Visit to Quetzaltenango!

Last weekend, we visited Primeros Pasos, a health organization that works in the rural area of Quetzaltenango. They have a medical clinic, where they see patients on a regular basis. They also have health-related educational programs in the schools nearby. We met with the Development Coordinator there and discussed possible ideas for how we see our sexual education program progressing. In the context of the Mayan indigenous culture, it has been very eye-opening to hear the different opinions on various health topics in our community especially in relation to sex ed. Therefore, it was helpful to exchange our experiences and get feedback on some of our concerns with going ahead with this program. Also, it was really interesting to visit another organization that works in Guatemala, just to see what other NGOs are up to in the region.

Primeros Pasos Clinic in Quetzaltenango

Afterwards, to our surprise, we found a Wal-Mart! We took this opportunity to load up on all the goodies that we've been missing, including some beloved snacks that we miss from home.

Our Wal-Mart haul!

Speaking of delicious treats, we also made a stop at our favorite restaurant where they serve the most delicious sandwich of all time, a caesar salad sandwich! No exaggerations - it is hands down one of the best meals I have ever had and we were so glad to have it again!

Cesar salad sandwich!

Before coming back to Sololá, we sat in the central park with our beverages from one of the best coffeeshops in all of Guatemala (in my opinion) and took in the sights. All in all, it was a relaxing and informative weekend!

Hanging out at the park before leaving

-Ja

Getting Back into Gear

This past week was pretty busy, planning for the arrival of summer interns, finishing up the quarter, and preparing for our programs. Our first group of summer interns arrives on May 11th, only a few short weeks away. Julie and I are hard at work planning for their arrival--creating budgets, arranging transportation, etc. We are also in the process of developing a few short-term pilot programs that the interns will be able to help out with.

This weekend we had our final team-building retreat of our year here in Guatemala. We stayed at Isla Verde, one of the hotels on Lake Atitlan near Santa Cruz. It was so pretty and relaxing, and the food was delicious! Too bad it was cloudy the whole time we were there (the rainy season is fast approaching). 

Romantic dinner by candlelight!

We have a very busy week ahead: lots of summer planning, community meetings, English classes, and a short trip to Xela on Friday to meet with a local organization, Primeros Pasos!

-Sarah

A diamond in the rough

What great luck!  Tuesday after Spanish class we heard from Philippa Wood, a Peace Corps volunteer who happened to be in Xela at that very moment!  All of a sudden our week got very busy.  We accompanied her on the hour and a half bus ride back to her community, San Vicente Buenabaj, for the night.  We got a tour of the Clinica de Salud, met the town mayor and much of the clinic staff.

  A beautiful view of San Vicente Buenabaj

Maddie and Phil deep in important conversation I bet.

Wednesday we had the incredible opportunity to accompany Phil, a rural health technician, and a health promoter on a survey of the community.  We went house to house in one of the smaller communities within San Vicente called Xemuj (pronounced Shamu) assessing their houses, quality of life, needs, etc.  Every year the clinic tries to survey and vaccinate the entire community, population 2,680, house by house, and in the past they have gotten to about 97%.

How impressive...

We are still pondering over the town of San Vicente Buenabaj for Manna, but it´s possible with Phil´s good work, they already have enough help.

Thursday we finally visited the Primeros Pasos Clinic for the first time!  The clinic is staffed with fantastic, organized people who actually work together for the bettering of society.  A breath of fresh air, and a good sign of things to come since we will definitely be working together in the future, no matter where we end up.

So far a great week, tomorrow comes another round of stove building! I hope you´re as excited as me!

Dana

Contacts, Contacts, Everywhere!

So much to report, but first, a drum roll please....

Our groceries cost US$8.30!  Congrats to the 42% of you who guessed correctly.

Now if you think that´s exciting news, hear this!  We spent last week meeting with various organizations...

Primeros Pasos
A wildly successful clinic operating in the Palajunoj valley (a 15 minute bus ride outside Xela).  More than 15,000 people live here, but somehow there is only one government-appointed doctor and nurse.  Primeros Pasos staffes a physician, dentist, lab director, and dental assistant, and sees about 8,000 patients per year.  They run health education, women´s education, and children´s programs, all of which are well-attended and/or received.  I´m hoping to take a page out of their book of successes, so we´ll be visiting the clinic at the end of this week!

EntreMundos
A non-governmental organization that specializes in supporting other NGOs.  They link active Guatemalan-run organizations with resources and volutneers.  Don´t know exactly what you´re interested in?  EntreMundos can find the volunteer org. that´s right for you!  So far, they list over 160 orgs. on their database ranging in fields from development, health, and human rights to women´s empowerment, the environment, and indigenous rights.  Their database has been invaluable to us-- it´s like being handed the answers to your questions on a silver platter, without the middle man.

Somos Hermanos
A student immersion program for pre-med students.  After two months of homestays, immersion, and Spanish lessons, each student chooses an internship site to work at for the remaining 4 months of their stay in Xela.  Perhaps Manna could take some interns off their hands?  (a thank you must go out to the one and only, Will Hamlin)

Pop Wuj
A socially-minded Spanish school focused on community development!  Maddie and I are going with the school´s directors on a stove building project next weekend to introduce ourselves to the communities they work in.  Cross your fingers!


So, those are some of the very exciting connections we have made so far!  While last week was filled with meetings, this week will be filled with community visits!  Tomorrow we leave for Lomo Linda.  We´ve heard great things about the community from several sources, and have a meeting with the community leader in the afternoon.  We´ll report back soon.

Other various tidbits include my inability to stop salsa dancing, the hosting of our successful dinner party on Saturday, our travels to Los Fuentes Georginas, my first Spanish lesson today, and the fact that I´ve been on the internet for 4 hours.

Think sulfur hot tub...

A couple women digging for some nutrient rich clay.

More soon,
Dana