Westworld Alberta
Issue link: http://westworldmagazine.ama.ab.ca/i/68789
(opposite page) The Rio Dulce lowlands in Guatemala; volunteer Heather Graham with children at Casa Guatemala orphanage; (right) Canadian anthropology student Jacinda Bottomley (on left) hard at work on an archaeology project in Romania. children often suffer the most. Though Gua- temala has enjoyed peace for more than a decade, youngsters are still in need. Since 1977 Casa Guatemala, a remote facility on the banks of Rio Dulce in the heart of Guate- mala's steamy eastern lowlands, has been a home and sanctuary of support, education, health care and healing for around 250 orphaned, abandoned and abused children. The facility relies on volunteer support to meet the needs of its young charges. Canadian Heather Graham was plan- ning a trip to Central Guatemala 11 years ago and was drawn to a volunteer stint after researching Casa Guatemala. She stayed three years, assisting with management of the orphanage's farm, butcher shop and Hotel Backpackers (which supports the facil- ity and houses short-term volunteers), even- tually getting involved in the administration of the whole project. She loved it so much it became her career; she now works for the non-profit as communications and fund- raising director. "At fi rst it can be overwhelming. There is such mixed emotion. You feel sad for the children as you learn about their pasts and the sometimes horrible experiences that brought them all to Casa Guatemala. But as you make your way through the project, it becomes apparent that they are all very happy and well-loved," Graham says. The orphanage has two volunteer pro- grams: short-term and long-term. Short- term volunteers (who must be 18 or older), stay at the hotel and travel to and from the orphanage to help with daily activi- ties. Long-term volunteers live onsite and must commit to a minimum of three months, speak basic Spanish and be over 24 years old. They can work as house supervi- sors, or as teachers alongside local, paid edu- cators. Others help on the farm or with coordinating the children's activities during free time. The short-term volunteer program costs $250 per week and includes lodging and lunches. The long-term program costs $300 and includes food and accommodation at the orphanage. casa-guatemala.org 4 Channel Indiana — Jones, that is Hollywood blockbusters such as Raiders of the Lost Ark tap a natural human fascina- tion with the esoteric and unknown. Luck- ily, opportunities abound for travellers wanting to be on the leading edge of archaeological discovery. Romania was shrouded behind the Iron Curtain until dic- tator Nicolae Ceausescu was overthrown in the country's tumultuous 1989 revolution. Since then, archaeologists have pored over the country's rich history, peering back to WESTWORLD >> JUNE 2012 41 Courtesy Jacinda Bottomley