Organizations Filed Purposes:
Hug It Forward is an organization that empowers communities in developing countries to build schools. Entire communities come together to make the dream of educational opportunity a reality, by using Hug It Forward's funding and expertise to build their own school.
Hug It Forward (HIF) is a multicultural organization operating at the grassroots level in Latin America, with an emphasis in Guatemala. In fiscal year 2019, HIF completed 4 schools and an additional 2 schools were in the process of completion. As of December 2019, HIF has completed 128 schools.
BOTTLE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION. In 2019, Hug It Forward facilitated the construction of 6 schools in Guatemala; 4 schools completed and 2 schools in process. Due to the method of construction, these schools are known as "bottle schools". Bottle schools are schools built using post-and-beam construction, with concrete columns and beams reinforced with rebar. The walls are filled with "eco-bricks" as insulation, made from plastic bottles stuffed with inorganic trash. Entire communities come together to build a more sustainable educational infrastructure that replaces dilapidated, unsafe and dangerously overcrowded schoolrooms, which are often made from adobe, corrugated metal, or cornstalks, with dirt floors. Before Hug It Forward issues any funding for materials, the community has to show full commitment to the project by collecting all of the 7-10,000 plastic bottles required for their new 2-3 classroom bottle school, and stuffing them with inorganic trash from their immediate environment. Teachers and village leaders are responsible for organizing the process of bottle collection and overseeing the volunteering of labor. The local municipality contributes by paying for skilled labor, and the Ministry of Education pays for all teachers, ensuring that these institutions also have ownership in a sustainable project.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM. In conjunction with bottle school projects, Hug It Forward facilitates an environmental education program for youth, working with all the communities that participate in a bottle school project. The program directly impacted 400 students in 4 communities in 2019. Children work with the community to plant trees and collect inorganic trash and create the "eco-bricks" that are needed to build a bottle school. They build their school with their own hands, giving them real ownership and pride in the realization of the project. Environmental education is an essential part of the bottle school process, ensuring that the project's impact will be sustainable and that communities remain free of trash long into the future. Through the environmental education program, children learn to understand the difference between organic and inorganic trash, along with the major risks of plastic pollution in their environment and in the world. The intention is to leave a lasting impact, helping to grow awareness of environmental sustainability for future generations.
Executives Listed on Filing
Total Salary includes financial earnings, benefits, and all related organization earnings listed on tax filing
| Name | Title | Hours Per Week | Total Salary |
|---|
| Adam Flores | Secretary/Treasurer | 30 | $0 |
| Zach Balle | President | 30 | $0 |
| Dave Watson | Chairman of the Board | 5 | $0 |
Data for this page was sourced from XML published by IRS (
public 990 form dataset) from:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/irs-form-990/202013189349304266_public.xml