Hands-On Project
February, 2010

In February, 2010 ten volunteers traveled to Guatemala to work on our hands-on projects.  three of the group worked on the dental program, four worked on the classroom construction project and three worked on the scholarship program.

The dental program consisted of two dental hygienists (Judy Young & Joyce Meeuwsen) who were assisted by Bonnie Phillips.

The construction crew worked side by side with local workers to build a new classroom at Potrero Viejo II primary school.  They mixed cement, tied rebar, laid block, and enjoyed the company of the local workers and the children.  Led by our very able translator Fred Ledesma, he was assisted by Guillermo Nieto, Denna O'Connell, and Wayne Phillips.

We also witnessed the delivery of desks to a primary school that were purchased by a District 5220 district simplified grant sponsored by Groveland Rotary Club.  These desks furnished the classrooms that were built by Amigos de Guatemala.

Finally, Bob & Jan Hatmaker and Virginia Gustafson worked on the scholarship/sponsorship program.  Virginia is bilingual and we were also assisted with translation by Magdy Garzona of San Jose del Quiche, Guatemala.  We began the week with a party/dinner for the high school students where we celebrated the high school graduation of Jose, Olga, Josue and Lesbia.  These students are the second group of graduates of our scholarship program!  On another day we had a picnic with the junior high school scholarship students.  Without this scholarship support these students would NOT be in school.  Amigos de Guatemala now sponsors 52 students to attend secondary school.  Please read more about this important program here. 

There are no hotels in Zacualpa,  Therefore, as in past years, we stayed at the Catholic Church convent in Zacualpa.  We thank our hosts, the nuns of the church, for making our accommodations convenient, comfortable and safe.

It is difficult to highlight the dedication of 10 volunteers who traveled to Guatemala at their own expense to work with rural indigenous Maya people.  This exemplifies the Rotary motto "Service above Self".  All the volunteers paid their own way, worked hard and were proud to be part of such an effort.

The traveling Amigos de Guatemala volunteers were:

Bob & Jan Hatmaker - Groveland, CA
Fred Ledesma - Soledad, CA
Denna O'Connell - St. Cloud, MN
Virginia Gustafson, Groveland, CA
Judy Young - Indio, CA
Wayne  and  Bonnie Phillips - Groveland, CA
Joyce Meeuwsen - Indio, CA & Sunriver, OR
Guillermo Nieto - Soledad, CA
Magdy Garzona - San Jose del Quiche, Guatemala

Hands-on projects and project grants are much more than cement, bricks, rebar, desks, chairs, school supplies, cleaning, filling & pulling teeth.  Primarily, the volunteers of Amigos de Guatemala go to Guatemala to say "we care" to a people who have suffered with years of violence, isolation and poverty.  The love expressed by these volunteers and those that support the work of Amigos de Guatemala is returned with the genuine gratitude of the people of Zacualpa and the surrounding aldea (villages).

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