Guatemala is one of the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere. Decades of violence, corruption, and racism have stranded much of the population in poverty with uncertain prospects for the future. Although nearly 75% of the population in Guatemala is Mayan, and speaks one of over 20 different indigenous languages, there are no health care [...]
Tag Archives: Chimaltenango
Profile: Engineers Without Borders
Posted by Laura on April 28, 2010
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Dubbed the “Blueprint Brigade,” by Time Magazine, Engineers Without Borders-USA (EWB-USA) grew from little more than a handful of members in 2002 to over 12,000 today. EWB-USA has over 350 projects in over 45 developing countries around the world including water, renewable energy, sanitation and more. These projects are completed in partnership with local communities [...]
Profile: Faith in Practice
Posted by Laura on April 15, 2010
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The mission of Faith In Practice (FIP) is to improve the physical, spiritual, and economic conditions of the poor in Guatemala through short-term surgical, medical and dental mission trips and health-related educational programs. Their mission is based on an ecumenical understanding that as people of God they are called to demonstrate the love and compassion [...]
Profile: The Borlaug Institute / Texas A&M
Posted by Laura on April 14, 2010
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The Borlaug Institute provides the global outreach of Texas A&M Agriculture. Their faculty, scientists, and students are involved in over 100 countries around the world to better international agriculture. Funded by the USDA, the Borlaug has implemented a three-year agricultural extension program to benefit the indigenous Mayan communities in Guatemala. Agriculture in Guatemala: Technology, Education, and Commercialization [...]
Profile: Let’s Be Ready
Posted by Laura on March 30, 2010
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Let’s Be Ready’s mission is to prepare at-risk Guatemalan children for the first-grade by establishing preschools and training preschool and first-grade teachers. Their vision is to break the cycle of poverty in Guatemala by reducing the high rate of drop-out and repetition of children in the first-grade. Their goal is to have 80% of [...]
Profile: Long Way Home
Posted by Laura on March 15, 2010
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Long Way Home’s (LWH) mission as a 501(c)(3) is to break the cycle of poverty among youth in developing communities by creating educational opportunities, cultivating civic interaction, and encouraging healthy lifestyles. Education, Employment, and Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: The intergenerational benefits of the opportunities provided by education have broken the cycle of dependency and [...]
Profile: Thirteen Threads (Oxlajuj B’atz)
Posted by Laura on March 9, 2010
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Thirteen Threads (Oxlajuj B’atz’) provides training and educational opportunities to Maya women’s groups throughout rural areas of Guatemala. More than 400 women in 22 groups currently participate in the project. They organize workshops, classes, and community follow-ups, as well as host two interns per year through their Young Mayan Women Internship Program What does the [...]
Project Updates: Water Charity
Posted by Laura on March 4, 2010
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Last September, we published a profile of a great organization called Water Charity. Now, we would like to update you with Water Charity’s most current projects in Guatemala: Coxjac School Latrine Project: This is a project to construct three latrines for a school system in rural Guatemala. The process will also incorporate lessons involving the [...]
Profile: Global Dental Relief
Posted by Laura on February 15, 2010
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Global Dental Relief brings free dental care to impoverished children of Nepal, northern India, Vietnam and Guatemala in partnership with local organizations. Volunteer dentists, hygienists, assistants and non-medical volunteers deliver treatment and preventive care in dental clinics that serve children in schools, orphanages and remote villages. Travel and logistics for volunteers are coordinated by Global Dental Expeditions, [...]
Profile: Climb for a Cause
Posted by Laura on February 14, 2010
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…doing well while doing good Climb for a Cause (CFAC) is a non-profit Foundation that combines the breathtaking beauty of the mountains with the desire to make a positive difference in peoples’ lives. Since 1998, they have been making positive and meaningful differences in the lives of needy children and deserving adults around the world. [...]
Profile: Amigos de Patzún
Posted by Laura on February 1, 2010
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Amigos de Patzún (ADP) is a 501 3(c) non–profit which creates educational opportunities for impoverished students in rural Guatemala. They offer competitive scholarships to middle and high school students who would not be able to continue their education past sixth grade. In 2008, ADP also added a teacher training program focused on improving literacy skills [...]
Profile: Project Somos
Posted by Laura on January 29, 2010
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Compassion Fruit Society, a Canadian based Non-Profit Organization is establishing the Project Somos Children’s Village in Guatemala. This village will be a safe and loving environment for orphaned and abandoned children. There will be homes with Guatemalan foster mothers each raising a household of children as a family. Education, leadership and arts will be integral [...]
Profile: Guatemala Literacy Project
Posted by Laura on January 11, 2010
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The Guatemala Literacy Project (GLP) is a partnership between North American & Guatemalan Rotary clubs and the non-profit organization Cooperative for Education (CoEd). This initiative provides badly-needed textbooks, library materials, and computer labs to underprivileged children in Guatemala. The Project has been supported by over 300 Rotary Clubs. Since 1996, the textbook program has been [...]
Profile: Pava
Posted by Laura on October 29, 2009
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PAVA is a non-profit organization that works closely with rural communities in the Department of Chimaltenango, Guatemala to achieve long-term sustainable development through community-based projects and programs. A full-time staff based in the bustling town of Chimaltenango manages PAVA’s programs, providing technical expertise and coordination for infrastructure projects, environmental programs, and education. PAVA began [...]
Profile: Engineers Without Borders – Wisconsin Chapter
Posted by Laura on September 28, 2009
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The Wisconsin Professional Partners Chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB-WPP) has approximately 175 members and is currently working on Guatemalan projects independently, and with four universities in the area: The Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), Marquette University (MU), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), and Michigan Technological University (MTU). EWP-WPP is currently working on bridge [...]
Profile: Behrhorst Partners for Development & Behrhorst Clinic
Posted by Laura on September 18, 2009
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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 [...]
Profile: Maya Pedal
Posted by Laura on September 14, 2009
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Maya Pedal is a non-governmental organization located in San Andrés Itzapa, Chimaltenango. They started in 1997, working with a group of Canadians from the organization PEDAL. Following a vision for sustainable development in Guatemala, they became constituted under local control as Asociación Maya Pedal in 2001. They recycle used bicycles to build pedal-powered machines, bicimáquinas, [...]
Profile: ASSADE
Posted by Laura on August 25, 2009
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The mission of Assade is to provide health services to residents of San Andres Itzapa, and to educate people inside and outside of the clinics in order to prevent diseases and promote health. Their goal is to reach and serve at least 75% of the poorest and most susceptible population, within time frame of three years. [...]