Planting Seeds of Compassion: Service Travel in Guatemala
There is something quietly powerful about watching young people experience service travel for the first time. Something shifts. Perspectives widen. Gratitude deepens. Hearts open.
Recently, LOTUS Humanitarian board member and Founder of She Dares to Wander, Marjon Tondravi, traveled to Guatemala with her nephews, Jackson and Harrison, on a purpose-driven journey designed to introduce them to the heart of service travel. What they encountered was far more than a trip. It was a life-shaping experience.
From the moment they arrived, the intention was clear: to serve, to learn, and to connect. The boys worked side by side with local community members on a building project that addressed a very real and dangerous challenge faced by many families—indoor cooking over open fires.
Together with the community, they helped build cement and brick vented stoves, designed so smoke is safely directed out of the home rather than filling the living space. These stoves dramatically improve air quality, reduce the risk of house fires, and help prevent burns—especially for young children who often play near open flames. It was hands-on work with immediate, tangible impact.
This project was completed in partnership with Sueños y Esperanzas, a local nonprofit doing vital grassroots work to improve health, safety, and opportunity in underserved Guatemalan communities. (Learn more about their work at dreamsandhopes.org.)
Beyond the construction site, Marjon and her nephews also donated school supplies to local children and spent time working alongside local NGOs—listening, learning, and building relationships rooted in respect rather than charity. These moments; shared laughter, quiet conversations, and meaningful labor, are often what leave the deepest imprint.
There is something profoundly transformative about showing young people that service is not about saving, but about standing with. About understanding that privilege carries responsibility. About realizing that compassion is something you practice, not something you talk about.
They returned home changed—more grounded, more grateful, and more aware of their place in a much bigger world.
This is the heart of service travel. And this is why LOTUS Humanitarian so deeply believes in experiences that plant seeds of empathy early—especially in the hearts of young people. Nobody does this better than our partner company, She Dares to Wander! Thank you, Marjon, Jackson, and Harrison for your shining example.
She Dares to Wander will return to Guatemala later this year, continuing its mission to create transformational travel experiences rooted in service and connection. To view all upcoming trips and learn how you can travel with purpose, visit www.shedarestowander.com.
When we invite the next generation into service, we don’t just change communities—we shape the future.
#SpreadLove #RelieveSuffering #BeTheLight #GlobalCompassion #LotusHumanitarian #SheDaresToWander
