In 2024 Long Way Home teamed up with Ecohab.org and the people of Aguas Calientes to build
this classroom. Aguas Calientes is located about 10 kilometers from Comalapa (in Guatemala)
and is part of the greater Comalapa municipality. Approximately 600 people live in Aguas
Calientes. We chose this site because the middle school classroom space was not adequate for the
amount of students that would like to enroll in school. The classroom construction combined
alternative and conventional materials. We used tires and ecobricks along with cement and rebar.
This building is earthquake resistant, was designed to optimally perform in the local climate, and
does not require additional heating or cooling. The vaulted roof, gutter and tank system collects
and stores rainwater and this building uses solar power. It took us approximately 6 weeks to
build the entire structure. This building’s success is the result of hundreds of volunteer hours
contributed by people from 12 countries.