I have been a supporter of AIR since the lat 1990s and continue to be impressed and inspired by the work they do and, most importantly, the integrity with which they do their work. AIR's work and mission is driven and carried out by Guatemalan leaders and community members at a grass roots level. The respect AIR shows towards the communities and people with whom they work is only surpassed by the respect that the communities convey back to AIR. Having served on the boards and as a volunteer with other NGO and nonprofit organizations around the world, AIR is among the best of the best!
I have known about the mission and work of AIR for many years through support from my church. In January 2025, I experienced their mission in action with a trip to Guatemala. This trip was co-led by AIR’s phenomenal Founder/CEO, Anne Hallum, and AIR’s Executive Director, Cecilia Ramirez. It was simply an amazing volunteer experience from start to finish. What stands out from other volunteer experiences is the professional care, compassion and commitment to excellence by the AIR technicians. Their love of the land and protection of these forests shines through every interaction with the volunteers and with the families we worked with in the tree nurseries and building of kitchen stoves. AIR has my unwavering support!
I recently had the opportunity to volunteer with AIR planting seedlings and building stoves with a wonderful group from our church. What an awesome experience. It was an honor to work side by side with Anne Hallum and her amazing AIR staff whose dedication to each other, to their work, and to the betterment of Guatemala as a whole is inspiring. AIR’s far reaching ripple effect has had significant impact beyond the core impetus of reforestation and environmental improvements to the lives of innumerable Guatemalan families and their communities through education, scholarships, business development training, and financial commitments to local organizations such as the firefighters. The AIR organization is a shining example of God’s work in our world!
I had a life-changing experience through AIRR's study abroad program with UCF in Quiche, Guatemala. AIRR enabled me to gain personal encounters with locals who share the organization's goals of sustainable cooking and farming. I helped build fuel-efficient stoves in a family home and plant over a thousand trees in the span of a week, getting to see the fruits of my labor immediately. Collaborating with AIRR technicians and Guatemalan locals greatly enriched my life and helps me feel more prepared for future career endeavors that require courage and hard work.
Tuve la oportunidad de ser voluntario con AIR el verano pasado para un viaje de la escuela y fue una experienca inolvidable. Lo que esta aciendo esta organizacion es muy especial y importante para nuestro planeta y las communidades de Guatemala. Merecen todo el apoyo del mundo y espero poder trabajar con ellos y su excelente equipo otra vez.
I had the opportunity to volunteer with AIR last summer during a school trip and it was honestly an unforgettable experience. What this organization is doing is so special and important for both our planet and many communities in Guatemala. They truly deserve all the support they can get and I hope to be able to work with them and their amazing team again.
Volunteering with AIR this summer was truly the highlight of the year for me. I cannot stress how grateful I am for the opportunity and the organization.
Para mi AIRES ha sido una esperanza para poder recuperar las áreas verdes que se han perdido. Gracias a AIRES por la asesoría que nos da para poder tener un vivero, así mismo por los recursos que son de mucha utilidad en el vivero. Gracias AIRES por el apoyo y amor que tienen a Guatemala.
Gracias a AIRES que siempre nos ha apoyado en producir arbolitos y asi podemos reforestar en nuestra comunidad y dejar un lugar verde para nuetros hijos.
La organizacion AIRES nos a enseñado a ayudar y a mejorar nuestra comunidad y país a través de la siembra de árboles y la reforestación de las mismas
Gracias a AIRES por el apoyo brindado durante tres años, pude concretar mis estudios y graduarme de Perito Contador, asi también como el apoyo que nos brindaron a mi familia y a mi durante la pandemia de COVID-19 ya que todos nos contagiamos y desafortunadamente mi hermano fallecio; pero el personal técnico estuvo al pendiente y brindandonos apoyo tanto moral como económico, en medicamentos, alimentación y otros.
Aires es una institución que nos enseña a plantar árboles , la importancia del medio ambiente, y el desarrollo de la naturaleza.
Una Oraganizacion de AIRES que conozco desde ase muchos años Que biene a Fortalecer las áreas verdes atraves de la implementacio a Viveros Forestales acá en el área de Solola. Muy buena labor la que muestran con mucho Conocimiento y seriedad en las labores que tienen a cargo.
Encunetr una Organización de AIRES muy Comprometida y muy profesional en el fortalecimiento a Viveros Forestal en el área de Solola.
Alianza reforestación AIRES, a tomado un rol importante en nuestras localidades,la cual a restableciendo la fauna y flora, la cual Alianza de reforestación nos ha apoyado seriamente con viveros desde semilleros hasta llevar a cabo la siembra, también como manejo forestal, dándonos también asesoría en nuestra siembra de hortalizas. La cual nos ha beneficiado en nuestras economía y cuidado de nuestra tierra, dándonos asesoría, la cual hemos mantenido nuestros cultivos como mejorar la calidad, como también aprovechar nuestras cosechas para obtener mejor alimento y apoyar nuestros sector económico de nuestra localidad, la cual Alianza de Reforestación se ha tomado en serio el trabajo de campo, gracias a la asesoría técnica hemos tenido un mejor desarrollo.
Aire a sido de mucha ayuda para nuestra comunidad de Chicuá Primero para forestar y conocer del funcionamiento del vivero..
La Alianza de reforestación AIRES, nos ha brindado apoyo y nos ha hecho consciencia ambiental, a través de sus técnicos que nos brindan asesorías , para contribuir con los conocimientos del cuidado y el mantenimiento del ecosistema de nuestra localidad.
Aires es una organización que nos enseña a cuidar a nuestro bello planeta para no contaminarla nos ayuda a sembrar más árboles nos imparte temas de cómo cuidar el medio ambiente.
Agradecido con la institución AIRES porque nos han ayudado en producir muchos arbolitos y reforestar la comunidad y nuestro pais
De hace 4 años estamos trabajando con AIR que nos a dado las asistencias técnica y con eso hemos mejorado con nuestro vivero con la finalidad de cuidar nuestro medio ambiente.
Estamos muy felices de trabajar con AIR.
Emos trabajado en el tema de reforestación por el medio ambiente gracias a Aires emos aprendido mucho en viveros tambien
Air es una istitucion que nos brinda un gran apoyo atraves de los viveros forestales comunitarios y que nos da la oportunidad de crecer en el hambito personal y familiar a traves de los viveros. Air nos da la mano a traves de los recursos.
Air me ha ayudado a empezar el emprendimiento y que mejor de hacerlo que por medio de los viveros forestales. Gracias Air por el apoyo y asesoría
Air es una organización que nos apoya con el tema ambiental para fortalecer nuestros recursos naturales y también recuperar los espacios deforestados. Tambien nos suministra de las herramientas necesarias para mantener la plantación de los arboles para una mejor producción.
Aires a contribuido a mejorar nuestro medio ambiente en Santa Cruz del Quiché ya que atraves delas mejoras que emos realizado en el vivero emos producido muchas más plantas y más mejores
AIRES ha sido de bendición poder conocerlos y trabajar con ellos. Gracias a AIRES emos tenido un desarrollo en nuestra familia, y en nuestra comunidad, nos ha dado los recurso necesarios para el establecimiento de un vivero, agradecimiento especial a AIRES porque podemos producir y sembrar árboles y recuperar los lugares que han sido afectados por los incendios.
Gracias a esta ayuda que me ha brindado esta fundación durante este tiempo me ha servido de mucho ya que con eso pago de la colegiatura de mi colegio ahorro bastante con esta ayuda todo comenzó un día donde yo estaba estudiando y estaban buscando a alguien que necesitaba ayuda gracias a Dios por todas las bendiciones que nos da cada día en ese día éramos dos una mujer y yo en ese entonces no sabían a quien a la ayuda pero vieron a la familia que más necesitada y a la que más está aportando en sus notas de estudio y gracias a Dios fue a mí el que me dieron la ayuda de dado lo mejor de mí en este tiempo para que estén orgullosos mis padrinos y mis padres y no me canso de darle gracias a Dios por esta gran ayuda que me brinda esta fundación de aires deberían existir personas que ayuden a la gente porque hay mucho talento mucha inteligencia y mucho sacrificio .
Es una organización muy importante ya que incentiva, apoya a grupos para desarrollar estrategias de economía familiar a través de semilleros forestales
Tengo sembrado muchos arbolitos en la institución aires y emos llevado muchos arbolitos a la montaña para ayudar a nuestro Medio ambiente
Con la intitucion de AIRES nos ha apoyado bastante con la siembra de grandes cantidades de arbolitos en Chinique
Gracias al apoyo de AIRES pudimos crear un pequeño vivero forestal vinieron a fortalecer ahora tenemos árboles para seguir sembrando en nuestros terrenos ya que emos visto que se están cortando árboles , pero no siembran y Aires nos enseñó la importancia de sembrar, nos han dado capacitación, Estamos muy agradecidos con el apoyo que nos han dado
I recently went on a trip and worked with AIR and I’ve got to say they are all great and hard working people. Being able to go out and make a small difference in a community truly changed my perspective on life. These people have great hearts and a great mission. I recommend working with them or donating if at all possible because it’s truly life changing.
AIR has hosted two student groups from the University of Central Florida. Both trips have been amazing. Seeing up close the relationships that AIR fosters with clients and how much the staff cares about helping people and the environment is amazing. It is a great example of a win/win with environmental and economic benefits to the local residents.
Para mi AIRES ha sido una institucion que al pasar de los años nos ha ayudado a conservar y restaurar nuestro recurso ambiental. AIRES nos ha enseñado el proceso de como establecer un vivero forestal, asi mismo podemos generamos empleo y lo mas importante es que podemos sembrar mas arboles y asi mitigar el calentamiento global.
AIRES ha sido una bendición en nuestra comunidad porque nos brinda los insumos nesesario y la asesoria técnica para la producción de nuestros árboles q son plantados en nuestras áreas q lo necesitan.
Es una organización muy profesional. Nos brindó apoyo sin negarse a ayuda a la comunidad educativa. Nuestro agradecimiento sincero a quienes forman parte de la Organización. Felicitaciones!!!!
Para mi AIRES ha sido una institución de bendición pues nos apoya con insumos y capacitación constante a cada semana , gracias a ellos hemos reforestado una gran parte de los astilleros de nuestra comunidad
Yo conoci a AIRES cuando cursaba el primer grado de basico en 2,022 y gracias a Dios me salio esa oportunidad porque tenia buenas notas, desde entonces me han apoyado. Para mi y mi familia es de mucha ayuda ya que cubre una parte de mis estudios y por eso estoy agradecida con la institucion por seguir apoyandome ya que es una bendición que llego para mi, AIRES apoya a la reforestación y a los mas necesitados.
Soy maestro de la Escuela de santa Isabel Chimaltenango y se que AIRES ayuda a proteger la naturaleza al sembrar arboles en las comunidades, ayudan a combatir incendios forestales. Este año plantamos con un un grupo de niños 200 arboles, muy felices de contribuir con el medio ambiente, esperamos el próximo año seguir sembrando más con el poyo de ellos.
Air Guatemala is the best nonprofit organization to exist! The work they do is extraordinary and the experiences that the groups have while traveling and working are impactful and very memorable. I was accepted as an internship student by Dr. Hallum and was able to travel for three weeks around Guatemala working with the families and the technicians in alliance with Air. I was able to have an inside look into the organization and was lucky enough to develop close friendships with the technicians and the families in the various communities. From seeds planted in the ground to re-grow lush forests, to scholarship programs and community outreach in collaboration with local fire departments, and so much more, the impact on the communities in Guatemala and the landscape is profound. I cannot rave enough about my time and experience working with Air; this organization deserves all the awards and recognition they can receive!
Conozco a la institución AIRES desde hace 3 años y nos ha enseña y ayudado a proteger el medio ambiente atreves de la implementación de un vivero forestal, ahora nos apoya con insumos y asesoría técnica, nos sentimos muy felices de contribuir con el medio ambiente.
Mi nombre es Juliana Pata y AIRES, ha sido una bendición en mi familia, nos enseñó a cómo hacer un vivero forestal y hemos plantado árboles en nuestra querida Guatemala, hemos recibido una beca para nuestro hermanito Ángel Damián Pata, él es un niño especial es sordo Mudo, gracias al apoyo de AIRES él ahora ha tenido mejoras en su audición y pudo comenzar la primaria, agradezco mucho a Dios por todo lo que AIRES ha hecho por Guatemala y por mi familia.
I discovered this amazing nonprofit over a year ago at a lunch-n-learn at Trees Atlanta. I was so impressed with Dr. Hallum and her amazing organization that I immediately booked a volunteer trip with AIR to Guatemala. The experience far exceeded my expectations as we planted almost 1000 seedlings and helped build a stove. I’ll never forget the amazing people I volunteered with or the organization that has really made a big impact on this country.
This is a phenomenal organization that I had the pleasure of working with for a week, and I am eager to visit Guatemala again to continue where I left off. Dr. Hallum and the technicians working alongside her have played a tremendous role in changing the lives of the local people, giving back to communities in ways that will shape future generations for many years.
I had the most amazing experience volunteering for AIR. Their team of people are so personable and genuine. You can tell they care about their community and are doing a great deal of positive impact, making sure to incorporate the opinions and values of locals. Being able to get my hands dirty and make a direct impact to the issue of deforestation in Guatemala was an experience I will never forget, and I cannot give enough praise for this organization.
I have visited Guatemala with AIR four times since 2008 and have been amazed by the work they do every single time. They continue to find ways to support the communities they serve, while also protecting the environment. The staff are knowledgeable, caring, and create strong relationships with the villages they work in. These relationships are part of the reason AIR has one of the most sustainable models I have come across due to community buy-in. I know that a donation to AIR will be used to plant more trees and positively impact more lives in Central America.
We just returned from a truly inspiring week in Guatemala. The AIR team is so very impressive in their passion for their projects and care for the families that they serve. We planted trees and built high efficiency wood stoves to conserve firewood and improve indoor air quality. The vision and leadership of AIR is so impressive. I struggle to think of ways that that they could improve their performance so it's "keep up the great work"!
Had a great experience with AIR Guatemala! Working along side the native people that will be benefitting from the work is very rewarding as well as practical. At the end of the week, you know that you have really made a difference for people that need the help and that appreciate it as well. The week was very well organized and fulfilling. I will be going back to Guatemala!
After actually visiting Guatemala, and seeing the operation of Alliance for International Reforestation, I was even more impressed than I imagined. They exemplify what makes a non-profit great, such as amazing efficiency, training the local people methods to become self sufficient, thereby creating local ownership, continuing education and a true love of the communities in which they work. They accomplish a lot, with a little, and the positive environmental and local impact is enormous. They are wonderful stewards of all they receive.
This is a wonderful non-profit that plants trees and builds efficient stoves in places in the world where indigenous people have been displaced to areas where farming is difficult due to the terrain. But they not only plant trees and build stoves, they also local people become self-employed through tree nurseries and co-op farming. They teach people to farm in ways that protect the land and become self-sufficient. They are also one of the most cost efficiently run organizations through volunteer tree planting and stove building teams.
I have traveled to Guatemala with AIR for many years and continue to marvel at the professionalism and care that they bring to the work that they do. The staff is among the best I have encountered in any non-profit I have worked with over the years and it is always a joy to be able to assist in their work. The love and dedication to the mission of AIR and the people of Guatemala they serve is so evident and inspiring and has become legendary in the communities they help.
What a lovely volunteer/mission experience for this AIR rookie. While I have known and supported Dr. Hallum for several years, I'd not had the pleasure of experiencing her mission work in Guatemala. When an opportunity arose to go in January, I jumped at the chance and am so glad I did. Her commitment to conservation and poverty-alleviation for 30 life-giving years is a story everyone should witness first-hand. It was a joy to help build stoves and to plant seedlings in the rich beautiful soil among the sweet Guatemalan people.
I have been on several trips to Guatemala with AIR. Their relationship with the communities they serve is one of respect and commitment to the communities’ needs. The AIR staff is always welcoming and is eager to share their accomplishments. It is always a privilege to be a small part of their mission while we are there.
I have been a supporter of AIR since the lat 1990s and continue to be impressed and inspired by the work they do and, most importantly, the integrity with which they do their work. AIR's work and mission is driven and carried out by Guatemalan leaders and community members at a grass roots level. The respect AIR shows towards the communities and people with whom they work is only surpassed by the respect that the communities convey back to AIR.
Having served on the boards and as a volunteer with other NGO and nonprofit organizations around the world, AIR is among the best of the best!
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I have led several groups of college students and other adults on trips to Guatemala with AIR. Each time I am overwhelmed by the wonderful and meaningful work AIR is doing. They work on a grass roots level to allow the local people to inform, lead, and guide the work they do. The AIR staff is extemely professional and committed to their work. I am grateful for all the ways that AIR works for good in the world and for the opportunity to share in that work.
Going to Guatemala and helping Anne during this Mission trip was an incredible experience and definitely a calling from God. It was physically taxing, humbling, exhausting and one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. Be kind and help others. Always. It comes back tenfold.
My family and i worked with an impressive, efficient and closely knit reforestation organization Air Guatemala. over the course of a week we planted over one thousand trees and built five stoves for mayan communities. Air Guatemala has a great community outreach aspect to the organization in addition to environmental. It was a truly great experience and i hope to work with Air soon.
AIR Guatemala is a phenomenal organization doing great work! We spent a week planting thousands of trees and building stoves for families that were previously cooking on the floor of their homes. What a beautiful opportunity to help people and the planet. We are grateful for the experience of a lifetime, and for the chance to have a real impact on people's lives and health and the health of the planet! I love how AIR's missions works hand in hand, tree planting the right species for the soil and to allow the Maya to continue to cook with wood as they have traditionally done for generations upon generations. I also can't say enough about how this organization, and all the people working for it, are led by the people and communities they serve, rather than arriving with a "this is how you should do it" approach. It seems rare in our world, and it is a truly humble approach, AIR's work is truly done with a servant's heart from start to finish.
Guate
I have been volunteering with AIR Guatemala for over 10 years, planting hundreds of trees and building efficient stoves in Mayan communities.
AIR Guatemala accomplishes it’s mission by providing opportunities for self-selected Mayan communities to commit to a 5 year program which provides local empowerment that leads healthier and more sustainable lives. It is truly inspiring to be part of a mission that has both a local and a global impact! AIR’s communities have planted over 7 million trees and built over 800 stoves! The number lives improved through better health and sustainable practices is countless!
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This organization is extremely efficiently run with a mission that is sustainable and empowering. Planting trees for reforestation in Guatemala is the goal, but the organization accomplishes this by empowering villagers and families to create tree nurseries, develop sustainable agri-forestry, plant trees, use environmenmentally designed fuel efficient stoves, teach the curriculum in the schools, and to create microbusinesses based on their own successful ingenuity. AIR has produced and planted nearly 5 million trees! The future of our universe depends upon this kind of enhancing natural resources. AIR is part of that future!
I went to serve the AIR ministry in Guatemala for a second time June 12-19, 2022. It had been 11 years since my first mission experience. AIR has grown serving many more communities, while the staff are still highly committed, experienced and effective. Our group was small but we still were able to plant 900 trees on three hillsides. We also built two stoves for Indigenous women. AIR is such a wonderful ministry and the opportunity to serve with them is so meaningful. My wife and I have been financially contributing to AIR for over a decade. There is no better place to give financially or through physical participation.
The Rev. Dr. Radford Rader
AIR-Guatemala is a great organization, working with local people who understand the village's need.
There is a very good management team without waste of resources.
Spent the last week of June in Guatemala with Anne and her Maya staff. We planted 1022 trees and built 5 efficient wood burning stoves. It was a tremendous experience. I hope to back to this beautiful country many more times.
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Very impressed with the percentage of monies going to Guatemala and not for administration fees. Dr. Anne Hallum and her tireless efforts have been an inspiration to me and all those who know her. I strongly urge anyone that is looking for a non-profit that provides the most "bang for the buck," look no further!
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After Anne Hallum with A.I.R. presented to my church I was determined to be a part if the great work they do in Guatemala. Without checking with her first, I also signed up my 14-year-old daughter.
Mae was excited, nervous and ultimately victorious and proud of the work we did together. The wonderful people of Guatemala that both run the program and benefit from it made that trip so special, and the memories will be with me forever. Muchas Gracias A.I.R. Guatemala!
The Alliance for International Reforestation is truly one of the most efficient yet effective groups working in Central America. Their community based, locally led initiatives have lasting impact that solves so many problems. They don’t just put a band aid on long term issues; they have found the root causes of chronic hunger and deforestation. The AIR staff goes to great lengths to ensure that communities have the knowledge and desire to continue the program long after the standard five year term ends. It’s always a pleasure to work with a group that is as far from “toxic charity” as it gets.
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I can't say enough good things about AIR. I find it remarkable the amount of change that can be brought about by a small organization. The clear mission and passionate leadership shown by the staff of AIR and by its founder Anne Hallum are surely a fine example to all organizations seeking to empower an impoverished population.
I love all that is being done to enrich the lives of Guatemala to improve the environment, educate, prepare stoves so better food can nourish them and be beneficial for all. Lives in the area have been changed because people have accepted the invitation to donate to AIR,
I am always amazed to know how much is accomplished with money given.
M.Darsey Huntsville, AL
AIR is an amazing organization that makes a difference by applying local knowledge. The organization has implemented sustainable agroforestry systems across small farms in Guatemala to increase crop yield, prevent mudslides, and assist in recovering deforested areas.
It was such a delight to volunteer with AIRE Guatemala this summer. The work they do is beyond extraordinary allowing Guatemalans to restore their land and improve their health. We planted over 1,000 trees just within two weeks and constructed six fuel efficient stoves in a community. I enjoyed meeting the AIRE team who are all very friendly, helpful, and hard-working. What really impressed me is how organized they are and how driven community partners are in starting their own "viveros" (tree nurseries) for their own community. Not only is AIRE combationg deforestation and public health issues, but also they are supporting schools, families, firefighters, and individuals who share the same concern for their environment and health. I would love and hope to continue supporting AIRE and all that they do!
Como centro educativo agradecemos a la Alianza Internacional de Reforestacion por las semillas que nos han dado para la reforestacion de nuestros bosques en Guatemala y tambien por el jardin botanico que es de mucha utilidad para las personas. Att. Irma Conoz . Directora del centro educativo.
Han realizado un buen trabajo ya que de ellos,he aprendido muchas cosas sobre la naturaleza, y en lo que podemos realizar, y ayudar a nuestra naturaleza.
La institución es de gran ayuda, ya que fomenta la reforestación e inculca a demás ciudadanos a cuidar del ambiente que nos rodea por ende quiero agradecer a cada uno de los que forman parte de ello
Al trabajat en AIR me ha abierto mas mis conocimientos sobre la proteccion del medio ambiente, capacitandome mas y enseñar a las comunidades la importancia sobre la proteccion del medio ambiente que dia a dia hemos hido deteriorando y con ello las consecuencias del cambio climatico que es muy notable en las comunidades mas lejanas y pobres de Guatemala.
Las consecuencias de estos cambios es la migracion de la gente hacia otros lados del pais y otros que optan por irse a otros paises muchos de forma ilegal, aunado a esto la pobreza es mas notable cada vez mas atraves de la escases de la produccion de alimentos.
Con el trabajo que estamos realizandos en AIRES, estamos contribuyendo a la mitigación del cámbio climático a través de plantaciones de arboles con las comunidades.
La instituciòn AIR nos ha ayudado en diferentes maneras tales como en la reforestaciòn de areas de las comunidades de chichicastenango , ya que hay lugares que tenemos que cuidar con la ayuda de los árbolitos que la instituciòn AIR nos brinda y sobre todo las ayudas técnicas que se brindan a la gente de chichicastenango.
Por este medio expreso mi gratitud a Dios y AIRES International por el apoyo que nos ha brindado durante diez años. A su personal aqui en Guatemala. Mediante el vivero forestal hemos formado parte como agentes de cambio en la reforestacion , de esa manera hemos logrado ayudar a nuestra comunidad. Aires ha sido en factor de desarrollo del medio ambiente en Guatemala.
AIRES ha beneficiado a algunos alumnos mediante una beca de estudio.
Es una linda institución porque enseña a como sembrar arboles para una gran ayuda a nuestro medio ambiente
Y también es una gran y segunda familia para muchos jóvenes porque ayuda a muchos estudiantes con grandes nesecidades, como a mi persona para mi AIRES es mi segunda familia me apoyó en mi estudio durante 6 años
Sin AIRES no hubiera logrado nada
Como estacion de bomberos voluntarios de san Andrés Itzapa, estamos muy agradecidos con ustedes, ya que la primera mano que nos brindo ayuda en la tragedia del volcan de fuego fueron ustedes, dotando a nuestros elementos con implementos de seguridad y conbustible para nuestras unidades. Muchas gracias por la ayuda que se nos brindo y se nos sigue brindando por parte de esta institución.
AIRES es una institución maravillosa que se dedica a reforestar arboles en Guatemala se preocupa por el medio ambiente en que vivimos,también ayuda a jóvenes de escasos recursos a que puedan sobresalir en sus estudios , gracias a AIRES yo estoy cumpliendo mi sueños de ser una profesional estoy muy feliz y agradecida por toda la ayuda.
We recently engaged in a study tour of Guatemala with a group of eleven Middle School students. Working alongside AIR in the community was the most profound part of our trip. Through AIR we learned not only about Guatemala, Mayan culture, and issues of conservation and development, but we also witnessed how to embark on a wholistic and integrated approach to activism and change. AIR has created a program that not only plants trees (and many of them), but also works to stem demand, provide education, offer alternative income streams, and understand the delicate balance of sustainability. Beyond the impressive work of the organization, however, the team itself is amazing. We were welcomed into the AIR community for our brief stay with open arms and we left feeling part of a large family. Thank you AIR!
I spent a week in June 2018 with A.I.R. in Guatemala. The work that their team does is simply amazing! At the time we visited, they had already planted more than 500,000 trees for the year! Our mission team helped plant trees, and also built four brick stoves in the homes of some very appreciative families. The A.I.R. technicians were so wonderful to work with, and helped make the week so productive for our team and for the families we were supporting. I am looking forward to going back as often as possible! A.I.R. is definitely changing lives in Guatemala!
This organization goes deep into the communities of Guatemala and serves the people.
Not by just providing aid, but by educating and installing the tools necessary for the people to succeed independently.
The added benefit of this is actual sustainable farming and economies, something the country of Guatemala desperately needs.
My wife and I are incredibly impressed by how resourceful AIR has been, and continues to be. We look forward to the amount of restoration they'll be able to accomplish after the devastating volcano eruption 2 months ago.
Traveling to Guatemala with AIR and seeing first hand how communities build new hope, from the ground up, changed my perspective on what nonprofits can actually do. AIR is not charity, it is community built on hard work and love.
As a first-timer on a June 2018 veteran mission team with AIR, AIRES in Guatemala, I saw firsthand why this exceptional nonprofit was selected from over 800 nominations worldwide to receive a 2017 Equator Prize from the United Nations Development Programme for innovative indigenous solutions tackling poverty and environmental challenges. Their 25-year proven track record of ever-expanding successes is impressive. Helping local Mayan community partners start up over 300 tree nurseries and consulting with them over the next 5 years to sustain them are commendable commitments. Seeing some of those nurseries become thriving businesses is especially rewarding. The 800 trees our mission group planted over two days was hard work but pales in comparison to the over 5.2 million seedlings planted to date to reforest eroded mountainsides, preventing mudslides and improving the soil for life-giving farming. And as we drove through the countryside, mature “AIR forests” were pointed out to us repeatedly with great pride and personal satisfaction. The nearly 900 fuel-efficient vented brick stoves constructed by AIRES teams are highly valued. They are an economical and healthier alternative for families who have been cooking over an open fire on the mud floor of a smoke-filled shed. Our team built four stoves in two days. One family shed tears of joy when receiving this special gift which they helped construct. We also judged the student-constructed projects of an environmental education competition at one of the 300 AIRES-inspired middle schools. Plastic bottles and used tires, often pulled from the river by students, were transformed into colorful tables, seats, and shelters in the schoolyard. Such programs hold great promise for improved conservation and recycling efforts of the younger generations. Fuego’s nearby devastating volcanic eruption in June added a disaster-relief dimension to the mission of AIRES which continues to be performed admirably. From replacing the burned-up boots of volunteer first-responder firefighters to providing food and restorative tree nursery supplies to communities that lost almost everything under the hot ash from Fuego, AIRES displays yet again, love in action. Dr. Anne Hallum’s love and passion for AIR-Guatemala, as its unpaid Founding President, is unbounded and contagious. Her administrative and technician team headquartered in Chimaltenango is outstanding and works tirelessly. They are like family to each other and exhibit a deep spiritual calling to compassionate service for the benefit of impoverished Mayan communities and a deforested environment. As visitors, we were warmly welcomed, well cared for, and kept secure. Few charities accomplish as many good and sustainable works as this one on such a modest budget. Without question, AIR-Guatemala is deserving of our continuing support and investment!
Why AIR excels:
Guatemalans are both the givers and recipients of care; they are the leaders. This is NOT one of those agencies where North Americans make assumptions about need and/or pretend to know a better way of doing things.
They serve those who agree to be a part of the solution; we work side by side while building lasting and meaningful relationships. The recipients become educated and empowered.
It is a sustainable effort with partnerships that last a minimum of five years.
They get the job done. We were there mid-June and over 500,000 trees had already been planted since the beginning of the year.
And best yet: You will only help to make better what is already an incredibly beautiful country (volcanoes included!) that is filled with wonderful and kind people.
AIR is fully deserving of your time and resources but for those who are able, there is no better way to see and understand it than being there in person!
Another trip to Guatemala is over.
We arrived a week after Fuego erupted and there was still a great deal of pain for the people and damage to the country. But the people are resilient and there was a significant out pouring of gifts to help them recover. Fuego is still active, so each day brings new challenges. Anne Hallum, founder of A.I.R., discovered that one of the local volunteer fire departments were without boots. The ash was so hot from Fuego that their boots had melted the first day. Anne was able to use some of the donations to purchase boots for the firemen to continue the search and rescue missions. What a blessing from so many people. No matter the size of the gift, it will always be put to good use.
During the week we were in Guatemala, our team planted about 900 trees and built 4 stoves for families. I have long contended that there is no flat land in Guatemala but 1 day we did plant on level ground. Be careful of what you wish for because that was much tougher planting than on a hillside. Also, we were only 4 miles from Fuego and could see it continue belching ash. We all started out with masks to mitigate breathing in the ash. Some of us lasted longer than others. Maybe that is where I got a sinus infection that turned into a good “old fashioned cold” after I returned home.
The stove building is as rewarding as planting trees but in a different way. The interaction with the family members is so wonderful. I was in charge of “bubbling” the bricks for one of the stoves. “Bubbling” the bricks is soaking them in a tub filled with water until no more bubbles appear. Removing them from the tubs and stacking the near to the stove that is under construction. Does it sound easy to you? It is not. There is a lot of toting, lifting, bending, and refilling the water. So I look up and there is a precious 4 year old holding a brick for me. Behind her was her sister, about 6 or 7, holding a brick and behind her was their Mother holding two bricks. My eyes started leaking, must have been from the dust. They wanted to help in any way they could. The family we worked with had built an addition for the stove. The first thing to do is measure the woman that will be doing most of the cooking so the stove will be appropriate for her height.
Remember what I said about not having any flat land in Guatemala? All of the supplies had to be hauled up the path to where the family lives. This includes concrete blocks, fire bricks, sand, concrete, tin, lumber, stove pipes, many tools, and various other stuff. I am so thankful for the people that did this before we got there.
The lunch the women prepared for us that day (and every day) was wonderful and nutritious. I am not sure what it is, but the vegetables are so delicious. They have the biggest carrots I have ever experienced. And they are so sweet. The same with the potatoes and squash.
The first picture is in the A.I.R. office with the whole crew. The techno’s are the heart of this mission. They are in the communities daily helping, encouraging, and teaching. The second picture is the stove that I worked on. I know it will be a blessing for a long time. I know it blessed me just working on it.
Thanks for taking the time to read this missive. If you can’t go, give.
Love to all, Jo
I've spent five weeks with AIR and I keep coming back. I am simply in awe of the ways they empower local, impoverished communities in the mountains of Guatemala, bringing world-class agroforestry skills to them instead of the other way around. It's a patient, long-game sort of program that has utterly transformed the landscape of Chimaltenango and Sololá states.
I'm also in awe of the huge impact they have with such a comparatively small staff. I feel like I see every dollar I give up on those mountainsides, whether in trees, water cisterns, or programs for local schoolchildren. Did I mention that Dr. Hallum, AIR's founder, is a CNN Hero? And that AIR is Guatemalan-run?
I'll be back until I can't climb up mountains or swing a hoe, and will offer support beyond that time. If you want to see poor farmers' lives improved and mudslide-damaged slopes reforested in rural Guatemala, you should too!
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I spent a month volunteering with AIR after college and it changed my life. Nine years later, I took five of my own college students to spend a week with AIR, and--thoroughly exhausted from planting 600 trees on mountainsides, building 3 stoves, and playing a ferocious game of soccer with children at an AIR school--they didn't want to leave.
When I asked one of my students why, they said: "The work we're doing, the place we're in, the people we're with... it's just incredible." And it is. Families invited us into their homes, and trusted us because AIR technicians had built deep relationships with them in their indigenous languages. They proudly showed us their nurseries and told of the tens of thousands of trees they had planted. Most moving to me, they talked about what this work--AIR and local villagers, side by side--is going to mean to the world they pass on to their grandchildren: a more productive, safer, and much more verdant and beautiful world.
Time and money given to AIR are well spent. I've been twice now, give regularly, and can't wait to go back!
I am an environmental scientist and participated as a volunteer on a week-long project in Guatemala with this organization earlier this year (2017). This is hands down the most effective nonprofit I've seen. They have a program that supports so many interrelated needs - environmental preservation, sustainable agriculture, indoor air quality, rural poverty, women's rights, indigenous rights, education. They have a model that works - it is almost entirely bottom up. Local communities request the help; local technicians that are from the region and speak the local dialect provide the training, support, and guidance; the community performs most of the work themselves and AIR's support to them is long-term. This organization gets my highest recommendation as one worth supporting.
Alliance for International Reforestation is a truly remarkable nonprofit organization. It not only cares about the environment but most importantly the people who live in it.
AIR allowed me to launch my own non profit organization by giving me the opportunity to partner up with them on my first project, in which I will forever be grateful for their endless support. By achieving a sense of connection between nature and humanity throughout morally encompassed endeavors, AIR candidly exceeds every expectation that a hardworking non-profit organization should strive to be.
Valeria Melgar,
Seeds for Knowledge
AIR Guatemala remains one of the most impressive, committed, hopeful groups i have met in Central America.
Their ability to address food security, bio-diversity, watershed protection, carbon sinks / reforestation all with the planting of diverse flora amazes and inspires me.
Investing in their cause is an investment in a hope-filled future.
Rev. Alan Jenkins
Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
It's been a joy and an honor to serve as a volunteer with this wonderful organization.
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They say "a picture is worth a thousand words", and these pictures are proof. They are all trees planted by AIR, and they are 4, 8, and 12 years old. It demonstrates how barren mountainsides, prone to mudslides during the rainy season, can be restored to lush, beautiful forests. AIR technicos work with Mayan farmers for 5 years teaching the principles behind reforestation, and enlisting them as partners in improving life for themselves and their community. Some farmers have started their own tree nurseries which becomes a small business for them as they sell seedlings to their neighbors. Another aspect of AIR is stove building. The cook stoves are wood burning as is the Mayan tradition. The AIR designed stove uses far less wood than their traditional way of cooking, and they are vented to prevent inhalation of smoke, thus improving health. The lady of the house is consulted about the height and location of the stove, and later it will be a gathering place for the family.
AIR has a curriculum in many schools that teaches agro forestry and sustainable farming. They offer scholarships to students to ensure that the principles can be carried on into the future.
I have been privileged to volunteer on three AIR mission trips, and will continue to support this wonderful organization.
I recently returned from my first volunteer trip with AIR and it was an incredible experience. The organization goes above and beyond to ensure you get to engage in meaningful hands on work that has a direct and long-lasting impact on the wonderful people of Guatemala as well as our planet Earth. The reforestation process is highly rewarding and each volunteer member benefits from the opportunity to become truly immersed in the Guatemalan culture. It is an absolutely beautiful thing. By working in tandem with numerous indigenous families you will develop a special connection and appreciation for their way of life and the surrounding environment. The week was structured in a very organized and professional manner that kept you equally motivated and inspired. The genuine kindness among the staff members was contagious and thoroughly uplifting. I look forward to the next trip! Gracias para todo! Hasta la proxima!
As a mission pastor, I have had opportunity to engage in many global mission experiences and I rate the engagement with AIR as one of the healthiest initiatives promoting long-term sustainability. Sharing a vision, a meal, and a time for planting with local community leaders focuses the involvement on an intimate level - something that is very challenging to do in global contexts. The opportunity to come alongside of people who care for creation on many levels has long lasting effects. I was grateful to see not only the development of more stable mountain sides, but also the development of more stable communities!
This is my third trip with AIR. This organization has really opened my eyes to the ability of a group of people committed to making a difference in Guatemala. Planting trees, building fuel efficient stoves, education in the schools, giving families a means of adding to their income and improving the lives of their children and future generations are some of their accomplishments.
As a volunteer I was able to share in this work as well as meet the families that form the co-ops. The time spent working with the families was a priceless experience, helping to create understanding and connections between very different worlds. Coming back years later and seeing how this organization has changed so many lives and seeing the trees growing tall is a thrill that keeps bringing me back.
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What a fantastic organization. They have made such a difference to the people and county of Guatemala. Having planted millions of trees, built hundreds of stoves, educated so many children with classes, hands on conservation and many publications; they are turning around the reforestation and deadly mudslides that are so prevalent in this country. Volunteers are able to make a real difference in helping with tree planting and stove building while getting to know the families that are involved in the co-ops that grow the trees.
I expected to plant trees with AIR. What I didn't expect was for planting trees to be a link between the natural world and human experience. AIR is a program that is firstly about the families and communities enrolled; it is run, sustained, and expanded by these participants. For those lucky enough to be allowed into this well oiled program, even for a short time, you will learn something that will humble you and open you up to the beauty of the earth and the role of people in it. Thank you AIR!
Ha sido de mucha ayuda para mí ya que me apoya en mis estudios a través de una beca para que pueda seguir luchando en mi carrera, sé que es algo complicada pero con la ayuda de Dios y de la Asociación puedo seguir adelante. Que Dios los bendiga a todos y cada uno de los que hacen posible que muchos jóvenes como yo pueda seguir estudiando y luchar en la vida, así poco a poco poder graduarme. Y así como me apoyan a mi espero también poder ayudar a alguien más que tanto como yo lo necesitan, aparte me han ensañado muchos valores como el de la perseverancia, el respeto y a cuidar el medio ambiente, entre otros valores que me ayudan para lograr ser una persona íntegra. ¡Gracias por el apoyo!
I've been volunteering with AIR for almost a year doing social media and raising funds and what a reward it was to go to Guatemala this summer and actually see where all the hard work was going-IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT. I'm so proud of Anne and all her staff for being so organized, timely and most importantly PASSIONATE. There was nothing more majestic than sitting on a beautiful hillside planting trees, knowing that I was making a difference in the world. Selfishly, I think the trip meant more to me than what I did for the people of Guatemala. I walked away more restored and alive than I've felt in so many years.
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For about 6 years now I've greatly admired AIR from afar. When I started volunteering as the marketing/ fundraising manager it did not disappoint. Anne Hallum's belief and passion in the work that AIR does in Guatemala is contagious. Her dedication to the people is incredible. Like any non-profit it takes a lot of perseverance to stay positive and strong to continue to raise funds. Not once have I seen her waver- always believing that their needs (Guatemalans) are so much greater. I think that AIR does a very good job in being transparent in what they do and where the donations go. 94% of the funds truly go to the field-I can honestly say that AIR's overhead budget is nonexistent. Every dollar is so carefully spent, making sure that it stretches a long way and for the most dire need/ situation. I've always believed people should be helped before the environment. However, AIR showed me that by planting trees, teaching sustainable farming and building stoves -we are helping the people directly. When you take care of the environment you directly have an impact on everything else. It doesn't have to be people or environment. I love that.
I recently accompanied a group to Guatemala where we worked with AIR Guatemala in planting trees and building stoves. I cannot believe how organized our schedule was and yet there was flexibility to adjust to unforeseen situations.
The highlight was seeing the eyes of the woman for whom we built a stove. Her tears brought tears to my eyes; she was so happy, proud, and appreciative. But the focus of our mission trip was to plant trees, and I relished doing this as a contribution to the environment of Guatemala and the world. We visited a tree nursery and saw how people were growing the trees we were planting. We saw the beautiful countryside as we drove into the mountains to plant trees, We hiked to the locations are proceeded to plant trees that would increase forest cover and provide a better environment.
Meanwhile, in the evenings, I was able to reflect on what I was accomplishing, and think about what it meant to my life. What a wonderful experience.
This year was the second trip with AIR that our church group had taken. As with the first trip everything had been arranged for our stay and our work. The staff of AIR in Guatemala is tops. They work with the locals and we volunteers to make the trip worthwhile. Their plan of 5 years working with villages makes it certain we do more than plant and run. We found that attitudes of locals has changed from trees being a problem to being an asset. In fact some have even set up businesses to sell trees to others. We were able to see some of the trees we had planted on our previous trip and it really gave meaning to our current work. The stoves we built for the families were received happily and we enjoyed their smiles and the knowledge that we had helped improve their health. On this trip we also visited a school and found that AIR is making an impact on education by teaching about the benefits of trees on the environment and health. AIR's influence has touched the lives of many in Gutemala and in the US.
I have been on volunteer trip with AIR three times and am always impressed by Anne and her staff. Their enthusiasm for the work they do is contagious. They help the environment by planting trees to prevent erosion, start tree nurseries so communities feel a connection to the environment, they build stoves that are more fuel efficient and help families have less lung problems, and promote environmental education at community schools. AIR takes care of the whole communities throughout Guatemala. Not only is AIR doing great work, it has been doing it for an impressive 20 years!
I have volunteered with AIR four times over the past several years. AIR does amazing work that benefits the communities directly in both short and long term. AIR has strong relationships with over 100 communities in Guatemala. The organization is extremely well run.
This was my second trip with AIR to Guatemala and it is an amazing organization. It's more than just planting trees and building stoves. AIR takes a holistic approach to conservation. Their technicians work with farmers to develop a sustainable blueprint for maximizing their crops and conserving soil. The wood stoves cut firewood use in half, while creating a healthier indoor environment for families free from smoke and fumes. Their school curriculum teaches the next generation about the importance of trees and the environment. I wholeheartedly recommend volunteering with AIR to help others create a better life for themselves and their families.
It was a fun, productive, and heart-warming volunteer trip with AIR Guatemala. I was amazed by the beauty of the country, the culture, and the people we met. It's so hard to totally explain the depth and success of this non-profit. The founder, Anne, is very humble and passionate about her work, and involved the entire time we were there. Thanks to Anne, her staff and all the experienced volunteers that welcomed me on my first trip!
I have participated with the AIR non-profit planting trees and building stoves in Guatemala for the past three years and have SEEN the results. Being an educator myself, I am impressed with AIR's education component, because as we know our youth are our future. The Mayan families I have worked with have moved me with their humble gratitude for our efforts. I feel privileged to have planted trees under whose shade I will never sit. Go sustainable living!
Sincerely, Jan Somers
I am retired and spend most of my time working with nonprofits. I have never worked with an organization where people get more bang for their buck. Super people doing really super things.
I was amazed by the innovative way this organization works with the community to achieve positive changes for everyone involved rather than trying to force change in condesending ways. They are mazing and inspired my career change.
I actually went up with AIR to Guatemala for an internship. I spent 5 weeks talking with the local population, learning about life outside the U.S., and learning about agroforestry. I would not trade that experience for anything in the world.
I recently joined AIR on one of their trips to Guatemala to plant trees, build stoves, and work with some of the local school children planting a vegetable garden. It was clear from day-one that Anne has a deep love and understanding of the local area and culture, and is working to promote sustainable preservation of the area. This organization truly supports the communities they work in, providing educational support to ensure the people understand the benefits of reforestation, and will continue using the land in a sustainable manner after the AIR support staff have left. I was thoroughly impressed by the respect they are shown throughout the community, and the good works they do both locally and internationally. I am continually impressed by the AIR family, and am thrilled to be able to work with them again in the future.
My trip to Guatemala with the AIR team this past summer was the first mission trip I have ever been on. For years, I had wanted to participate in a mission trip, but had not found a match for my interests and my "comfort zone." AIR intrigued me. It was compatible with my background (horticulture and environmental biology); involved hands-on activities of which I was very familiar (planting trees and building stoves); and gave me the opportunity to practice Spanish! Perfect. I signed up to travel with a team of 8 -- 6 of whom had previously served on earlier Air mission trips to Guatemala. That spoke volumes to me.
AIR did not disappoint. The more I learned about AIR's objectives, and the successes of the past 20+ years of service to the Guatemalan people, the more impressed I became. It was an honor and a privilege to work alongside the property owners to plant trees to secure the soil on their plots of farmland; and to lay blocks and bricks to build an efficient stove in their kitchen -- both of which, in the long run, would benefit not just those families, but the entire community.
I was awed by the passion and dedication of AIR's founder, Anne Hallum, and of AIR'S technicians whose job is to reach out to the rural communities to teach and assist them in the education, development and execution of reforestation of their country. AIR truly is a life-changing entity -- not just for the Guatemalan people that AIR assists, but also for the volunteers who are introduced to the beauty and vibrancy that is Guatemala.
AIRES es una institución que se dedica a la reforestación de árboles en nuestro país he tenido el privilegio de estar trabajando en el vivero me siento feliz de contribuir a mejorar nuestro medio ambiente, me ha apoyado con una beca lo cual me está ayudando a salir adelante con mis estudios, gracias a esta dicha institución hay personas que logran alcanzar sus sueños , ha cambiado vidas.
This summer I had the amazing opportunity to volunteer with AIRE in Guatemala. The work this organization is doing is changing the lives of the Guatemala people by helping them restore their land, planting trees, and provide a better life style by building indoor stoves. The AIRE volunteers are greatly appreciated by the people of Guatemala.
I had the privilege of volunteering for AIR this summer after supporting the project for many years. I was impressed with the ongoing relationship of respect that AIR has created with the members of the communities that it is working with. AIR has developed a sense of ownership on the part of the community members that contributes to investment by communities in the project and has helped in making these efforts sustaining. It has also created ways in which community members can develop small incoming producing products. Its scholarship program has enabled young people to obtain an education and to contribute to their communities. Its staff have expertise in the area of forestry and ecology and are dedicated to their work. I felt privileged to meet and work with some wonderful staff and community members.
AIR International is unique in its holistic approach to assisting indigenous Guatemalan Mayan villagers. I especially appreciate the focus on empowering villagers to create seed nurseries and on assisting othem in making their environment more sustainable and more healthy. The planting of trees, the building of stoves, and the education provided accomplish many objectives: elimination of mudslides that devastate villages by the planting of trees in vulnerable and remote areas; building stoves that use 50% less firewood and protect the health through proper venting; commitment to future by providing curriculum and technical education in over 200 schools; scholarships for outstanding students. Volunteering with AIR is a unique life experience that brings you into the villages and homes of Mayan families, sharing meals, culture, and good will.
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AIR Guatemala and its mission for reforestation, empowerment of the Mayan indigenous population, especially women, and its education curriculum in over 300 schools to teach sustainability, has amazed me! The opportunity to be a working contributor to Dr. Hallum's vision by volunteering and bringing a team (we planted 1860 trees!) had been a dream of mine for many years. The past two summers I have been able to participate and to verify first hand the depth of AIR's work within the Mayan villages and to share the culture first hand. This is unique. The strength of more than 20 years success for a non-profit, with all Guatemalan employees in country, and volunteer teams that return each year illustrates AIR's appeal to those of us who sincerely want to share our time and resources to create opportunities for better liives for the beautiful, generous, and spiritual Mayan villagers. My team members and I found the experience enlightening, rewarding, hopeful, spiritual, and FUN! Hard work, too! AIR Guatemala is phenomenal.
AIR is everything a nonprofit should be - mission-focused, efficient, caring, locally-led and very, very effective. My company, Yoveo Media, had the privilege of capturing AIR's story on video, and I was consistently impressed by AIR's staff and programs. This is an organization you can get behind!
Volunteering with AIR, Alliance for International Reforestation, was truly a win-win experience. My teaching the sciences years ago, and participating with Florida Native Plant Society, made this humanitarian effort of reforestation a perfect fit for me. Though AIR's "volunteers" can only actively plant tree seedlings during the rainy Guatemalan summers, I am pleased to see that AIR continues to employ its indiginous core of "Technicos" (trainers and leaders) to work year round with Guatelmalan farmers, and communities to promote sustainably agriculture and forestry. This is a project that returns all but 3% its donations back into the project. Kudos to AIR, and Dr. Anne Hallum who had the vision and persistance to make this project work. She is one of my heros. This project shows what one person can do wnen moved to make a difference in the marginalized lives of an indiginous Guatemalan people still recovering from a 30 year cultural war, for their economic benefit and the health of the whole world.
Sincerely
Sonya Guidry.
AIR is one of the most impressive non-profits I know of. Being an educator myself, I especially admire the education component of this organization. A better future for these dear people will come education.
I love the work that A.I.R. is doing. Years ago I visited Guatemala and have visited again since. I love the Guatemalan people, and it is wonderful to have a non profit group there that is truly helping the people,
A.I.R. trains local folk to plant and tend more trees on the hillsides, thus avoiding mud slide disasters seen in other countries where preserving trees isn't widely understood when a hungry family needs fuel to cook their food. It's a catch -22 situation.The far more efficient stoves that they build for the villagers are so important in keeping the steep hills from being deforested, and the people with cooked food!
I am presently putting my 4th Guatemalan girl through high school, a small outlay with giant results. Raise the women of a country along with the men and you have a balanced society. How could anyone not want to contribute to such an effort! Mrs. Jan M Geisler, School Teacher, Florida, USA
I have been a volunteer with others from my Methodist Church in FL working with AIR in 2013 and 2014. We look forward to another exciting and hard-working trip in 2015. In all my volunteer experiences in Guatemala, including medical and construction trips, AIR stands out for providing an educational work experience where team members work alongside members of the communities served. My most cherished memories are the camaraderie and the feeling that our hard work makes a difference now and will continue to make a difference for future generations. If we help to prevent one landslide with planting trees, help make daily life safer and healthier by building a properly constructed and vented stove, or educate a future farmer, we help heal the world. The communities graciously welcomed us into their homes and prepared meals for us, giving us a glimpse of their daily lives and struggles.
It is important to me, on a personal level, that organizations I support with my time and dollars are fiscally responsible and that the highest possible percentage of funding goes directly into the project in a way that benefits those being served.
I look forward to continuing my support of AIR and visiting whenever possible to see how those trees have grown and to see the families also growing and thriving.
My husband and I are proud supporters of one of the secondary school scholarship students. She is an outstanding teenager, representing a hopeful future for this beautiful country still recovering from a painful history of civil war.
Paz y salud,
Janet Bernhard
As a nonprofit CEO, I especially appreciate AIR's low administrative and overhead costs. Funds contributed are used responsibly and for the benefit of the people and environment of Guatemala. Volunteering for AIR this past summer was a rich and memorable experience, and one I hope to repeat in the future.
Review from Guidestar
I first met Dr. Anne Hallum at a North Georgia Presbyterian meeting in Athens, GA. She spoke with such passion about her organization, AIR-Guatemala, a nonprofit that promotes agro-forestry. I knew I wanted to see with my own eyes the wonderful things that her and her team were doing there. After arriving in Guatemala, I was immediately moved by the hard work and the dedication of her staff, who are all native to Guatemala. This, I believe, is the key to AIR’s successful program. The technical staff develop close and trusted relationships with the people they help. We, too, felt that closeness, even with the language barrier and the short amount of time spent with each other. The AIR staff always went out of their way to make us feel part of the team. The people of Guatemala were welcoming and were much appreciative of our presence. The communities are taught how and where to plant and develop beautiful tree nurseries. Each day, we traveled to a new community, meeting new people and working side-by-side with them.
Knowing that the accomplishments of planting trees will directly and immediately improve the lives of the community, this made volunteering for AIR a truly wonderful experience for me. I applaud Dr Hallum and the entire AIR staff for truly changing the world one tree at a time.
My 17 year old son and I volunteered in the summer of 2013 with AIR and it was an amazing experience. We worked side by side in God's good earth, planting trees and helping the native people improve their lives and health by building stoves. More than the demanding physical labor (as satisfying as it was), we enjoyed the ministry of presence. We ate lunch daily with the villagers at the particular site where we were working that day. We were recipients of their gratitude as they cooked generously for us, sharing what they harvested from their land. We will always remember AIR and the tangible good work this organization does for not only the people of Guatemala but for the environment.
Volunteering with AIR in Chimaltenango, Guatemala was truly an amazing experience. From interacting with different cultures, to witnessing how dynamic and involved community members (esp. the women) are in protecting their environment was truly fascinating. Their work not only caters to the natural environment but to personal development and whether you are a local community member or an overseas volunteer you get to witness the strengths and beauties of the local individuals you work with and how their commitment to each other produces incredible results and an effective organization.
Many organizations preach sustainability but AIR is by far THE MOST sustainable organization I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Over 20 years strong, this organization is a prime example of how great things come in small packages.
I’ve always possessed a strong desire to travel on a volunteer trip to see how others less fortunate than myself lived and contribute help in any way I am able. When the opportunity arose to do just that with AIR, I jumped on the chance, even though I knew very little about the organization. After arriving in Guatemala, I knew within the first day that I had made the right choice – and that it was going to be life-changing!
Dr. Anne Hallum and her AIR colleagues are the most passionate and kind-hearted people I've ever met. The employees of AIR are all local to Guatemala, fighting deforestation of their country and helping to preserve the future of their people. Not only is AIR helping local farmers and the environment, they are educating children through scholarships and creating a healthier environment for many women by building safer stoves. Being a part of their team for a week with a group of incredible people was a humbling and fulfilling experience.
We were able to see many of the people whose lives were greatly improved and forever changed by the impact of AIR’s work. Although I knew very little about AIR only a few months ago, it has changed the way I view the environment, it has made me into a more conscious and aware shopper, and it has become an organization I will always try to work into any and every conversation to spread the word! I’m forever grateful to Dr. Hallum, the employees of AIR and all of the people I met in Guatemala for this incredible experience. I look forward to next time!
I am extremely impressed with the work done by AIR! I had the opportunity to volunteer and help plant trees with a group of wonderful people this June. We also got to observe some of the wood stoves that were built and got to see first hand how they immensely changed the families lives for the better. The staff of AIR live in Guatemala and it is obvious they are passionate and proud of their work. Dr. Anne Hallum has created this amazing organization, and is truly making a huge difference in thousands of lives in Guatemala. I was honored to have the opportunity to be a part of this work, and hope to do it again!
This organization has been in existence for 21 years working in Guatemala. In that period of time, with a staff of just eight technicians and an annual budget of less than $200,000, it has worked with volunteers to plant over 4 million trees all by hand, establish tree nurseries in 130 communities, and build some 800 stoves which use less wood for cooking thereby saving a half a million trees. In addition, the staff works with 200 schools to teach the importance of conserving and reestablishing the forests in Guatemala. I have served as one of the volunteers in Guatemala planting the trees and observing what this amazing organization does on such a limited budget.
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This organization has made a remarkable difference with a skeleton crew and a bare-bones budget in the countries of Guatamala and Nicaragua. The staff goes into villages and helps the residents first establish tree nurseries, teaches them how trees benefit their lives including how to farm using the trees to prevent erosion, and then helps them plant the trees from the nurseries. They also help the villagers build ovens that use much less wood for cooking so that fewer trees are cut down. In addition the staff goes into the schools to teach the children the importance of protecting the forests. This organization is definitely worthy of winning a 2013 Top-Rated Award.
Es una organización que se preocupa por el medio ambiente ayuda con la reforestación de siembra de arboles, y al mismo tiempo apoya a varias personas con el estudio de sus hijos e hijas, es una institución que promueve a las familias a desarrollarse en su medio natural y a ser un ejemplo para la humanidad para cuidar el medio ambiente.
Esta organización es de beneficio para mi persona y como lo a sido con muchas personas mas la cual a llegado a lugares que otras instituciones no lo han podido hacer. Ayuda en el sentido de reforestar y también en capacitaciones de elaborar un camillero y como debe ser el manejo de un árbol. AIRES es una institución bien organizada y colaboradora en grupos rurales de la población de Guatemala.
Esta organización ayuda a las personas en muchos aspectos como por ejemplo, ayuda a las familias mas necesitadas dándole una beca de estudio a los hijos para que ellos puedan superarse y a la vez para que puedan ser personas intelectuales para contribuir por un futuro mejor en la familia como también en las propias comunidades, también aporta una ayuda muy importante para el sostenimiento del medio ambiente sembrando arboles y reforestando grandes montañas para el futuro y esto lo hacen sin pedir nada a cambio sino que solo tomar conciencia de lo que pasa a nuestro alrededor.
AIRES es una organización que no solo crea conciencia del mejoramiento del ambiente sino que también ayuda a cambiar vidas mediante sus diversos programas, los mejores ejemplos están en cada una de las personas que son atendidas y que reciben a AIRES con gran estimación, muchos de ellos han logrado mejorar la protección de sus recursos como sus tierras, sus fuentes de agua y cosechas. a si mismo han logrado tener ingresos económicos extras mediante procesamiento de algunas plantas medicinales y apoyo a la educación de sus hijos, cada día AIRES cumplen una misión de gran importancia en este país.
MUY PROFESIONALES EN LO QUE HACEN, DE MUCHA IMPORTANCIA PARA EL MUNDO QUE ESTA SUFRIENDO EL CALENTAMIENTO GLOBAL Y A TRAVEZ DE LA REFORESTACION ESTAN MINIMIZANDO ESTE PROBLEMA.
Bueno a mi parece esta organización es una de las pocas que ayudan al beneficio de la Comunidad Humana así que sin mas pienso ya que ha crecido tanto en su desempeño hacia las demás personas claramente se ve que con lo poco que tienen logran hacer de ello una grandisima ayuda para el que necesite de ella y pues en lo personal si quisiera que existieran posibilidades de que otras instituciones mayores a esta le brindaran mas apoyo para que cada día creciera mas y así los países subdesarrollados como el nuestro que es Guatemala lograra tener un granito mas de desarrollo con los habitantes que si desean el cambio de el País si todos los que conocemos esta organización pudiéramos dar nuestra opinión se vería que Aires si es una familia en abundancia ya que así considero a la Institución como una gran Familia.
Nos enseña muchas cosas buenas, es una mano amiga para todas las personas hemos aprendido atravez de ella a ser solidarios con las demás personas que nos necesitan, especialmente a personas pobres que viven en el área rural , por que nos incita a cuidar nuestro medio natural y nuestro planeta, por que los beneficiados somos todos cuando se siembra un árbol que a lo largo del tiempo ayudara a nuestro planeta para que ya no se destruya mas, recordemos que" si Convertimos un árbol en leña, podrá arder para nosotros ; pero ya no producirá flores ni frutos y mucho menos nos dará el oxigeno. "
AIR is an amazing organization. I learned much and am in awe of the things we experiences while we were in Guatamala. Planting trees on steep hillsides was a real task, for me at least and I am sure others of our team. I especially enjoyed our day at the school and the excellent program they put on for us. wish I could see some of that dedication and structure in our schools.
Overall the trip was was a great experience for me, and your staff was the best.
Although this was my fist volunteer experience with an organization outside of the United States, I was pleasantly surprised at how hassle-free our whole experience was. The AIRS staff run an extremely efficient operation, and it is amazing how much is actually accomplished with minimal staff. They are a committed, dedicated and enthusiastic bunch, and their commitment to the important goals of AIRS is quite obvious. In less than a week, our small volunteer group was able to plant over 2000 trees and build 3 stoves, thanks to the planning and organization of the AIRS staff, and the hard work of volunteers, staff and people in the local villages. And, since the AIRS staff continues to work and follow up long after volunteers leave, the work we did will have a true lasting impact. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to participate in such important work!
This was my first nonprofit I have ever volunteered for and I hope that I can volunteer for them again. It was an amazing experience that I am so grateful to have. I couldn't offered my time or money to a better place. Thank you AIR for allowing me to come!
As a former scence and biolby teacher, this is my most meaningful volunteer mission trip to Guatemala. AIR offers a wonderful win-win concept of helping both the Mayan people and the world enviornment, by participating in reforestation projects. This is a win for the local highlands inhabitants who benefit by prevention of their hillsides from washing away, as well as give them a sustainable fuel source for their cooking fires. AIR's constuction of more fuel efficient stoves which use less than half the amount of wood needed to prepare their family's meals is good for the environment as well as health benefits to the women and children by safely directing the harmful smoke out of their dwellings. Yes, there is some down right hard and dirty work to be done...but eveyone leaves knowing this is indeed a long lasting work for good.
My experience with AIR started with my desire to provide forestry college students from Montana with firsthand experience in the operation and challenge of community-based reforestation in a developing country. A week of volunteering with AIR fit this goal perfectly and proved hugely instructive for our group of 8. Anne Hallum provided skillful leadership, insight, and dialogue; the AIR reforestation staff were friendly, knowledgable and engaging; and all details were meticulously, professionally managed. Working together with AIR and numerous community members to restore Guatemala's was a tremendous learning experience, and one that I intend to repeat with more students for years to come.
I spent a week this past summer working with AIR this past June. I was so impressed with the dedication they showed to engaging communities in the conservation process. I have always been a big proponent of the idea that for conservation to be sustainable, it must have the support of those local communities that live on the land. This seemed to be the primary principle observed by AIR. AIR is staffed by local, indigenous folks to work closely with each community in which they plant trees. It seems to be working as every community we visited seemed grateful for the work that AIR had put into their community and had a real interest in re-planting the forests around their community. I have nothing but praise for every member of this non-profit and the work they are doing. Keep it up!!!
I heard of AIR in January and volunteered in June. The staff in country were professional, personable and very interested in their work and helping their fellow countrymen and the environment. The technical staff develop real bonds with the people they help and we were made a part of the group, even with a language difference. We were made to feel welcome, useful and part of the team. The office staff kept every part of the time we were there organized and useful. They even planned adventures for fun with the same efficiency as the work we did. The technical staff goes into mountain villages and develops real relationships with the people. When we came in to do the volunteer work, we worked with some of the villagers and were fed very well by them. They seemed to be very pleased we were their. It was such a good experience that we are planning to return next year. We were very impressed with the entire AIR operation and look forward to a long relationship with them.
The week I spent with the technicos in Guatemala was personally rewarding. We planted tress and built stoves. Each step of the way the families and communities worked with us. The technicos helped explain the concepts we implemented and also helped with the communication. Knowing that the accomplishments of the past week directly and immediately improved the families' lives was worth the aches and pains.
I had the pleasure of working with AIR in June, 2011. Simply put, the work done by this relatively small group of dedicated individuals is just amazing. AIR reaches out to the community, teaching farmers the benefits of agroforestry, forming co-ops to grow tree nurseries, building fuel efficient stoves, and digging post hole after post hole to plant thousands upon thousands of tree seedlings. During my time there I dug post holes, planted seedlings, helped to paint an office, and one day helped to install chimnies on two stoves. This involved cutting a flue into the concrete, sealing the two pieces of the chimney together, then to the stove itself, and cutting a hole in the roof (with tin snips) to allow the chimney to pass through. I speak precious little Spanish, but one does not need a translator to understand the smile on the face of a happy and proud stove owner. The staff of AIR is hard working, and dedicated to improving the lives of the people of Guatemala one family, one community at a time, and I am very glad I had the opportunity to meet and work with them on this, their life-long mission.
I went with AIR to Guatemala in the summer of 2011. We planted trees, built stoves, repainted the AIR office. The trees both prevent mudslides and the loss of family and village agricultural soil as well as reintroduce nutrients to the soil. The stoves save 50% of the wood used where no stove is available, provide more efficient heat and funnel smoke outside the house which helps reduce lung diseases which are a major health crisis in this country. We worked with the local indigenous people on their land, and ate in their homes. What I like best about this mission is who is being helped and what how their lives are improved through their participation. I also appreciate that all the employees are Guatemalan who are trained in agronomy and can speak both Spanish and the indigenous language. It is the best mission I have ever volunteered in and does remarkable work with the very small amount of operating funds. Dr. Radford Rader.
I volunteered my first week with AIR in 2007 and a second week with AIR in the summer of 2012. Great experiences each time! Anne and her team are well organized, pay attention to the details and worked diligently to ensure that our group had a productive and fun week. The camaraderie is great. Working side by side with local villagers we built efficient wood burning stoves and planted saplings on deforested mountainsides. But the best part is eating lunch together with the villagers in their homes. Additionally on each trip Anne arranged for us to spend a night or two in one of Guatemala's historical colonial towns. It was very educational and enjoyable.
I was fortunate to experience AIR and taking a part in changing the life's of the people in Guatemala...at the same time it changed my life. It was an incredible experience and I would recommend it to anyone.
My husband and I were blessed to spend 8 days in Guatemala, planting trees and building a fuel efficient stove in a villager's home. AIR Guatemala's Director, Dr. Anne Hallum, exhibits such love for the people that we were warmly welcomed just by being a part of AIR's team. We've been on several mission work teams through our church before, and would have to say that this was one of the best accomodations we've experienced. Although Guatemala is noted for being off limits to foreigners because of the crime, we never felt unsafe. The local staff is not only efficient and hard working, but very caring, meeting the needs of all the volunteers. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone wanting to see the real Guatemala and anyone wanting some good, hard physical labor. It's so rewarding to see the difference between the mudslides caused by deforestation and the beautiful older forests that AIR has planted. If you can't go on the trip, donating to this cause really makes a huge impact to the environment and promotes world peace.
I have enthusiastically served as a board member for several years, due to AIR's impressive international reputation as a productive and culturally sensitive organization. Through active reforestation programs, scholarship programs, and the construction of stoves that allow families to forego open cook fires for a more healthy and efficient alternative, AIR has earned a reputation as a valued partner in the local communities it serves. Not only does AIR have an exemplary record of accomplishments, but it is even more remarkable that it has achieved them through honoring and respecting the local, largely indigenous, way of life.
As a Ph.D. researcher in the field of public health, I have had the opportunity to work with numerous non-profit organizations both within the U.S. and abroad. The Alliance for International Reforestation without a doubt is a model organization - not only for the highly effective, responsive ways in which it serves and builds capacity across myriad communities, but also for the compassion with which it does so. Other organizations would do well to study AIR and learn from its strategies for effective and lasting community engagement. Truly, I have never encountered a group of more committed individuals. Led by Dr. Anne Hallum and Cecilia Rodriguez, the AIR team exercises the utmost care and compassion in all that they do. And the numbers speak for themselves - with a low overhead budget and a staff of less than 10 individuals, in over 20 years the organization has planted nearly 4 million trees throughout Guatemala and Nicaragua (most of which are still standing today).Given that Central America has some of the highest rates of deforestation and malnutrition in the world, and given that so many populations there depend upon a healthy environment for healthy food crops - it is safe to say that AIR is saving lives as it is saving the environment. It is an honor to continue working with them, and I hope to continue to do so for many, many years.
In'chelawach? (That's K'aq'chikel, it means How are you? :-) ) Yo soy Lester hijo de Elena en San Andres Itzapa, y la verdad les agradecemos muchisimo por la ayuda a nuestra comunidad y AIR in Inglish but en spanish es Aires hahaha! a sido de gran ayuda para todos nosotros en nuestra comunidad ya que capacitan a varios grupos de mujeres organizadas para la siembra y reforestación de nuestros suelos y bosques, esperamos que jamas se olviden de nosotros ya que desde el momento en que ustedes pisan nuestros suelos en Itzapa, ustedes ya tienen unos amigos que jamas los van a olvidar!! Gracias a nuestros voluntarios de Aires ya que tambien han venido a compartir en nuestras familias y la verdad es que ha sido algo bueno y divertido tenerlos, cuando digo divertido es porque junto a ellos tambien hacemos bromas y chistes hahahahaha... Cuando quieran venir nuevamente ustedes pueden, todos son bienvenidos en Itzapa! :-) Mat'iöx Ch'i we'! (Thank you everyone!)
Yo soy Lidia Otzoy y AIRES ha sido una bendición en mi vida, ya que he sido beneficiaria de su trabajo, tanto en los viveros forestales y principalmente con una Beca de Estudios que me brindaron durante 5 años, hasta que logre la meta de graduarme en el 2011 de Secretaria. Soy de una aldea que se llama Monte Cristo en Chimaltenango y gracias a AIRES pude seguir estudiando ya que mis padres son muy pobres. Soy la primera en poder graduarme en mi familia, por lo que me siento inmensamente feliz y agradecida. Y ahora una bendición más, desde Mayo del 2012, sigo formando parte de esta linda familia, solo que ahora trabajando como Secretaria de la oficina de AIRES, estoy muy orgullosa de ser parte de este equipo que lucha dia a dia para mejorar nuestro ambiente y que ayudan a mas familias de escasos recursos para que realicen sus sueños. Gracias AIR por preocuparse por mi y por muchas otras jovencitas que tienen metas y sueños de continuar sus estudios para ser mejores cada dia y construir un mundo mejor.
I traveled with a group from my church with AIR Guatemala to help out with their mission work. During my week with Anne, her tecnicos, and my fellow church members, we planted lots of trees (over 1000 if I remember correctly) on mountainsides to help combat deforestation and the associated adverse affects on local agriculture. Tree nurseries that AIR planted in its early years are now flourishing, providing communities with soil stability, food, and sustainable firewood. The other project I worked on was helping to build one of three stoves for a family. This brick stove and its chimney were an improvement over the open wood-fueled cooking fire this family was previously using indoors. Not only does the new stove consume less firewood, saving the family money and reducing deforestation, but it helps combat the rampant lung disease I observed in Guatemala, both for the mother that will be using it and for the baby she kept strapped to her back in the smoke-filled kitchen. Even though she doesn't smoke tobacco, she was plagued by a deep cough that I hope will be alleviated by her new and improved kitchen. As far as international missions are concerned, I believe that AIR Guatemala is unique in its ability to create both immediate and a long-lasting benefits for the Guatemalan communities it serves. I have every intention of returning to Guatemala with AIR and lending them my muscles, heart, and spirit as they reforest hillsides and nurture communities.
When my daughter and I traveled to Central America with the Alliance for International Reforestation in the summer of '08, I thought that we were going to "plant trees". Little did I know, that we were in for a a life changing experience that would plant, and nurture, life long relationships. We got to know and work with staff members of AIR and village families hard at work building sustainable farming communities. We did plant trees (lots of them!) but we also got to see first hand how the villages came together to build fuel efficient stoves. We participated in children's classes as they were taught about sustainable farming practices. The families worked so hard to make a better future for themselves, and to thank us for coming and lending a hand. My daughter and I were moved by what we saw. This was change and progress from the ground up, not the top down. Entire villages were working together in the tree nurseries. AIR has to be seen to be believed.
Alliance for International Reforestation is a wonderful organization. We educate families in Guatemala concerning the environmental challenges facing their country. We help them plant trees to avoid flooding and destruction of the environment. We have established tree nurseries. We build fuel efficient brick ovens for families to help end the pollution and smoke hazards occurring in their homes. We provide scholarships for children. Our staff is dedicated and hard working. We make a difference in the lives of families in Guatemala and establish a model project that can be duplicated in other countries to lessen the environmental challenges faced by developing countries.
The Alliance for International Reforestation (AIR) works in Guatemala to assist communities in the mountains develop sustainable agro-forestry. I was part of work teams in 2002 and 2007 that assisted villagers plant trees to stop erosion in the mountainous terrain around Chimaltenago. The teams were hosted by a professional staff of Guatemalans. This project change lives of the communities where they serve - and it has changed mine as well. AIR does this by building nurseries and relationships to plant trees. In addition they respond to various human needs created by natural disasters such as Hurricane Mitch and volcanoes. My trips have turned into regular monthly support of AIR. I recommend this project for it allows an individual to participate in life-changing work. Who knows? If you support or participate the life that is changed just might be yours.
Winner of the 2011 Morton Award from the National Arbor Day Foundation, CNN couldn't have named AIR founder, Anne Hallum, more appropriately than a hero. She is a true heroine of the environment, conserving the Earth one tree at a time. Founding the non-profit, the Alliance for International Reforestation, Inc. (AIR), in 1993, the AIR team works to conserve communities throughout Guatemala and Nicaragua, planting trees, establishing tree nurseries, providing environmental education for teachers and farmers, digging wells, building fuel-efficient brick ovens, and helping to educate everyone about the environmental challenges facing Central America. Since 1993, AIR has since trained over 2,000 farmers, constructed over 750 fuel-efficient stoves, provided 18 high school scholarships to rural teenagers, established hundreds of tree nurseries and planted over 3.7 million trees! Just this pass June, Dr. Hallum was responsible for organizing a group of US volunteers, who joined AIR’s permanent staff, and planted almost 4,000 trees and built seven fuel-efficient stoves—in just one month! These trees bring more than fresh air, but also hold hillsides together, preventing erosion, and protecting communities from deadly mudslides. These arboreal projects also have a great social impact, giving women a very important role in their communities as conservationists.
Dr. Hallum is the epitome of a humble servant. As a professor of political science at Stetson University, actively engaged in all of the campus' environmental initiatives, she influences hundreds of students each year, leading by example. She is also the faculty advisor for the campus' community garden, wherein she ignites a passion for sustainable food among many students. Taking a couple students with her to Guatemala each summer, Dr. Hallum has opened many eyes to environmental degradation, but moreover, to the possibilities of conservation and the hope AIR's projects bring.
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I volunteered to work with AIR last summer, the year before my junior year of college. I went to Guatemala for one month with two fellow students and Dr. Anne Hallum and we based our operations primarily out of Chimaltenango. Daily, we would get picked up by local technicians who are familiar with the people in the surrounding areas and their languages. After breakfast, we would ride out in our pickup trucks to all kinds of neighborhoods who took it upon themselves to raise tree nurseries for the pines we would plant throughout the month alongside the farmers, technicians, and other volunteers. We looked over beautiful landscapes and saw the scars on mountainsides from landslides and remembered why we were doing what we were doing. We had a cause, a purpose, and we had friends with us all the time, new and old. We established relationships with strangers based upon general good will and I honestly believe we improved the lives of some of these people to a large degree, especially those who we donated stoves to before spending many hours building the sturdy and efficient kitchen commodities. It seems amazing to think that a stove could be such a significant thing to some because it is so basic and obvious to people like me. But, I must say, giving a gift like that which is so critical to quality of life is truly a beautiful thing. Time and effort can be recognized as some of the most valuable things in life and they are readily received as such. The purity and sincerity of taking part in a project that is intended solely for someone else is reciprocated to the person doing the giving. This is what I learned through AIR. People can love each other in such a basic way, without knowing names, or even the same language. Lead by example and give all you can by taking advantage of the things you are blessed with. The world can learn this and be overwhelmed by the beauty of the earth and all it supports: habitats, people, and the relationships between them all.
I interned with AIR in the summer of 2006. The experience was more than I hoped for and I had more contact with rural communities than I was expecting. On my second day interning we hiked to a small plot of land owned by an indigenous woman. We helped her to plant trees to stabilize her land and stimulate other crops she planned to grow. She and her family then prepared a meal for us on the mountainside. AIR is committed to working with local communities and is very practical. They do not spend much time with bureaucratic matters, but are very practically involved in the communities they work with. I found this to be a refreshing difference from other organizations. My favorite experience was teaching a group of indigenous woman how to make shampoo out of aloe they grew in their gardens. They were then able to sell the shampoo. This was a wonderful opportunity for the woman, it gave them another source of income for their family and economic independence. The local Guatemalans that are employed by AIR have the ability to connect with the communities instantly and do a great job maintaining and serving the communities. Also, AIR gives many visitors from the States and other countries, such as Japan, Spain, etc., the opportunity to work with their organization on a grassroots level. I will always remember the experience I had with AIR and how it is an organization that is truly committed to making change for the better.
As a former Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala I wanted to work in some way to support development at the grassroots level in Central America. AIR has provided me with the opportuntiy to work with Guatemalans as they seek to serve the poor in their country through reforestation, improved farming techniques, community organizing and education. AIR has no paid staff in the US and has on the average 8 Guatemalans working with the indigenous farmers in their own communities and surrounding villages. AIR has planted several million trees and touched the lives of hundreds of Guatemalans and dozens of citizens of the United States who have had the opportunity to work with AIR in Guatemala on a volunteer basis. I have chosen to be part of and support AIR as I have not seen an organization that does a better job of giving individuals from different countries and cultures the opportunity to serve beside each other and as part of the same team. Also AIR for the size of its budget and number of individuals involved has accomplished on a yearly basis much more than organizations several times larger with much larger budgets.