Village Women Are Changing Their Future Together

Maria Esperanza Santino Esquivel – One of the women of Aldea Granada – AMEDICAusa

A group of impoverished women teaches us strength

Retalhuleu, Guatemala-
Near the western coast of Guatemala there exists a small village whose residents are almost entirely women. Widowed, abandoned or single mothers, despair would be easy. Instead, these women have found the strength and determination to band together and fend for themselves.

Aldea Granada, (Pomegranate Village) exists as a small by-way on the road from Retalhuleu to Champerico on the coast. It is surrounded by low lying sugar cane fields, two rivers and a scattering of mango fincas (plantations). At first glance, it appears very similar to most small Guatemalan villages. It is only when you get out of your car and meet the people that you notice something different. There are very few men.

Where are the men? Some are dead, some in the U.S. as laborers, others are “in the wind”, often after struggling with alcohol issues, and some were the perpetrators of spousal abuse.

Aldea Granada didn’t begin as a haven for these women. It got its start as a typical, small campesino (farm worker) village. Time and circumstance left an unusually high population of women living alone without spouses. Word of the women’s efforts to band together soon spread and women from other parts the region began moving to the village as well. Some are indigenous Maya, some ladina (of mixed Spanish and indigenous heritage) but all are poor.

Life in the Pomegranate Village

A Typical house in Granada

Many of the women labor in the fields, earning just a few Quetzales or so a day. (the Quetzal – Guatemala’s currency – is worth about 14 cents). Others do laundry, sew or make tamales for local stores at similar wages. They live in small, one room homes of adobe or bamboo, with dirt floors and hot, tin roofs. The women cook on open fire within their homes, running water is a dream, electricity is rare.

Aldea Grenada resident Maria Gertrude Lopez Cuculista, mother of 15 children

Almost all have children, many having four or more. The children attend a small elementary school about a mile or so to the northeast, a long walk in the humid, often 95-degree heat of Guatemala’s pacific lowlands. Food is largely sparse servings of tortillas, beans and rice -the standard low protein, high carbohydrate staples of Central America. Medical care, what little there is, is in Retalhuleu, 30 km away at the National Hospital. A trip to the doctor can take many hours and the trip is expensive by the Aldea’s standards. The hospital often lacks basic medications to treat even common illness. Major medical problems are often insurmountable, left until they are too advanced to treat.

Doña Elsa

Doña Elsa Calderón

Elsa Calderón, known as Doña Elsa, is the leader of the village. Officially she is the head of its COCODE (Consejo Comunitarios de Desarrollo – Community Development Council) whose official function is to guide and promote economic and social service projects within the village. Unofficially, she is everybody’s concerned aunt. Keeping track of everyone’s well-being, she is the prime motivator for the various projects within the village. Her own home doubles as the community center and meeting place. Well constructed, and on higher ground, her home also serves as the emergency shelter during severe storms and the frequent floods of the area’s two rivers. The community has planted new corn fields on her property over the last two years , growing maize that they harvest, grind and process for their own consumption as the omnipresent tortillas. On a separate plot, this year they have added a small mango plantation and hope produce fruit to sell commercially and help support the community.

Despite their challenges, most of the women remain upbeat

They know that, as little as they have, it could be much worse outside of their community. Videos of the women and children show happy, bright faces and waves of hello to the people they hope will see the video in the United States. Even fair complaints about absent husbands in the U.S. have a wry humor.

“Hi ______” one woman shouts happily at the camera to a woman in the U.S. she suspects to be her husband’s new girlfriend. “I hope he is treating you better than he did me!” The gathered women laugh.

Despite their common efforts, the women here remain desperately poor. The effort allows them to survive (not a forgone conclusion in Guatemala) but little else. New clothes come from second hand bins via donations. They often struggle for each days meal. School supplies and clothing for their kids are a significant burden.

Gloria Nicolasa Aj Pacaja-Cachajil is one such woman. A friend from previous visits to the village, Gloria has several children for whom she struggles to provide. Her daughter, María de Jesus Arce-Pacaja, is one of the difficult stories of Granada. While very young, Gloria’s daughter developed severe hydrocephalus. No matter where you are, hydrocephaly can be a devastating condition. In Guatemala, it can be far worse. Fortunately, Maria’s condition received surgical treatment early enough to save her life. The extra fluid in her head did cause a swelling of her skull and created her unusual appearance, but it was caught in time to prevent crippling effects to her brain function. She speaks well, has a sunny disposition and, though she has some balance and sight problems, otherwise seems a normal, if a bit shy, little girl. She does not, however, go to school.

Maria de Jesus with mom, Gloria Pacaja (center rear), and Neale Brown of AMEDICAusa in Granada

The last time we spoke with Gloria, 18 months ago, she told us that she was reluctant to send María de Jesus to school, as she still had balance problems and often fell. Combined with the sometimes cruel teasing of the other children, she felt it might not be in her daughter’s best interest to attend. Now things have changed. While she now wants Maria to go to school, she simply can’t afford it.

“Now I don’t have a house, and only a little to eat.” she said. ” Backpack, notebooks and things for school are too expensive.”

Inspired by the Women’s Efforts

Our welcome to Aldea Granada

As always, greeted with handwritten signs and big smiles, AMEDICAusa’s arrival here in Granada was warmly welcomed. Of course, pictures with old friends and discussions about everyone’s well being were the first order of the day. The women, proud despite their limited means, always press a gift on us as well, usually something grown or made in the village, elote (cooked corn on the cob), home grown squash and the like. This time we are treated to a bushel of fiercely spicy fresh peppers.

2016 Women’s Health Education Mission to Granada

Our last mission trip here was part of a program of women’s and children’s health education, when AMEDICAusa brought several volunteers from an American health project to teach prenatal and early childhood health practices.

Clothing and Supplies mission, Aldea Granada, 2017

This time we brought a truckload of donated women’s and children’s clothing and, as a special gift, rare toys for the villages’ kids. Our next visit will be a school supply mission to provide the basic educational supplies that are otherwise difficult or impossible for the women to afford. Each time we visit, we also take a small gift of rice and beans for each family. It isn’t much, but at least for one day they do not have to worry about where their next meal will come from.

In addition, between regular program visits, AMEDICAusa’s Vice President Silvana Ayuso stops by frequently to check on the community’s well being and pass a little time with her friend, Doña Elsa.

“I really admire these women.” said Ayuso. ” Their strength and organization has gotten notice from as far away as the Government in Guatemala City.”

That is a difficult feat in a country where poverty is always the rule, rather than the exception.

Meet some of the women of Aldea Granada

(Each interview is translated to English)

AMEDICAusa, inc. is an I.R.S. 501(C)(3) registered charity, headquartered in Frederick, Maryland.

We are always looking for volunteers who wish to help in Guatemala. Get the details here.

Donating to AMEDICAusa ‘s ongoing programs is easy. Get the details here.

A Really BIG Bird Lands in Guatemala

AMEDICAusa – USAF C-17 Arriving with Firefighting Equipment in Guatemala City

Firefighters Greet Giant Cargo Aircraft on the Tarmac

Guatemala City, Guatemala – You really have to see a C-17 up close to experience the shear size of the thing. Second in size only to the Air Force’s C-5 Galaxy, the C-17 is capable of carrying enormous amounts of cargo over vast distances. Always a rare sight, this one appearing over Guatemala City is special for another reason. It is carrying a fully equipped fire engine and several tons of Fire and Emergency Medical equipment to the firefighters and paramedics of Guatemala.

The culmination of a year long AMEDICAusa project in cooperation with The REDS Team of North Carolina, and the Denton Program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) this flight carried everything from band-aids to fire helmets for multiple Fire Departments and hundreds of Guatemalan firefighters. The supplies and equipment were donated to the effort by fire departments and rescue services from around the U.S.

We looked like children opening gifts at Christmas! – Chief Salvador Matheu, 11 Compañía CVB, Retalhuleu, Guatemala

Fire Crews awaiting the arrival of the Fire Flight from the U.S. – AMEDICAusa

Guatemala has 134 Bomberos Voluntarios and 88 Bomberos Municipales* fire stations spread through the country. Few of these departments – outside of downtown Guatemala City – receive much in the way of governmental funding. These 222 stations serve a population of almost 17 million people spread over 42,000 square miles of difficult terrain. (For comparison, the City of New York has 255 stations covering 8.4 million people in 305 square miles…The State of Pennsylvania has 1852 Fire Stations for 12.8 million people over 46,000 square miles.) All of the stations struggle financially to keep their doors open, and nearly all rely on second (or third) hand equipment, generally from the U.S. or Canada.

Unloading a fire engine from the C-17 in Guatemala

“I can’t deny that it was a big spectacle to see this huge plane landing and even more when they lowered the fire engine, it looked so tiny coming out of this big plane.” said Chief Matheu who helped AMEDICAusa coordinate the distribution of equipment at the Guatemalan Air Base.

Several Fire Departments get New Gear

Fire companies came from all over Guatemala to pick up the equipment allotted to them. For example, San Pedro 42 Compañía CBM received all new turnout gear – jackets, pants, boots, gloves and helmets – for it’s 40 firefighters. Retalhuleu 11 Compañía CVB received palettes of E.M.S. supplies, a new ambulance stretcher and leather rescue gloves. San Cristóbal, Totonicapán 121 CVB finally got a fire engine, turnouts and SCBA after ten years of trying.

Sorting Fire Equipment at the Air Base

“It’s a difficult job.” said AMEDICAusa President Neale Brown. “There is overwhelming need and we get a lot of requests for fire equipment. We work closely with the two national fire organizations as well as with the stations themselves to determine where we donate which equipment. Often it is a question of how we can do the most good for the most people with what limited resources we have.”

“Training is a big component of the program.” said Brown. “We have to ensure that the department receiving the equipment is well trained in its use, to make sure it is used safely and effectively. Some firefighting and rescue equipment can be particularly dangerous to operate. Before we donate such tools to a department we make sure that they have, or will, train with us in its use.”

AMEDICAusa runs an annual fire/rescue school in Guatemala.

Relationships with USAID and Other Agencies are Pivotal.

“Our programs would be much more difficult, much more expensive, and much less effective were it not for USAID, our donor departments and our NGO partners.” said Brown.

“Transportation costs alone would eat up most of our budget if we didn’t have Denton Program support. Many people think that programs like ours are paid for by the government as part of a largely mythical foreign aid budget. The reality is that the U.S. budgets less than 1% annually for it’s foreign aid programs, and most of that is in the areas of security and defense. A tiny fraction goes to humanitarian aid world wide. It worries us, and other non-profits, when we start hearing all the ‘America First’ talk. We depend on the equipment donations of U.S. fire and rescue departments and on the transportation afforded by the Denton program. I am heartened by the description that one U.S. Embassy staffer offered, that we are the best ‘good bang for the buck’ in terms of costs for humanitarian programs. “

The Denton Program offers NGO’s the opportunity to use military shipping at no cost . If there is space available on an aircraft or surface ship that is going to the desired country anyway, approved humanitarian aid can be used to fill that empty space. The bureaucratic process is generally slow, complicated and difficult, but is often worth the trouble for NGO’s like AMEDICAusa.

Get Involved!

There is an opportunity to help us with our next firefighting supply and training missions in Guatemala. The next fire engine is almost ready to go, but we always need more equipment, and cash donations to help with costs. Interested in being a Fire/Rescue instructor? Contact Us.

“FIRE FLIGHT” Air Force crew with AMEDICAusa and Firefighters in Guatemala

AMEDICAusa, inc. is an I.R.S. 501(C)(3) registered charity, headquartered in Frederick, Maryland.

We are always looking for volunteers who wish to help in Guatemala. Get the details here.

Donating to AMEDICAusa ‘s ongoing programs is easy. Get the details here.

*There are two different and separate national firefighting organizations in Guatemala. Bomberos Voluntarios or CVB (Volunteer Firefighters) and Bomberos Municipales or CBM (Municipal Firefighters) . Despite the names, both organizations have career and volunteer members and a very similar rank and organizational structure. The chief difference is in how they originate, whether organized initially by a Mayor (CBM) or by a private citizens committee (CVB). They are somewhat competitive, and sometimes duplicate services within a single area.

Sharing a Post Has Consequences… like a new school.

A Reporter’s Simple Story Gets Big Results

Aspiring Guatemalan reporter Brian Quevedo visited the small village of El Xab (pronounced El SHAB) just to do a little piece about their school. The impoverished community had banded together to build its own elementary school. Quevedo wanted to document their struggles to educate their children.

When the story appeared on Canal 46 TV in Retalhuleu, it caught the attention of AMEDICAusa. We contacted Brian to get the full story so that we could aid the school. Within a few days AMEDICAusa volunteers were in El Xab delivering educational supplies and evaluating the needs of the school with an eye toward improving its construction.

AMEDICAusa volunteers deliver school supplies to El Xab in March

The school’s needs are many. Hand built by local volunteers, it is constructed largely of bamboo, has no running water (and its well has since gone dry), no electricity, only improvised outhouses for sanitation, and dirt floors. Its tables and desks are mostly improvised from discarded wood and cement blocks.
Even pencils, paper and books are in short supply.

The community is made up largely of indigenous Maya campesinos, subsistence farmers and field workers who often can not afford even shoes for their children, much less the school supplies for their education.

Quevedo’s follow up story about AMEDICAusa‘s mission to “the School Around the Mango” aired in Guatemala on March 14th. Widely shared on social media, the story made its way to the offices of Fundación Tigo , the charitable arm of the Latin American telecommunications giant.

Even Guatemala’s President Gets Involved In New School

Inspired by the story, Fundación Tigo moved with astonishing speed. Committing themselves to building the new school, they planned new buildings, with ten classrooms, utilities, modern sanitation, two sports fields and even a computer lab. What could normally be expected to take a year or more was accomplished in weeks.

President Jimmy Morales and Tigo set the first stone at the School Around the Mango (Courtesy Government of Guatemala)
On July 15th, Tigo officially broke ground on the rebuilding project, with Guatemala’s President, Jimmy Morales, ceremonially setting the first stone of the new building. Construction is scheduled to be completed by October of this year. The students will be in their new school when classes reopen after the winter break in February.

“We are proud to have been a small part of this,” said Neale Brown, President of AMEDICAusa “but this is really a story about how one reporter’s efforts and the power of social media can come together to create change in a community.”

“Brian’s stories reached people, even across different languages, in a personal way.” said Brown. “They inspired people to get involved and to do something, even if it was something as simple as sharing the story on Facebook. That made all the difference.”

AMEDICAusa, inc. is an I.R.S. 501(C)(3) registered charity, headquartered in Frederick, Maryland.

Donating to AMEDICAusa ‘s ongoing programs is easy. Get the details here.

Ambulance and Medical Supplies Headed to Firefighters in Guatemala

Joint Project of Swiss NGO and AMEDICAusa, Inc.
takes equipment to Santa Cruz Muluá, Guatemala

A Swiss non-profit, Ambulance4Guatemala, and AMEDICAusa, a non-profit headquartered in Frederick, Maryland have teamed up in an effort to provide donated emergency equipment and supplies to firefighters in Guatemala. A used ambulance, stocked with medical supplies, is now on its way to the small city of Santa Cruz Muluá in western Guatemala where it will serve two different municipalities and the small villages that surround them. About 30,000 families or roughly 100,000 people live in the area, most are impoverished.

AMBULANCE4GUATEMALA in New Jersey with unit bound for Guatemala

The Swiss group, Sara Berhend, an attorney, Dr. Claudine Moser, an Obstetrician and Gynecologist, and Pierre Martin are delivering the ambulance by driving it over 3000 miles to Guatemala. They raised most of the money for the purchase of the ambulance and travel expenses from private donors in Europe and combined efforts with AMEDICAusa who works closely with Guatemala’s fire services to provide equipment and training throughout the country.

Medical Supplies loaded onto the ambulance at AMEDICAusa in Frederick, Maryland

AMEDICAusa provided additional funds for the purchase of the ambulance, filled it with donated medical supplies, and provided technical expertise as well as assistance in selecting the recipient departments in Guatemala.

The Swiss team travelled from Zürich to New Jersey where they picked up the ambulance and began their travels, first to Frederick, Maryland. There they loaded the vehicle with emergency medical equipment and supplies at AMEDICAusa’s headquarters, then continued their journey toward Guatemala. They expect to arrive in Guatemala before August 20th.

Ambulance and team continue on their way to Guatemala

Ambulance donation enables unique solution for two cities

“There are two cities involved here,” said Neale Brown, President of AMEDICAusa. “One, Santa Cruz Muluá, had a small Fire Department already in service and some experience with running an ambulance. Unfortunately, their old ambulance has broken down leaving them with nothing. The neighboring city, San Felipe, had previously approached AMEDICAusa about starting a Fire Department in their municipality, but are just now starting the construction of their Fire Station, and they are not ready for the equipment yet.” Neither department had yet acquired a fire engine and depend on bucket brigades and help from distant cities for fire protection.

AMEDICAusa with city and fire dept. officials in Santa Cruz Muluá, Guatemala

“When the question came up about who should get the ambulance, we saw an opportunity to broker a deal with the two cities to enable us to serve a great many more people.” Said Brown, who has just returned from a series of meetings in Guatemala.

“We had already committed to assisting San Felipe with starting a fire department and had acquired a fire engine for them. Our initial thought was that the ambulance would go there as well. The problem was that the station is not yet built nor have they hired the firefighters and medics to staff it. We really didn’t want the ambulance to sit in the elements unused in the interim. While visiting the area, we became aware that Muluá had the opposite problem. They had the firefighters and a small station, but no ambulance.

The Church at San Felipe, Guatemala

So, we met with the Mayors and Fire Chiefs, and arrived at a solution. The ambulance will go to Muluá, and they will use it to respond to both cities, beginning immediately. When the fire engine is ready, it and the accompanying rescue equipment will go to San Felipe, who will in turn cover Muluá.

Fire Engine for being readied for donation to San Felipe, Guatemala

AMEDICAusa will be providing joint training to both departments as well, so they can work together effectively.”

While such “mutual aid” agreements are fairly commonplace within the United States, they are rare in Central America.

Guatemalan Landslides Leaving Many Homeless

Tzununá, Sololá, Guatemala

168 people left homeless and more than 28 structures damaged by landslide in a small Guatemalan village.

The landslide occurred in the Patuyá section of Tzununá, where authorities are setting up two emergency shelters to house the affected people, the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED) reported. (CONRED is the Guatemalan equivalent of FEMA in the United States.)

Cristian Rodriguez, CONRED spokesperson, reported that at least 28 families are affected and they are coordinating with other officials to transfer them to a shelter.

(photo: Prensa Libre / CONRED)

“The houses were flooded by mud and stones that broke off from the mountain. Those affected are going to be moved because they are cut off and there is continued danger of further slides.” added Rodriguez.

AMEDICAusa Vice President Silvana Ayuso is in Guatemala and has been in contact with CONRED and Military officials at the scene and reported that emergency supplies are already enroute to the area.

“We are preparing to send emergency food supplies and clothing right now.” said Ayuso. ” This is happening in other places in Guatemala, and there is a significant danger of a much larger landslide happening anywhere right now… We must be ready.”

In the Department of Quetzaltenango on July 12th, a landslide killed a 61 year old man, despite efforts by the local firefighters to revive him.

Another slide was reported in the Department of Alta Verapaz last night.

Last October a catastrophic landslide buried the village of El Cambray Dos, outside Guatemala City, killing an estimated 350 people, many of whom were never recovered.

https://www.amedicausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/CarmenAdmusic.mp4

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Municipal Orange Alert to be declared in Santa Cruz La Laguna.

In order to expedite assistance for affected families and help prevent further damage or injuries, the Mayor of the Municipality is expected to make the declaration today.

Current Guatemala Landslide Danger Map – Areas in red are at the highest risk (CONRED)

According to information provided by CONRED, soils in the western areas of Guatemala are over-saturated with the recent heavy rains, conditions which facilitate landslides. More Rain and thunderstorms are expected today.

In addition, officials are concerned with the possibility of Lahars, volcanic mudflows of ash, rocks and rainwater, that can be literally boiling hot and have the consistency (and mass) of wet concrete. A Lahar occurred on June 13th from the slopes of Santiaguito, one of three currently erupting volcanoes in Guatemala.

Video of Tzununa Landslide

Video of flooding in Jerez, Jutiapa.

AMEDICAusa, inc. is an I.R.S. 501(C)(3) registered charity, headquartered in Frederick, Maryland.

Donating to AMEDICAusa ‘s ongoing programs is easy. Get the details here.

AMEDICAusa Brings Medicine to Guatemala Hospital

Hospital Nacional de Retalhuleu, Guatemala-

Unimpressive, overstuffed, black plastic bags, the kind usually reserved for yard debris, were delivered to the National Hospital of Retalhuleu, Guatemala today. Rather than being deposited with the trash, these bags were wholeheartedly welcomed by the Physicians and staff of the hospital.

The national health system of Guatemala is the primary source of medical care for the impoverished and indigenous people of this Central America nation. It has been hard pressed to keep up with demand and shortages of medicine and supplies have been serious and widespread. The Hospital at Retalhuleu has been particularly hard hit by these shortages.

In this case, the plastic bags are filled with medicine and supplies to help ease the shortage of necessities at the hospital.

AMEDICAusa volunteers arrived here in an SUV filled with these supplies.

“Gathering donations from pharmacies, physicians and suppliers around Guatemala was hard work “said AMEDICAusa Vice President Silvana Ayuso. “but very much worth it. Every patient we help is important.”

Normally, AMEDICAusa’s focus is on the more rural areas of Guatemala. 90% of the country’s doctors are practicing in the major urban areas, leaving the rural, poor and indigenous chronically underserved.

“This was an important donation, and actually in line with our rural focus.” said Neale Brown, President of AMEDICAusa.

“Seriously ill people from the rural villages must often be referred to the National Hospitals in the larger towns and cities. If they can make their way – and it is difficult and expensive for them to do so – to the hospital, it is obviously better if there is medicine and supplies to actually care for them.” Said Brown.

AMEDICAusa, inc. is an I.R.S. 501(C)(3) registered charity, headquartered in Frederick, Maryland.

We are always looking for volunteers who wish to help in Guatemala. Get the details here.

Donating to AMEDICAusa ‘s ongoing programs is easy. Get the details here.

Nuestro Diario, Guatemala – 5/18/2016

Nuestro Diario, Guatemala -5/18/2016

HOSPITAL RECEIVES DONATION (translated from the Spanish)

The charity AMEDICAusa delivered a shipment of medicines for patients in the National Hospital in Retalhuleu.
The contribution was made by Silvana Ayuso, Vice President of the Organization, who explained that the drugs were donated by Guatemalan doctors.
The batch of medicines including antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and spasmolytic medicines, among others, said Ayuso.
For her part, Wendy Méndez, responsible for the pharmacy of the Medical Center, said that the donation will help to alleviate the crisis that affects all hospitals.
“It will be well used in the different units,” she said.
Some patients came to thank [the volunteers] for the help.

AMEDICAusa Volunteers bring badly needed supplies.

Colonia Santa Elena, El Asintal, Guatemala-

With clapboard walls, dirt floors and some classes forced outside by the lack of space, The “Escuela Oficial Rural Mixta” (Official Co-ed Rural School) of this small village is typical of the elementary schools of rural Guatemala. Rain and insects enter the class rooms with equal alacrity, light streams in only from the roughed-in, uncovered windows and the spaces between the wall boards and tables are largely makeshift affairs, fashioned from cinderblock and unfinished boards.

The people here are “campesinos”, subsistence farmers or field hands of Maya decent, who, on those rare days that they actually get folding money, must make their living on around $1.50 a day…. The children wear second or third hand clothing, washed in the nearby creek beds by their mothers, rubbed against a rock to remove the worst of the stains. The diet is beans, rice and corn tortillas…the diversion a pickup game of soccer played on a field shared with cows and the odd horse.

Even elementary school here is a luxury that many families cannot really afford. The school uniforms meant to muddy the difference between the “haves” and the “have-nots” are beyond the reach of families in a village that has no “haves”, and basic school supplies are much too expensive for most.

The drop out rate is extreme, with less than 18% of the children going on to high school, and even fewer graduating and going on to any sort of trade school or college programs.

AMEDICAusa Volunteers with students in Colonia Santa Elena, Guatemala

AMEDICAusa volunteers arrived today bringing boxes of notebooks, pencils, pens, crayons and other basic educational supplies for delivery directly into the student’s hands. It is the tenth such mission to Guatemalan schools this year.

“By easing the burden on the families and assisting the teachers with basic educational supplies and equipment, we help the kids to stay in school.” said AMEDICAusa President Neale Brown. “Every kid who goes on to high school and beyond is a victory for us, and more importantly, a victory for his or her village.”

AMEDICAusa, headquartered in Frederick, Maryland, brings more than supplies to these educational missions. Dovetailing with their medical programs, these visits also bring basic health and dental education to the students and provide an opportunity to assess the health needs of the community, as well as identifying health concerns for particular students.

“We’ve seen everything from eye infections to broken bones and other traumatic injuries on these missions.” said Brown, a retired Fire Officer and Paramedic. “It’s a rare occasion when we don’t find at least one child or village resident who is in need of medical care, and whom we either refer to a clinic or, in the more severe cases transport ourselves.”

Anyone interested in volunteering on a school mission can get the details here. Those kind enough to donate to AMEDICAusa ‘s ongoing programs may do so here.

AMEDICAusa, inc. is a I.R.S. 501(C)(3) registered charity.

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A group of impoverished women teaches us strength

Life in the Pomegranate Village

Doña Elsa

Despite their challenges, most of the women remain upbeat

Inspired by the Women’s Efforts

Meet some of the women of Aldea Granada

Firefighters Greet Giant Cargo Aircraft on the Tarmac

Relationships with USAID and Other Agencies are Pivotal.

Get Involved!

A Reporter’s Simple Story Gets Big Results

Even Guatemala’s President Gets Involved In New School

Joint Project of Swiss NGO and AMEDICAusa, Inc. takes equipment to Santa Cruz Muluá, Guatemala

Ambulance donation enables unique solution for two cities

168 people left homeless and more than 28 structures damaged by landslide in a small Guatemalan village.

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Municipal Orange Alert to be declared in Santa Cruz La Laguna.

Hospital Nacional de Retalhuleu, Guatemala-

Colonia Santa Elena, El Asintal, Guatemala-

Joint Project of Swiss NGO and AMEDICAusa, Inc.
takes equipment to Santa Cruz Muluá, Guatemala