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SEAR GU SIAR – I’M NOT A CELEBRITY – GET ME OUT THERE! PART THREE - GUATEMALA

The next in the Sear gu Siar series on BBC ALBA will follow the fortunes of Diane Morrison, 21 from Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis and Michelle Morrison, 20 also from Stornoway, as they embark on adventure treks and community aid projects in Guatemala.

Diane and Michelle

Working in the poorest areas of Guatemala to rebuild homes and to supply health and education to some of the most disadvantaged families, Diane and Michelle take part in a project that will change people’s lives forever.

Working as part of a group of six volunteers, the pair aim to build a house for a needy Guatemalan family in just six days. The group dismantles a shack and build a 12-foot-by-19-foot breeze-block home, complete with a cement floor, corrugated metal roof with skylight, metal door and a glass window. No bigger than the size of a garage, this house will be home for up to seven person family. The build is physical and the environment a challenge in the increasing heat and humidity but the girls see in a relatively short time, the huge positive impact this work has on the families and communities they work alongside.

It's not all work and no play though, and time spent touring Guatemalan sites such as Mayan ruins in Quiriga and Tikal, and visiting Lake Atitlan and Chichicastenango offer a fascinating insight into their history and culture. A highlight for both young volunteers involve a strenuous climb up an active volcano, Pacaya, where they get frighteningly close to hot flowing lava and witness smoke coming out of the top of the volcano that could explode at any time.

Video clips and pictures covering Diane and Michelle’s trip plus their travel itinerary and diaries are available to view on the show’s website www.seargusiar.com along with further information on the series.

Sear gu Siar, Guatemala will be broadcast on BBC ALBA Wednesday 10th Dec at 21:00 and is available on Sky channel 168 & Freesat channel 110. The programme will be repeated on BBC ALBA on Thursday 11th December at 22.30.