in Guatemala City. |
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The balance of your payment for the land portion of the trip (hotels, food, travel within Guatemala) is due to the Cooperative for Education office by December 1, 2008. If you are sharing a room, the balance will be US$1,175 per person (for a total of US$1,375, including the deposit). If you are not sharing a room, the balance will be US$1,375 (for a total of US$1,575, including the deposit.) This is payable by check made out to "Cooperative for Education." Or click here to pay your entire tour balance by credit card (including deposit). |
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You will need a valid passport to enter Guatemala. Many post offices have the necessary application or you can go to the State Department website www.travel.state.gov and select passport services from the menu. |
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Frequently Asked Questions
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What
will I do on the Delivery Tour?
You will spend a week in Guatemala traveling by
chartered bus, visiting schools as part of a delivery
delegation. For most of the schools, these will be the
first textbooks they've ever had. You will be welcomed
by parents, teachers and students, who will share their
culture with you through plays, dances and songs.
These delivery delegations make an important contribution
to the project because they show local communities that
the program is well supported and will be around for
the long term. It also gives local people the opportunity
to learn about North Americans and their lives and culture.
You will gain experience and insight into the challenges
faced by people in the developing world and will become
a more informed and educated voter and advocate for
the world's poor and disadvantaged.
In addition, you will experience the breathtaking natural
beauty of Guatemala as well as have time for shopping,
sightseeing, and relaxing.
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Where
will I stay?
Accommodations will be clean
and comfortable—about the quality of a mid-level motel
in the U.S.
See our Guatemala
Travel page for links to typical hotels we use.
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 Who will travel with me?
The tours are enjoyed by people of all ages who like to travel and are willing to take time out of busy schedules to help with our project. You will meet a group of like-minded individuals who are fun, friendly and flexible. You will also be joined by many of CoEd's U.S. and Guatemala staff, including the organization co-founders, Jeff and Joe Berninger. |
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Will I be safe in Guatemala?
Asociación CoEd has been operating tours in Guatemala since 1998. In that time, not one of our tour participants has ever been a victim of a serious crime. However, in Guatemala, as in other developing countries, crime is a significant problem. Traveling in these countries is therefore not without risk. Click here to see CoEd's Statement on Safety. |
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Can I arrive before the tour and stay after?
If you plan to arrive a day before or stay a day after the tour at our hotel in Guatemala City (where the delivery tour begins on Saturday morning), we can book those nights for you. Please contact Jessica Stieritz at jstieritz@fuse.net or 513-731-2595, ext. 5 to make the arrangements before January 1.
However, if you would like to travel in Guatemala outside the official tour, you are responsible for making your own arrangements. Click here for a list of several Guatemalan travel agencies. |
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Can I leave hotel contact information with my family in the States?
Yes, just before your tour we will send you a complete list of hotels and contact information, which you can share with your family in case of emergency. |
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 Do I need to speak Spanish to go on the tour?
Absolutely not! In fact, the majority of our tour participants speak little to no Spanish. Most tour activities are translated. When interacting with the students on an individual basis, our travelers find other ways to communicate and interact with them: showing family photos, playing soccer & basketball, and other games. |
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Can I donate school supplies or other items to CoEd's projects?
Many tour participants ask us if they can bring donated items for the children and schools. The most efficient use of resources is a cash donation, which can be used by CoEd to purchase school supplies and other items in Guatemala. However, if you would like to carry items for distribution on the delivery tour, please consider the following:
- Unfortunately, luggage space is very limited on the tour busses and tour participants are permitted 1 medium-sized suitcase. If you would like to bring additional luggage containing donated goods, we ask that you submit a request to Jessica Stieritz at jstieritz@fuse.net or 513-731-2595, x. 5 by January 1.
- Books, sporting equipment, and pens/pencils are already distributed on an equal and non-religious basis to all schools. Any other items that tour participants wish to distribute, such as photos, candy or rosaries, are the full responsibility of the participants and should not involve CoEd resources, other than to inform us of this intent.
To find out what items we accept for donation, please click here.
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How can I help
the children of Guatemala upon return to the US?
1. Get your church, local school, or community group
to sponsor a workstation, school or computer center in Guatemala. CoEd offers the opportunity for groups and individuals to "sponsor" our schools and computer centers. For more information about these sponsorships, click here.
2. Spread the word about our work. Find a speaking
opportunity for someone in the CoEd speakers' bureau.
One of the best ways to help the children of Guatemala
is to "get the word out" about our work. Speaking
in front of groups has proven to be one of the most
effective ways to generate support for CoEd churches,
clubs, and organizations of every sort are always looking
for speakers. We need your contacts to help get us in
front of these groups. We need you to make the initial
call to set up the engagement and "get our foot
in the door."
3. Join the CoEd speakers
bureau yourself. Once you become a Guatemala tour veteran,
we consider you qualified to speak on behalf of CoEd
and its work. As a member of the CoEd speakers' bureau,
you will have access to excellent slides, a projector
or PowerPoint presentation that explain the project.
We'll try to send you opportunities to spread the word
about our work in front of groups. Ideally, you'll secure
some of your own speaking opportunities as well.
4. Convince one person to go to Guatemala next year
to inaugurate Coed textbook and computer projects.
Your trip to Guatemala will be such a positive experience,
you will want to bring your family and friends next year!
5. Acquire donated school supplies or computers
for the children in Guatemala. Click
here to find out how to Donate Goods to CoEd
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Can I learn about the tour from the perspective
of a previous delivery tour participant?
Absolutely. We have many delivery tour veterans who
are enthusiastic about sharing their experiences with
you. Feel free to contact any of these volunteers
to learn more about their perspective:
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Rotary International participants:
Dick & Helen Anderson
Paramount, CA Rotary
(714) 505-1663 anderassociates@aol.com
Glenn Chamberlain
Ephrata, WA Rotary
(509) 754-3739 gchamberlain@homenetnw.net
Jeff & Suzanne Taylor
North Raleigh, NC Rotary
(919) 785-0896 tjtsbt@aol.com
Pieter Vos
Sun City Del Sol, AZ Rotary
(623) 546-5711 pavos4@aol.com
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Textbook Delivery Tour participants:
Barbara Bitticker
937-433-5058 bbitticker@woh.rr.com
Lisa Covert
513-530-9484 lcovert@fuse.net
Ann Livingston
513-231-8730 alivingston@cinci.rr.com
David & Jennifer Withrow
513-755-7017 withrowhayes@fuse.net
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