The Sienna Project

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The Sienna Project

Location of new school

Sienna Project January 2017

Sienna Project January 2019

The Sienna Project

Location of new school

Sienna Project January 2017

Sienna Project January 2019

Location of new school

Sienna Project January 2017

Sienna Project January 2019

Sienna Lavanhar

May 2, 2003 - May 5, 2006

in memory of

Selecting a site is a long and challenging process. Derek Lavanhar, Sienna’s uncle and Guatemalan resident, takes on a vast search in the northwestern highlands Quiche to determine the best location for a new Sienna Project elementary school. He looks for a community where access to education is limited or so far away that children have difficulty reaching class consistently.

Narrowing down perspective sites, Derek meets with village leaders to ensure that the community will commit to:

donating/designating land to be used for the school
clear the land prior to the Sienna Project volunteers arriving in March 2025
provide a number of village volunteers to work alongside the Sienna Project volunteers to raise the exterior walls
having villagers continue to work to pour a concrete floor and install the roof, windows, doors and swing set/seesaw after the Sienna Project volunteers have returned to the US.
teach girls as well as boys, which can sometimes be an issue in the more rural and less developed areas of Guatemala.

Once a site is selected, the work begins! Derek starts working with the community to prepare the land while he orders the earthquake-proof panel and H-shaped posts that will make up the three room school, along with many other building materials.