The Hero School: Volunteer Opportunities with Matt Paneitz

Today’s guest is Matt Paneitz, the founder of Long Way Home (LWH). His work has earned global recognition and created one of the best service-learning opportunities available for teachers and students.His StoryBefore founding Long Way Home, Matt was a 911 Paramedic and later served in the Peace Corps (2002). After completing his service, he launched LWH and helped construct the first city park in Comalapa, Guatemala (2005–2008).In 2009, Matt began what became an internationally recognized sustainability project: the construction of the Hero School campus, a 20-structure educational environment made almost entirely from repurposed waste materials.This included:35,000 used tires550+ tons of reclaimed wasteDesigns optimized for local climate and environmental conditionsThe campus also incorporates:Solar powerRainwater catchment + purificationDry composting latrines that manage all grey and black waterSystems intentionally visible as teaching toolsMatt open-sourced every structure profile to allow others to replicate the designs → https://lwhomegreen.orgEducation Earned While BuildingWhile living and working in rural Guatemala, Matt earned:A Bachelor’s degree in Sustainability (2012)A Master’s degree in Education (2015)And he is currently completing his Doctorate in EducationHis academic work combined with his on-the-ground building experience led to the creation of the Hero School Education Model, which received the UNESCO-Japan Prize for Education for Sustainable Development in 2023.Workshops, Books & ProgramsMatt also developed:The Green Building Workshop, a one-month intensive green-building programThe Green Building ManualA 4-course university certificate in Critical Pedagogy & SustainabilityHis current work as a Fellow with ASAP (Academics Stand Against Poverty) at Yale UniversityMatt lived in Comalapa for 20 years, working alongside local builders, teachers, and families.Calling All Teachers: Bring Your Students to Guatemala for Service LearningMatt is actively looking for:✔️ Volunteers✔️ Teachers✔️ Student groups✔️ Service-learning programs✔️ Affordable international school tripsLong Way Home provides a truly immersive and budget-friendly program where students can:Learn sustainable designParticipate in green buildingEngage with the local communityExperience environmental stewardship hands-onMake a real, lasting impactIf you're a teacher dreaming of taking your students abroad for meaningful, purpose-driven travel, this is exactly the kind of program you're looking for.When you contact him, please mention that you heard his interview on Teacher Show Me the World.🔗 Connect with Long Way HomeWebsite: https://lwhome.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lwhomeorgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lwhome_org/?hl=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGp4wuyTpyGytkXWSwYX1SALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/long-way-home/