Preparing for Impact: Getting Ready for Teams Excellence and Joy

Before volunteer teams arrive in Guatemala, there is already a great deal of work happening behind the scenes.

As we prepare to welcome Teams Excellence and Joy, our Guatemala staff has been busy coordinating deliveries, organizing materials, and ensuring that every detail is in place for the week ahead. From stove components to water filters, each item must reach the right community before installation day begins.

These visits are about more than logistics. During each delivery, our team also meets with families to explain what they can expect during the installation process. Families learn how the smoke-free stoves and water filters work, what preparations need to be made at their homes, and how the installation day will unfold.

These conversations help build trust, answer questions, and ensure that families feel informed and prepared before volunteers arrive. They also provide an opportunity for our staff to strengthen relationships within the communities we serve and confirm that every household is ready to receive its new stove or filter.

While installation day is often the most visible part of the process, meaningful impact begins long before volunteers pick up a shovel or mix cement. Careful planning, community coordination, and ongoing communication help ensure that every project is completed safely, efficiently, and successfully.

We are grateful for the dedication of our Guatemala team, whose behind-the-scenes work makes each volunteer experience possible and helps bring healthier homes to families across the communities we serve.

Impact starts long before installation day—and every step matters.