<p>This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Matt Panaitz, founder of Long Way Home, to explore a remarkable journey where sustainable design meets social impact. What began as a Peace Corps experience evolved into a bold mission: building schools and infrastructure in Guatemala using recycled materials like tires, plastic bottles, and earth.</p><p><br></p><p>Matt shares how his team transformed waste into opportunity—constructing resilient, comfortable buildings that stay naturally temperate, maximize daylight, and foster a deeper connection between people and place. From hands-on community collaboration to integrating sustainable construction into education, this episode highlights how design can directly combat poverty while empowering future generations.</p><p>It’s an inspiring conversation about rethinking materials, redefining comfort, and proving that great buildings can change lives far beyond their walls.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>More About Matthew Panaitz</strong></p><p>Matthew Paneitz first visited San Juan Comalapa, Guatemala, as a Peace Corps volunteer in 2002. To address the extreme poverty in the region, Matt founded the non-profit organization Long Way Home (LWH) in 2004. From 2008 to 2025, the LWH team transformed 550 tons of trash (including 35,000 used tires) into the Hero School green-built campus. Matthew documented the process at <a href="http://lwhomegreen.org/"><u>lwhomegreen.org</u></a>. By spending his evenings earning a Bachelor&#39;s degree in Sustainability and a Master’s in Education, Matt was also able to ensure that not only was the landscape transformed, but also the school&#39;s approach to primary, middle, and high school education. Matt is currently a doctoral student in Education at Antioch University.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>CONTACT:</strong></p><p><a href="https://lwhome.org/"><u>https://lwhome.org/</u></a></p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/long-way-home/"><u>https://www.linkedin.com/company/long-way-home/</u></a></p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/lwhome_org/?hl=en"><u>https://www.instagram.com/lwhome_org/?hl=en</u></a></p><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/lwhomeorg"><u>https://www.facebook.com/lwhomeorg</u></a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGp4wuyTpyGytkXWSwYX1SA"><u>https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGp4wuyTpyGytkXWSwYX1SA</u></a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsVjfPpdzoY"><u>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsVjfPpdzoY</u></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Where To Find Us:</strong></p><p>https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/</p><p>www.advancedglazings.com</p><p>https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcast</p><p>www.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625</p><p>https://twitter.com/bbfhpod</p><p>https://twitter.com/Solera_Daylight</p><p>https://www.instagram.com/bbfhpod/</p><p>https://www.instagram.com/advancedglazingsltd</p><p>https://www.facebook.com/AdvancedGlazingsltd</p>