The mission of the Behrhorst Partners for Development (BPD) is to strengthen and expand processes of community development and participation that enhance people’s lives. It has two major goals:
- To support sustainable development initiatives that improve the health and well-being of particularly vulnerable sectors of society.
- To promote through experience-based education an understanding of the principles of participatory community development and the conditions under which it is most effective.
This nonprofit organization’s goal is to work in respectful partnership with Mayan Guatemalans to have a positive impact on the problems associated with Guatemala’s history of violence against indigenous populations, natural disasters, poverty, illiteracy and disastrously high rates of infant and maternal death. BPD trains health promoters, midwives and community medicine dispensers and sets up emergency transportation funds. Working with communities, local government and other non-profit organizations, BPD addresses the root causes of infant and maternal mortality, gastro-intestinal and respiratory illnesses, by launching water and sanitation projects and installing safe, vented cooking stoves.
In 1995, as the “Carroll Behrhorst” Guatemalan Development Foundation approached its goal of becoming a self-sustaining program, the U.S.-based Behrhorst Clinic Foundation, Inc. became Behrhorst Partners for Development, expanding its mission to support many important Guatemalan programs. In 2001, Behrhorst Partners for Development launched a rural health program to decrease child and maternal mortality in 60 villages in the municipality of San Martin Jilotepeque.
Founded in 1962, The Behrhorst Clinic in Chimaltenango provides a vitally needed medical program in the department of Chimaltenango Guatemala for the Kaqchikels, descendants of the ancient Mayan civilization. Progressively it evolved into a creative center for health and development activities, pioneering an array of village-based endeavors.
The Clinic is pleased to accept doctors, nurses and medical students to provide volunteer health care. You must be able to speak fairly fluent Spanish. They prefer volunteers who can spend at least three weeks at the clinic.
To learn more about BPD, and the Clinic, please visit their website.
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