Hug It Forward

Hug It Forward empowers communities in Guatemala to build eco-friendly Bottle Classrooms using eco-bricks—plastic bottles stuffed with inorganic trash. Our mission goes beyond construction. We raise awareness about the importance of community empowerment, proper waste management, and reducing plastic pollution that threatens our environment. For us, building Bottle Classrooms and raising awareness are equally important steps toward creating long-term, sustainable change. We firmly believe that when communities lead the process, they take true ownership of the project. That’s why we partner directly with local leadership, schools, and governments to ensure each Bottle Classroom is fully embraced and maintained by the people who will benefit most. Our approach is community-led, culturally sensitive, empathetic, thoughtful, and reflective. We are committed to listening, learning, and collaborating with every community we work with. We aim to create positive impact without imposing external solutions, fostering an environment where communities feel empowered to address their own environmental and educational challenges. Through immersive volunteer experiences, we inspire global citizens to take meaningful environmental action and better understand the importance of sustainability at the grassroots level. Volunteers work side-by-side with the communities, tying eco-bricks to the walls and witnessing the power of collective effort in action. We are proud to share our impact: 🌎 150+ Bottle Classrooms built across Guatemala 🧒 10,000+ children served through sustainable classrooms ♻️ 1,000,000+ plastic bottles repurposed into eco-bricks 🤝 Partnerships with over 100 communities across the country How you can get involved: 💚 Join a service trip 💵 Donate to help fund a classroom 🌱 Partner with us to grow our impact 🌐 Learn more: www.hugitforward.org Together, we can build a cleaner, stronger future—one bottle at a time.